Commitment to achieving net zero

Savvy Construction is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Baseline Emissions Footprint
Baseline emissions are a record of the greenhouse gases that have been produced in the past and were produced before the introduction of any strategies to reduce emissions. Baseline emissions are the reference point against which emissions reduction can be measured.

Baseline Year: 2023
Prior Scope 3 emissions reporting.

Baseline year emissions:

EMISSIONS TOTAL (tCO2e)

Scope 1 62.73 tCO2e
Scope 2 7.36 tCO2e

Total Emissions 70.09 tCO2e

 

Emissions reduction targets
To continue our progress toward achieving Net Zero, we have adopted the following carbon reduction targets. We project that carbon emissions will decrease over the next five years to 35 tCO2e by 2029. This is a reduction of 50%.

Completed Carbon Reduction Initiatives
The following environmental management measures and projects have been completed or implemented since the 2023 baseline.

Investment in a thermally efficient modern head office
Savvy invested in the construction of a new office in Horspath in 2018. This new building is very thermally efficient, meeting all requirements for up-to-date building regulations.

Installation of ground source heating
The office is heated 100% from our ground source heating system, which has been installed in the fields to the rear of the office. In 2023, the head office electricity use was just 7.76 tCO2e , which is a 76% reduction on the estimated average for a building of its size. 1

1. Persefoni.com. 2024.

 

Installation of solar panels
Solar panels have been fitted on the storage units to provide renewable energy for the running of the office. This provided 9,880 kWh in energy 2023, reducing reliance on the electrical grid.

Phasing out ICE vehicles and replacing them with electric vehicles
We are in a 5-year process of replacing all company vehicles currently running on combustion engines to full battery-powered vehicles. So far 26% of our fleet is electric. This will provide 32% fewer CO2 emissions over their lifetimes than equivalent modern diesel vehicles.

Installation of an electric charging point in the office car park
We have installed two charging points in the main office car park, which are free to use for our staff and customers to encourage the use of electric vehicles.

Creation of a protected nature zone
Savvy has created a nature haven on 13 acres of land to the rear of its office in Horspath. We have allowed the natural development of the marsh meadow to encourage wildflowers, insects and birds. In the future, we are committed to the following actions;

Ethical and environmental procurement
To reduce the impact of our construction projects on the local and global environment and communities, we will take the following actions (where possible and in conjunction with our client) when procuring resources;

 

Procure goods, services, and works that align with our environmental, health, and safety policies.
 

•  Reduce resource consumption and minimise the carbon emissions linked to the products, services, and works.

•  Ensure all timber and timber products are sourced legally and sustainably, and prioritise construction materials that adhere to recognised responsible sourcing standards.

• Use resource-efficient products, considering their full lifecycle.

•  Encourage the use of materials that can be reused.

• Work to reduce packaging waste and eliminate single-use plastics.

• When possible, source locally to create opportunities and increase the use of social enterprises.

•  Select and procure materials that balance social, economic, and environmental considerations.

•  Ensure fair contract pricing and terms, and uphold ethical standards, including human rights and labour practices, in accordance with our Modern Slavery Policy and the UN Global Compact Principles.

Employee travel arrangements
Savvy seeks to encourage all new employees to use public transport or car sharing where possible. We have also requested that staff arrange car sharing if they live within five miles of each other, or we have multiple staff travelling from our head office to the site for meetings. We also ask staff to try and coordinate site visits in conjunction with their colleagues to allow for car share opportunities and at non-peak traffic times to avoid impact on the local communities. We seek to reduce project-related car journeys by 50% through these methods.

 

Fossil fuel usage
We will gradually reduce the use of fossil fuels as a source on our sites. This will include;

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• Asking site managers and staff to ‘think twice’ on non-essential energy or material use in inductions.

• Using generators or vehicles only when required.

• Using battery or hybrid energy sources for tools and machinery, where possible.

Declaration and sign off
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with PPN 06/21 and the associated guidance and reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans. Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions have been reported in accordance with SECR requirements. This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and signed off by the board of directors.