Sustainable building practices and technologies for reduced carbon footprints

 

We work hard to protect the environment. From the efficiency of the sustainable buildings we deliver and our production processes, to the way we run our business. Portakabin was the first modular building company that committed to meeting the challenges of the Major Contractors Group Sustainability Charter. We remain just as committed today to sustainable buildings, actively assessing and improving our performance on an ongoing basis.

  1. In-house sustainable-design experts

    Our in-house sustainable-design team are highly experienced in carbon-critical design pathways as well as environmental and energy performance analysis techniques and utilise these approaches to ensure that sustainability is at the core of our design philosophies when we produce sustainable buildings.

    This is backed up by our Responsible Business objectives and practices, where Sustainability and Environmental Protection are within our core Business policies and drive us to be a Responsible Business.

    The advantage that we offer by having in-house Architectural, Engineering and Sustainability teams is important. Having a complete design team that works together on a daily basis ensures that a thorough examination of all design options is carried out throughout the design development to create a building that works both aesthetically as well as environmentally.

  2. Responsible construction

    Energy use and waste minimisation.

    • Detailed energy monitoring across all sites helps us control energy use and introduce efficiencies, wherever possible
    • We source the majority of our materials from certified sustainable and managed sources.
    • Insulation material used in wall and roof panels contains no HCFCs and  has an ozone-depletion potential of zero.
    • We use lean engineering to make our manufacturing processes as efficient as possible use.
    • Intelligent design removes waste-generating operations from the manufacturing process.
    • Since January 2012 we have proudly upheld our Zero Waste to Landfill achievement, with any non-recyclable waste incinerated for power generation.

  3. Buildings that help you improve your carbon footprint

    Air permeability rates that exceed targets

    Precision-made steel-framed sustainable buildings minimise air leakage for improved thermal efficiency, lower running costs and reduced carbon emissions.

    To demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations, measured air permeability should not be worse than the limiting value of 10 m3/(h∙m2) @ 50 Pa. The specific results that we get after completing air tightness measurements on our modular buildings are much lower.

    Independent air permeability tests from installed buildings have given the following average air leakage rates.

Independent air permeability tests from installed buildings have given the following average air leakage rates.

Product

Duplex

Titan

Ultima

Measured Air Permeability

3.84 m3/(h-m2)

2.69 m3/(h-m2)

2.71 m3/(h-m2)

Independent air permeability tests from installed buildings have given the following average air leakage rates.

Product Measured Air Permeability
Duplex 3.84 m3/(h-m2)
Titan 2.69 m3/(h-m2)
Ultima 2.71 m3/(h-m2)

This contributes to decreasing the heat loss from our buildings and therefore the building CO2 emission rates and aids greater improvements over target emission rates. It also demonstrates that our buildings exceed the Building Regulations Part L requirements.

  1. Thermal compliance (BBA)

    The highly insulated, steel-framed Portakabin modular building system features a composite panel construction that ensures continuity of insulation across the building envelope. This design reduces the risk of condensation and delivers optimum thermal efficiency. All of our thermal calculations and the values given on the BBA certificates have been carried out using 3d modelling and the results independently verified by BBA.

  2. Sustainable design options for your buildings

    To enhance the environmental performance of your building you can choose from a range of sustainable-design options.

    Low and zero carbon (LZC) technologies such as solar heating systems, passive ventilation, air-source and ground-source heat pumps and green roofs can easily be incorporated into your building.

    Our standard products include energy efficient lighting and heating controlled by wireless controllers. Purpose-provided passive natural ventilation minimises energy consumption for both environmental and economic benefits as well as a comfortable working environment.

    It is also possible to upgrade your building to include lean, clean and green technologies.

  3. Lean technologies

    • LED lighting
    • Daylight controls
    • Mechanical heat recovery ventilation

  4. Clean technologies

    • Air or ground source heat pumps – The latest R32 refridgerant units can now offer energy efficiencies of up to 500% in heating mode and 900% in cooling mode. This means for every unit of electricity you put into the unit you get 5 units of heating back. Such highly efficient technologies are seen as a major solution to climate change effects contributed by the built environment
    • Green roofs – The additional level of insulation reduces heat loss from our buildings, but also provides a macro environment for wildlife species

  5. Green technologies

    • Solar thermal heating – These systems harness energy from the sun to generate heating and to provide hot water. They can reduce hot water bills by up to 50%. Solar thermal technology is particularly suited to buildings that have high hot water use
    • Solar photovoltaics – Photovoltaic systems use solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity. An installation with a peak output of 1kW can displace around 0.3 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year that would otherwise need to be generated by fossil fuels. These systems are generally used in parallel with the electricity grid. The photovoltaic (PV) modules can be roof-mounted or integrated into the roof or walls of your modular building

  6. Third-party recognition

    A number of our products and processes have gained third party accreditation or recognition such as ISO accreditation for environmental management and a 4 Star rating by the zero waste recognition scheme Investors in Zero Waste.

As a school, we are very passionate about the environment and it really appealed to us that refurbished buildings are a highly sustainable alternative to new build because the steel structure is recycled.

Nadine Doble, Business Manager, The Piggott School

Certifications and Accreditations

Find out more about third party verification for our products and processes

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