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The Five Most Valuable Things a Sustainability Consultant Can Offer

Sustainability consultants ensure projects adhere to compliancy obligations together with  addressing sustainability and environmental issues.

Here, James Blackburn, Director of Carbon Green Consulting (CGC) describes the work of a sustainability consultant and describes the five most valuable things they can offer.

The Five Most Valuable Things a Sustainability Consultant Can Offer

Sustainability consultants ensure projects adhere to compliancy obligations together with  addressing sustainability and environmental issues.

Here, James Blackburn, Director of Carbon Green Consulting (CGC) describes the work of a sustainability consultant and describes the five most valuable things they can offer.

Can you describe the role of a sustainability consultant?

The role is extremely varied and combines multiple disciplines relating to planning and building regulations.

A sustainability consultant works with developers, architects, contractors and planners as a support mechanism to deal with the sustainability agenda of a development. 

We work within both the planning and compliance processes, delivering support and advice on a comprehensive range of energy issues to ensure the project complies with industry regulations and governmental legislation.

What are the top five valuable contributions that a sustainability consultant can bring to a building project?   

1. Commercial awareness

The most important thing would be an ability to fully understand what our clients need to achieve on each development in conjunction with our awareness of commercial viability.   

Whilst the environmental agenda is obviously vital, we do also have to consider individual budgets and financial constraints when working with our clients. 

It’s important to recognise that both aspects of our role work hand in hand to satisfy all compliance and commercial obligations.

2. Software expertise

Secondly, our expertise within the construction industry and the software we have to use. 

Not only do we have to keep up to date with changes in governmental policies and procedures, but we also need to be aware of technological updates and adapt our software to cater for our client’s requirements.

3. Innovations in construction methods and materials 

The third most valuable thing a sustainability consultant can bring is a knowledge and understanding of broader issues pertaining to individual projects, for example the materials used.

To take a simple example, using the wrong type of lintel for a building could increase overall construction costs as it may lead to extra insulation being needed for walls, floors or roofing.

4. Government policy changes

Fourth is probably an overall commitment, understanding and ability to evaluate and adapt to changes in environmental and sustainability policies.

We also need to be proactive, thinking ahead to changes which may impact our clients in the near future and being both willing and able to adapt our approach to assist them.

5. The planning negotiation

The fifth most valuable thing – although these are not necessarily in any ranked order of priority – is a thorough knowledge and understanding of the planning process.

Personally, through my previous work as a planner, I do have an in-depth awareness of the process, which means from a sustainability perspective we can exert some influence.   

Planning Officers are unlikely to have specialist sustainability knowledge.  We’re able to negotiate with them and make them understand why a certain development might fail to achieve certification as well as how to rectify the issues.

From a local authority perspective, do planners have sufficient flexibility to negotiate with you?

That would probably depend on the strength of our argument.  We would need to build a strong case for any specific requirement.

However, decisions are ultimately made at Planning Committee meetings where our recommendations are discussed fully and hopefully approved.

To summarise this, what makes a good sustainability consultant for a construction project?

A combination of being able to see and understand the bigger picture – issues which the client is experiencing – and thorough specialist knowledge.

It’s about ensuring that you can manipulate energy modelling software to benefit the client, an awareness of appropriate materials and installation procedures and effectively applying this to planning regulations.

In order to be fully conversant with the latest trends in terms of materials, equipment, best practice, etc, how do you keep abreast of developments?

We hold and attend a number of Continued Professional Development events annually.

These are designed to address the latest issues and developments in the sustainability arena, including regulations and policy.

We also subscribe to industry publications and have links with a variety of contractors and suppliers who can update us on resources.

Has the role of the sustainability consultant changed in recent years?   

Perception has probably changed.  Sustainability consultants were seen as assessors – basically to ensure that developments complied with building regulations

Nowadays, a sustainability consultant has to put in place tailor-made energy solutions whilst considering financial implications, adapting software (SAP, SVEM, dynamic simulation modelling IES and other tools) to fulfil requirements and conform to building regulations and standards. 

How do you envisage Brexit impacting your role and the industry as a whole?

Since both CGC and our clients deal with EU laws on a daily basis, the long-term impact of Brexit will affect us greatly. 

As yet, the extent of change is unknown, but we’re aware that regulations may be abandoned or added to and new ones implemented, so it’s something we’ve got to be ready for.

Can you describe the role of a sustainability consultant?

The role is extremely varied and combines multiple disciplines relating to planning and building regulations.

A sustainability consultant works with developers, architects, contractors and planners as a support mechanism to deal with the sustainability agenda of a development. 

We work within both the planning and compliance processes, delivering support and advice on a comprehensive range of energy issues to ensure the project complies with industry regulations and governmental legislation.

What are the top five valuable contributions that a sustainability consultant can bring to a building project?   

1. Commercial awareness

The most important thing would be an ability to fully understand what our clients need to achieve on each development in conjunction with our awareness of commercial viability.   

Whilst the environmental agenda is obviously vital, we do also have to consider individual budgets and financial constraints when working with our clients. 

It’s important to recognise that both aspects of our role work hand in hand to satisfy all compliance and commercial obligations.

2. Software expertise

Secondly, our expertise within the construction industry and the software we have to use. 

Not only do we have to keep up to date with changes in governmental policies and procedures, but we also need to be aware of technological updates and adapt our software to cater for our client’s requirements.

3. Innovations in construction methods and materials 

The third most valuable thing a sustainability consultant can bring is a knowledge and understanding of broader issues pertaining to individual projects, for example the materials used.

To take a simple example, using the wrong type of lintel for a building could increase overall construction costs as it may lead to extra insulation being needed for walls, floors or roofing.

4. Government policy changes

Fourth is probably an overall commitment, understanding and ability to evaluate and adapt to changes in environmental and sustainability policies.

We also need to be proactive, thinking ahead to changes which may impact our clients in the near future and being both willing and able to adapt our approach to assist them.

5. The planning negotiation

The fifth most valuable thing – although these are not necessarily in any ranked order of priority – is a thorough knowledge and understanding of the planning process.

Personally, through my previous work as a planner, I do have an in-depth awareness of the process, which means from a sustainability perspective we can exert some influence.   

Planning Officers are unlikely to have specialist sustainability knowledge.  We’re able to negotiate with them and make them understand why a certain development might fail to achieve certification as well as how to rectify the issues.

From a local authority perspective, do planners have sufficient flexibility to negotiate with you?

That would probably depend on the strength of our argument.  We would need to build a strong case for any specific requirement.

However, decisions are ultimately made at Planning Committee meetings where our recommendations are discussed fully and hopefully approved.

To summarise this, what makes a good sustainability consultant for a construction project?

A combination of being able to see and understand the bigger picture – issues which the client is experiencing – and thorough specialist knowledge.

It’s about ensuring that you can manipulate energy modelling software to benefit the client, an awareness of appropriate materials and installation procedures and effectively applying this to planning regulations.

In order to be fully conversant with the latest trends in terms of materials, equipment, best practice, etc, how do you keep abreast of developments?

We hold and attend a number of Continued Professional Development events annually.

These are designed to address the latest issues and developments in the sustainability arena, including regulations and policy.

We also subscribe to industry publications and have links with a variety of contractors and suppliers who can update us on resources.

Has the role of the sustainability consultant changed in recent years?   

Perception has probably changed.  Sustainability consultants were seen as assessors – basically to ensure that developments complied with building regulations

Nowadays, a sustainability consultant has to put in place tailor-made energy solutions whilst considering financial implications, adapting software (SAP, SVEM, dynamic simulation modelling IES and other tools) to fulfil requirements and conform to building regulations and standards. 

How do you envisage Brexit impacting your role and the industry as a whole?

Since both CGC and our clients deal with EU laws on a daily basis, the long-term impact of Brexit will affect us greatly. 

As yet, the extent of change is unknown, but we’re aware that regulations may be abandoned or added to and new ones implemented, so it’s something we’ve got to be ready for.

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