Arup has put the UK Green Construction Board (GCB) on course to tackle climate change.
It has identified where the industry's carbon originates and who is responsible for cutting it. The company has produced a "Routemap" demonstrating to sectors and industries involved in construction how they can respond to the 2008 Climate Change Act, which commits the UK to cutting 80% of green house gas emissions by 2050.
The "Routemap" sets out the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change and lays out what the industry needs to do and which goals to set next.
It provides direction where previously very little existed, helps industry track its own progress and has influenced the government's Construction Sector Industrial Strategy.
Arup believes that the Climate Change Act is an opportunity for the UK to become a world leader as it moves to a low carbon economy, by supporting new markets, businesses and jobs.
To create its "Routemap" Arup brought together in-house specialists.
The first phase was to define the built environment and develop a baseline emissions level for 1990 to 2010, also identifying major policies and initiatives already underway to encourage carbon reduction.
Next, Arup developed a model with a carbon emissions trajectory for the built environment and assessed the potential to achieve an 80% emission reduction. Finally it drew up the "Routemap" and detailed its methodology and findings.
Arup, which knows that clients increasingly expect projects to be sustainable, has provided the GCB with knowledge to make better decisions, understand where carbon exists and how issues like behaviour, performance gap and technological advances affect emissions reductions.
Industry associations, property and asset owners, manufacturers and trade bodies are already responding to the "Routemap".
Jackie Wills is part of the wordworks network
The Guardian Sustainable Business Sustainability Case Studies contain articles on all the initiatives that met the criteria for the GSB Awards.
