Environment

Clegg cares deeply about our environment, our planet and its future. We are committed to minimising the impact of our activities by lowering emissions from carbon and other greenhouse gases, reducing embedded carbon in buildings and maximising energy efficiency to help the UK meet its 2050 target.

To help us achieve our targets and measure progress, we are committed to the Science Based Targets initiative and operate an ISO 14001 accredited environmental management system. Along with our sustainability policy, this outlines our dedication to enhancing and improving the areas we work in and reducing the environmental impact of each project – without compromising on quality.

Some of the ways we do this include:

• Recycling and responsible waste management
• The use of low-impact materials
• Minimising the use of harmful materials
• Engaging with local suppliers
• Championing vehicle sharing
• Utilising eco-friendly site welfare cabins

All projects are subject to a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) such as WRAP or Smartwaste, depending upon the nature of the project and our clients’ requirements.

Our sustainability policy highlights our approach to the use of sustainable materials and methods of construction, including:

• Recycled crushed brick or concrete for temporary roads and hard standings
• Concrete blocks with high recycled content, and beam floors with cement and aggregate substitution
• Cement/concrete block manufacturers that use GGBS and/or PFA cement substitution
• Thermal insulation manufactured without the use of, nor containing, CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs and HFAs as blowing agents
• Water based paints for internal painting
• Paints supplied in cardboard drums which are compostable
• Paints with long life – 10 years external or 20 years internal between coatings
• Gabion retaining walls of stone rubble, stone waste, crushed concrete, crushed brick
• Existing subsoil as part of reinforced earth retaining walls
• Recycled masonry or concrete from any existing buildings or foundations
• Timber sourced from sustainable forests (FSC Approved)

We have considerable experience delivering highly sustainable projects, including BREEAM and NABERs accredited schemes, and those with high EPC ratings. 

We are proud to have been involved in the design and construction of the University of Nottingham's Energy Technologies Building; the world's first zero-carbon operational laboratory complex and the first laboratory complex in the UK to achieve BREEAM ‘Outstanding

The building was designed to use renewable and ambient sources including its own smart grid and features pioneering technology designed to minimise the building’s demand for heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation. Purpose-built to facilitate the University’s research into low carbon energy, the building comprises an innovative earth duct passive cooling system which uses the thermal mass of the surrounding earth to provide passive cooling and preheated ventilation air. It has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of 6 within category A, whilst 100% of waste was diverted from landfill.