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MACE uses EMSOL to track the impact of their supply chain
Stop just monitoring air quality, EMSOL provides organisations with the data to take targeted action.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row gap=”30″ css=”.vc_custom_1580235532767{padding-bottom: 60px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Multiple stakeholders and a difficult site
As part of its 2030 vision LSE is committed to creating a #SustainableLSE. LSE’s Estates Division is responsible for providing a world-class built environment for its students and staff.
Their current project, the Marshall Building at 44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, is an urban redevelopment involving demolition of an existing building and construction of a new, mixed use building with 12-levels.
The site is located in a dense and busy part of Holborn, London, closely flanked by neighbours such as the 16th century tourist attraction The Old Curiosity Shop, LSE teaching facilities and LSE’s Student Union. The site is in the heart of the university campus, so LSE was keen to understand more about air quality challenges potentially caused by construction vehicle traffic.
This makes the site a major focus for the LSE Sustainable Futures Society, which proposed the EMSOL project.
LSE Sustainable Futures are part of LSE’s student sustainability movement, responsible for driving engagement and actively promoting sustainability action on campus. The society administers the Sustainable Projects Fund, which is financed by a tax on single-use water bottles on campus. The fund part-financed the project, alongside a contribution from LSE Estates[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1418″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” content_placement=”bottom” parallax=”content-moving” parallax_image=”2141″ css=”.vc_custom_1591366421947{padding-top: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 60px !important;background-position: center;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
““Taking action to improve air quality is challenging as it involves multiple factors and data can be hard to make sense of. A collaborative approach with different partners has proven an effective way to make progress.”
Dan Reeves, Residences Sustainability Officer, LSE
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” content_placement=”top” css=”.vc_custom_1591613888255{padding-top: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 80px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2220″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]The next piece of the puzzle is the principal contractor handling the Marshall site, Mace Group. Mace are construction industry leaders and pioneers for sustainability in construction, including an ambitious net zero carbon pledge for 2020. They’re committed to reducing outdoor workers’ exposure to ambient air pollution (to within WHO guidelines by 2025 for the majority of time at work).
Finally, there’s Hanson, the UK’s largest supplier of ready-mixed concrete. Hanson are a crucial part of the supply chain, running a fleet of 100 ready-mix vehicles across sites in London. 50-odd deliver concrete to the Marshall site on their routes.
The local authority – Westminster City Council – are also a crucial part of the equation, as their Air Quality Action Plan impacts decision-making around construction projects in the borough. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” content_placement=”bottom” parallax=”content-moving” parallax_image=”2233″ css=”.vc_custom_1591614149898{padding-top: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 60px !important;background-position: center;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
“Using EMSOL meant getting data we can take action on, to bring us closer to our net zero goal – like changing delivery patterns, informing traffic planning and evaluating equipment and supplier sources”
Ali Ashpitel, Sustainability Manager, Mace Group
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” content_placement=”top” css=”.vc_custom_1591613937167{padding-top: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 80px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Why taking steps to improve air quality has been challenging
LSE is committed to protecting its students, staff and visitors from air pollution as far as possible (see the LSE Air Quality Position Statement). Previous initiatives have included promoting cleaner air commuting routes – but LSE is keen to do more, particularly exploring the air quality impact of its construction projects.
Working in collaboration with EMSOL has allowed LSE Estates to gather evidence to enhance future action on reducing pollution. EMSOL has given LSE a better understanding of the specific impact of their construction activities on air quality, to learn where and how they can make a difference.
For Mace, previous site monitoring equipment has provided valuable data on emissions levels but the missing link has always been actionable insight into the causes of breaches.
Without this insight, it hasn’t previously been possible to take targeted action to achieve longer-term air quality improvement.
From Hanson’s perspective, environmental sustainability is an increasingly important conversation as government pressure ramps up and low emissions zones are extended. They care about doing the right thing and want to stay ahead of regulatory change – but in a tight-margin industry, action has to be cost-effective to work for the business.
Their decision to invest in upgrading their London fleet to Euro 6 reflects this stance, but it’s had little tangible commercial impact for them as there’s no evidence to justify their investment. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2223″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” content_placement=”bottom” parallax=”content-moving” parallax_image=”1656″ css=”.vc_custom_1591613530660{padding-top: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 60px !important;background-position: center;background-repeat: no-repeat;background-size:cover !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
“Solutions are luxuries unless they make business sense.”
Andrew Dixon, Regional Transport Manager, Hanson
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1580229576059{padding-top: 60px !important;padding-bottom: 60px !important;background-color: #f7f7f7 !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2224″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]EMSOL was selected to make a practical difference
By installing close-range vehicle trackers on Hanson’s fleet and pollution monitors at the main site access point, EMSOL was able to track emissions breaches as they happened (dbA; NO2, CO, O3, PM10, PM2.5, PM1) for six months through the EMSOL SaaS platform. The EMSOL Air Quality Action Platform collated emissions data into a multi-view dashboard configured to each stakeholder.
Using EMSOL gave LSE specific, real time breach evidence and the ability to report on breaches by source, which will enhance future developments in minimising air pollution impact on its community.
“Identifying specific pollution sources means you can take immediate action to shut down the problem. Small improvements in air quality have a big impact on students’ health right now”
Ethan Stratford, President, LSE Sustainable Futures Society
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1591614641972{background-color: #f7f7f7 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]For Mace, using EMSOL meant they could track the impact of their supply chain on air pollution – giving them confidence the sustainability requirements they’ve imposed are having a positive impact, and reinforcing their mandatory selection of the most efficient plant.
The data showed the majority of PM10 and NO2 breach events weren’t associated with Hanson’s Euro 6 fleet. Instead, likely causes were less efficient/older fleet vehicles outside this project’s remit, wider London air quality issues, NRMM and construction-specific activities.
With this insight, Mace is now exploring options (including submitting an IUK project in partnership with EMSOL) to secure data on the rest of the supply chain and integrate ambient air pollution, to drive targeted intervention.
From Hanson’s side, EMSOL proves their value as environmentally forward-thinking suppliers with a modern fleet that doesn’t have a significant detrimental impact on site air quality.
EMSOL would also give Hanson evidence to pinpoint vehicles that may need maintenance if they repeatedly correlate with breaches, providing an alternative to expensive, time-consuming exhaust pipe monitoring systems.
Most crucially for Hanson, this project was possible without costly vehicle downtime or disruption (vehicle tags take minutes to install) or reputation-risking cross-site data confidentiality issues (data is anonymised and tags are close-range, so they can’t track vehicles beyond the Marshall site). [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]