Case Record – Dell Project: Developing a Sustainability Action Plan

Details:

Date: Client: Main Contractor: Contract:

April 2002 – September 2003 Dell Computer Corporation Carillion Building Design and build of 4 storey open plan office block with central ‘Core’ and associated infrastructure works

Issue

Integrate sustainability at the beginning of the project to ensure that the full benefits of sustainable construction and facilities management are realised.

This involves a full commitment by the whole team to understand the sustainability impacts the project may have.

Solution

An initial workshop with The Natural Step was arranged at the beginning of the contract to gain an understanding of the principles of sustainability and to develop a Sustainability Action Plan. Here is an outline of some of their achievements, proving they embraced a holistic approach to minimize their environmental, social and economic impacts:

Waste Management – enabled less waste, more reuse of natural resources.
• Waste segregation in operation, bins marked up for metal, wood, hardwood and general rubbish.
• Wheeled bins provided at workface to cut down on rubbish in building and better segregation.
• 32% of waste recycled in base build.
• 7% of waste recycled in construction fit out.

IT – enabled less reliance on paper.
• Open plan office layout with paper filing/printing at centre, means only 1 hard copy needed.
• All design team and designing contractors using Bidcom as primary means of drawing issues.
• Project Management Plan held and distributed on Intranet.
• Carillion team using e-mail account for all communications, meeting schedules, project directory electronic distribution and archiving.
• Any waste paper bagged and sent back to Brentford office for recycling.

Building Services Prefabrication
• At the manufacturing facility = safer environment, easier to manage waste.
• On site installation = minimal waste, safe operation, less energy required.

Managing water
• Rainwater harvesting system, diverting water from the roof into the toilet flushing system.
• All cisterns have ‘hippo’ water saving device. Assuming an average 5 flushes per day, 7750 litres of water saved over the contract.
• Second hand wheel wash purchased from Princess Margaret Hospital, comes with a settlement tank to ensure reuse of water.

Good site facilities – being fair to our workforce
• Changing room lockers
• Stainless steel washing trough to enable washing elbows/arms
• Water fountain
• Site barbeques held at key milestones in project

Less vehicle movements – saving resources and less production of harmful gases
• Free shuttle bus from Bracknell station to site.
• Mortar silo – cuts down on ready mix deliveries and cuts wastage from over delivery.

Business Benefits:

• Cost savings made by applying sustainability principles.
• Employee motivation through their involvement and thinking about their welfare.
• Best practice identified that can be applied on future projects.