Over time, a sound maintenance programme that supports ongoing repair as well as replacement could help contribute to wider environmental savings.  There is much debate about continuing to repair items.  Although repairing can reduce the amount of natural resources being used, this needs to be balanced against the potential benefits of replacement, especially if they have an environmental specification.  You should also consider a whole-life costing approach, where capital costs are offset through lower operational costs to the housing association (through reduced maintenance), or to the user. 

Whether considering repairs, replacement or wider refurbishment programmes, the inclusion of specific and relevant clauses into a work specification can ensure that you get the appropriate product type needed.  This is especially useful if using a new product, or a taking a new approach to refurbishment or repairs. 

Integrating environmental specification items into refurbishment/renewal design standards will help improve the environmental impact of the stock.  This could include information on the components, products, materials, methods of build etc to be implemented.  Once an approved standard/specification has been agreed, you could apply it as good practice for all new work, whether it is refurbishment, repair or new build.  The National Green Register has a specification database for more information on specific products.

This section will include example specification clauses to support contractors in delivering a scheme.  We are still seeking these from a range of housing associations.

Contractors

Maximising the contractor?s skills, and partnering with the contractor for a range of environmental improvement, should pay dividends over time.  By involving the contractor in a scheme?s design and specification, you can overcome the perceived or real risk of using new products or different approaches.  Standardisation of specifications to include more environmentally innovative products will improve contractors? knowledge and could reduce delays.

Contractors that are proactive in promoting environmentally sound approaches and have proven training, resources and skills in using them can help you get realistic estimates for work.  Skilled contractors will be sufficiently experienced to assess the risk of innovative solutions.  Expertise can be pooled on practical refurbishment and repair techniques. 

Such contractors may, however, be hard to find, so you may need to work with contractors, small or large, local or centralised, to raise awareness on environmental issues and the reasons for certain items and approaches.  Over time, partnering with such contractors could help you achieve maximum benefits. 

When using alternative products and solutions, look for opportunities to develop contracts that not only cover the installation, but the long-term maintenance and repair of the buildings.  This can help you take into account the whole-life cycle cost of buildings and their benefits by focusing contractors and design teams on long-term solutions for the buildings and the environment.