Six UK engineering firms have launched The Engineers Reuse Collective, a not-for-profit group committed to accelerating reuse in the built environment to support the transition of the UK’s construction industry to net zero carbon.
The first of its kind, the group has been convened due to growing concern about the climate crisis and the collective responsibility that engineers have to reduce carbon in the industry through reuse.
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According to the UK Green Building Council, the built environment, of which the construction sector is a crucial component, currently contributes about a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions, with embodied carbon comprising around one third of this figure.
The group has been founded by Civic Engineers, Buro Happold, Elliott Wood, Heyne Tillett Steel, Webb Yates Engineers and Whitby Wood, and is supported by the Institution of Structural Engineers. Led by Andy Yates, ex-director of Webb Yates Engineers, the group is united by a mission to dramatically increase reuse in the built environment, with minimal reprocessing, to support the transition to circular economy principles and to urgently reduce the carbon intensity of the built environment.
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Beyond providing a proactive and collective voice for engineers to promote increased reuse, the group’s objectives include promoting and implementing reuse in the built environment through information sharing and positive engagement with stakeholders and the wider industry; actively demonstrating and sharing knowledge of effective solutions, overcoming barriers, success stories and lessons learnt; challenging, encouraging and championing clients and others that they work with to maximise the reuse of assets (buildings and materials) on projects; and advocating and lobbying for faster change in the industry and influencing future policy.
The group will host cross-practice meetings and technical forums, produce roadmaps, standards and technical resources to be adopted across the industry, and foster knowledge sharing to learn from others challenges and successes.
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‘The climate crisis is here and as engineers we need to accelerate our actions to transition our built environment to zero carbon, Yates said. ‘Part of this is having open conversations to share our successes and challenges, as well as the more granular “nuts and bolts” of how we reuse our existing assets. I am delighted to be part of this proactive, exciting and forward-thinking collective of engineers who are passionate about making a positive change in the industry.’
‘Some of the most rewarding work I’ve been engaged in has been collaborating with fellow sustainably minded professionals in the built environment to move the dial on issues like material reuse, circularity and net zero carbon,’ said Civic Engineers director Gareth Atkinson. ‘I’m really energised to be working with six brilliant engineering firms to progress this important agenda.’
The Engineers Reuse Collective is actively looking to expand the group with other engineering practices that are passionate about collaborating and championing the profession and taking a leading role in maturing reuse and the circular economy. If you are interested in joining, contact Andy Yates at [email protected].