Effective networks, not networking for networking's sake

I'm delighted to say that after helping relaunch RICS Lancashire Local Association, our new Linkedin group being at:

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=4422000&trk=anet_ug_hm

a few likeminded individuals are resurrecting Green Drinks Lancashire, again our Linkedin group page is at:

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2051847&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr

However, we are not doing this in isolation, but in an open and colaborative manner, including other groups such as the Lancashire Construction Best Practice Club.

I think a network of networks can deliver more and duplicate less is we work together and not network to get a headcount or generate profit.

SWMP - not dead yet

The word on the street is that Site Waste Management Plans (SWMP), which are statutory waste management plans for construction projects in England, however they are still with us.

I'm not going into details of SWMP and details can be found at

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/netregs/businesses/construction/62359.aspx

but I'm undecided whether they should end.

On the side who wants rid of SWMPs, their diabolically poor implementation by the previous government, meant that they were a good idea badly implemented. They now have seemed to vary in quality and accuracy across projects which is a shame as they are useful, but they have lost their way and maybe it's time for a new start.

When they were brought out, I attended many (state funded) training sessions which were very poor in quality. Also, they were attended by environmental professionals in the main not estimators, quantity surveyors, designers, project managers and the like. People who cost, agree and drive projects from their conception.

SWMP if done right, ie start at the design phase, have been proven to save projects money, but their mandatory nature can make them a formality instead a chance to save money and identify waste minimisation opportunities starting at design.

They are not dead yet, so why not rethink their potential.

ISO 14001 - get the basics right & the rest will follow

When I with clients being audited for ISO 14001 I pay very good attention to the auditor. This is mainly as a lead EMS auditor I'm interested in seeing how other auditors work, but secondly I'm fascinated about the differences between auditors.

However, what doesn't change is that the have to audit against the clauses of the standard.

Personally, when writing an EMS I like to keep it simple and follow the organisation of the clauses of the standard. I speak to colleagues who look at the activities carried out by the organisation and write the EMS to those. We all must be right if our clients are getting through ISO 14001 accredited certification.

What I have noticed with external auditors that if the EMS manual is in the same order as the standard's clauses, then it's easy for them to follow and can find parts of the manual if only auditing certain clauses of the standard.

I also believe in keeping it simple as all you have to do is meet the minimum requirements of the standard. Now, this sounds defeatist, but being pragmatic you want to meet the requirements as a minimum as diversions into other avenues may distract you from meeting the basic requirements...of the standard you are being audit against.

Often I hear people starting out or thinking of starting ISO 14001 that CSR or sustainability can drive it. Whilst they can, I think get the basic systems and legal requirements right and the rest will follow.

A mindset for Green Deal

Green Deal is coming and whether you are basing your business plans on it or not, it won't go away.

I've recently, in conjunction with Martin Brown of Fairsnape via the Lancashire Construction Best Practice Club have given several talks to construciton professionals about Green Deal and the PAS 2030 standard.

Construction profesisonals I've been talking who are interested in PAS 2030 and Green Deal are preparing to modify their existing practices for them or develop new ones, but I'd say start testing the systems now.

The mindset for Green Deal for installers is to deliver everything PAS 2030 asks for so why not start testing the standard on current projects.

There is professional help from Martin Brown & myself to assist and whilst there are off the shelf software products available, bespoke professional advice is far more beneficial and economic. With some parties saying one to one professional business support is unaffordable, I'd like to say that DIEM Ltd offers affordable professional services which can be tailored to resources available at clients and also existing systems as not to duplicate work.

The king of cycle racks

On my recent visit to Holland I saw the biggest bike rack I've ever seen:

As you can see, this 3 storey monster has quite a few bikes stored on it. It's right next to Amsterdam Centraal railway station and has access to the local network on segregated cycle lanes.

I admit, it's needed in a bike mad and car unfriendly city such as Amsterdam, but compare this to some of the low security and inconvenient bike "racks" in the UK. Unused, unsafe and insecure. One or two projects look OK in the UK such as the Leeds bike hub or the secrure bike storage on Merseyrail, but car is king in the UK which in the last week or panic buying of fuel isn't looking good for the future.