1. Sustainability
Image courtesy of whyismarko.com

2. Overview – Today’s lesson
• What is sustainability?
• Why?
• Construction: What do we do?
•Discussion Topics
•Video: Google a new approach
• Tile Manufacture: An Analysis
•PowerPoint presentation

3. Sustainability: A Definition
"meet present needs without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their needs“
(UN 1987)

4. Sustainability: Why?
Sustainability is a long term approach to environmental protection and
process improvements. Sustainable design prevents pollution from the
start and calls for systems thinking, which acknowledges the connections
between the economy, the environment and social responsibility.
(http://yosemite.epa.gov, 2012)
However the term is increasingly recognised in the context of the
environment and how we can sustain ourselves on the planet.

5. Sustainability: Scottish Government
The goal of sustainable development is to enable all people throughout the
world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without
compromising the quality of life of future generations
Scottish Government 2012

6. The Environment
How does the environment affect us?
Our Health!
•Air quality
•Water contamination
•Exposure to the Sun
Question: Can you name any other effects changes
in the environment may have on how we live?

7. The Environment: What we do
Do we have an affect on the environment?
Yes! of course we do but how?
•Energy
•Water
•Transport
•Rubbish

8. Environmental Impact
What drives Environmental impact?
Environmental impact is traditionally propelled by the population,
affluence and technological advances.
What does this mean?
•Population
•Affluence Technology

9. Measuring the Impact
How is environmental impact measured?
The most common measure of environmental impact is through CO2
emissions.
What are CO2 emissions?
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas released from the burning of fossil fuels,
mammal exhalation and by the decaying of most organic solid objects. It is
believed to be responsible for global warming, which in turn is responsible for
erosion of the ozone layer.

10. Generating Electricity

11. Discussion
Generating electricity
Nuclear
Wind
Solar
Hydro
Gas
Oil
What do you think? Is nuclear safe and sustainable?

12. Discussion
Nuclear power is the most affordable large-scale
low-carbon energy source currently available to
the UK. A new generation of nuclear power
stations could help the UK fulfil its commitments
to tackling climate change and realise its vision of
a secure, affordable electricity supply.
The UK Government believes new nuclear power
stations should form part of a low-carbon energy
system. (EDF 2012)

13. Discussion Topic
What areas of construction affect the environment?
What has the industry done to address this?
What can we do as individuals in the construction
industry?

14. Discussion Topic
Design
This stage represents the first opportunity to maximise a
sustainable sustainable building and construction benefits.
This stage sets the direction for the future use/s of the
building and should consider the effects on the local
environment from construction through to the end life of the
building.

15. Discussion Topic
Building Materials
The choice of building materials is important
Many factors should be considered including the
climate, material source and the existing
environment.

16. Discussion Topic
Why Build New?
Reusing or refurbishing existing buildings will
reduce the amount of waste going to landfill
and could help preserve heritage and cultural
artefacts.

17. Discussion Topic
Refurbishment
Refurbishment of a building can reduce operating
and maintenance costs, reduce waste, increase
building performance, extend the life of the building
and can be more sustainable than demolishing the
building and building a new structure. Refurbishment
can be both partial (replacing windows) or total for
example a whole building

18. Google
http://www.teachersmedia.co.uk/videos/buildings
Google in California takes Sustainability to a different

19. Wall and Floor Tiling: An Example
Johnson Tiles: A British Tile Manufacturer based in Stoke
on Trent, England
The aim
To uphold their longstanding commitment to environmental
management
They have had a formal environmental policy in place since 1992.

20. Wall and Floor Tiling: An Example
The solutions
A number of energy saving measures have been implemented throughout
the plant such as:
•speeding up kilns
•changing CRT monitors to flat screens
•switching from twice fired to once fired production
•using automatic light sensors to low usage areas
•re-using kiln exit heat.
©http://www.sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk

21. Wall and Floor Tiling: An Example
The solutions
•Used pallets are utilised within the factory and for deliveries.
•The company purchases second hand pallets and also repairs damaged pallets
where possible.
•Re-using 90% of the glaze and pigment transportation buckets that are used
on site.
•Each year Johnson Tiles recycle 20,000 tonnes of ceramic waste from their
own production processes and those of 14 other local ceramic manufacturers
who deliver ceramic waste from their own production plants for re-processing
at the Stoke-on-Trent factory.
©http://www.sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk

22. Wall and Floor Tiling: An Example
The solutions
•The ceramic waste is ground to a suitable size and added to standard ceramic
materials to create tile bodies. These recycled materials comprise on average
25% of the raw material but can be as high as 36%.
•92% of the content of the company's packaging is from recycled materials and
all waste cardboard and plastic wrapping waste is baled on site and sent for
recycling.
•Reuses water in the company's body preparation area and has removed water
from other parts of the production process.
©http://www.sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk

23. Johnson Tiles: The Results
•Energy saving measures have realised significant energy savings of 25% per
tonne of ceramic tile produced which equates to 42 million kWh per year.
•Recycling the 20,000 tonnes of ceramic waste annually diverts 24,000 cubic
metres from landfill.
•1,250 tonnes of virgin timber saved annually through the re-use of pallets on
site
•92% of the company's packaging is from recycled materials and all cardboard
and plastic wrapping waste is sent for recycling
©http://www.sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk

24. Johnson Tiles: The Results
•In the company's body preparation area 30,000m3 of water is re-used each year. In
addition, the company has also removed water from other parts of the production
process which has realised additional savings of 2,100m3 of water.
•Reusing 90% of the 10,000 plastic glaze buckets in their factory gives a saving of 5
tonnes of plastic per year.
•In addition, it is estimated that 235,000 miles of HGV journeys per year using 133,750
litres of diesel (360 tonnes of CO2) are saved on the transportation of raw materials by
using this recycled material.
©http://www.sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk

25. Johnson Tiles: Learning points
©http://www.sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk
Learning points
•Johnson Tiles has recognised the financial and environmental benefits that can
be gained through adopting a systematic approach to resource efficiency and is
committed to continuously improving its performance going forward.
•Huge savings can be made by reusing and recycling materials, equipment and
water.

26. Construction Department
City of Glasgow College
2013