Modular building specialist Integra Buildings has announced a £1million programme of investment at its East Yorkshire site to reduce the carbon footprint of its operations. Integra is driving down emissions at its headquarters in Paull, East Yorkshire, with an ambition to become a carbon neutral business by 2038.
Key sustainability projects on-site include the installation of more than 70 rooftop solar panels on Integra's office building, with a further 150 panels fitted to one of the factory units. Integra has also reduced the volume of waste leaving its site by almost 20%, thanks to a compactor which cuts the number of lorry trips to the processing facility and saves on carbon emissions. The business has also secured ISO 14001 Environmental Management accreditation as it sets out a roadmap to carbon neutrality.
Integra CEO Gary Parker said: "We've done a huge amount of work to firstly understand our carbon footprint and then identify the priority areas and key actions we can take to become more sustainable.
Construction companies like us face significant challenges in reducing their emissions and becoming carbon neutral, but we've taken significant steps forward and we're committed to working with our suppliers, clients and partners to share ideas and help each other on the decarbonisation pathway."
The first phase of Integra's solar installation saw 72 panels on the roof of the office building expected to reduce annual energy bills by over £80,000. Since then, an additional 150 panels have been fitted to the roof of one of Integra's factory units. The two installations combined will generate close to 200,000 KW of clean electricity every year. All the modular buildings Integra manufacture are 100 per cent re-usable and can be relocated. Should the building ever be disassembled, timber and steel products can be easily recycled.
Simon McGeachy, SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment and Quality) Manager at Integra, added: "Our sustainability work also extends into the local community. We've been supporting the Humber Wood Recycling Project for a number of years, donating our surplus wood which is used to create outdoor furniture for Dove House Hospice."
Integra is carrying out further work to understand its scope two and three emissions, including those produced throughout its supply chain and operations offsite. Integra's environmental approach is to only consider carbon offsetting as a last option where there is no possible outcome of achieving net zero.
Source: www.integrabuildings.co.uk
