McAleer & Rushe are one of Northern Ireland's leading Construction and Property Development companies

Environmental Policy

McAleer and Rushe have extensive experience in delivery high standards of sustainable buildings under different assessment systems.

Within London we have delivered 4 projects (Swiss Centre, Baker Street Offices, Baker Street residential and Blackfriars Multiuse Development) under the Greater London Authority Energy and Efficiency Policy one of the most demanding in the UK.

Out project at Swiss centre incorporates 23 by 100m deep bore holes for a geothermal heating and cooling plants this is linked to a tri generation system using a combined heat and power unit coupled with absorption chillers, these are further enhanced with a 30m2 PV array and a 40m2 solar water heater evacuated tube array. The total scheme saves 7750 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

We have delivered a BREEAM excellent bespoke assessment including post occupancy review at our multiuse site beside Brighton Station this site also achieved an A rated EPC incorporating an air tightness of 3.4 solar water heaters and a PV array. As part of the scheme we enhanced the ecology of the site with green walls, and bird and bat boxes. We also applied water saving solutions including rain water harvesting and reuse for toilet flushing.
Our residential scheme at Baker Street was assessed under the code for sustainable home and achieved level 4 (extremely onerous considering level 5 is zero energy) this project incorporated air source heat pump linked to whole house vent and heat recovery coupled with solar water heater, PV panels and rain water reuse, air tightness below 5.

The key components and standards of a sustainable building should minimise the impact of economic, social and environmental factors holistically as compared to the building not constructed. Minimising these factors delivers a sustainable building. Building and general regulations, BREEAM, Sustainable development polices guide a development.

Economic:

Construction will provide a positive impact by providing construction jobs and that for the building users. The construction will require new materials providing money into the economy for materials and transport. The key components of this will be the fabric and building services installations and standards based on employment laws/ trading standards.

Social:

A nursing home has a positive social impact by its use as in the care of staff and residents the impact on their families/ community. Construction personnel also have a social aspect providing training for construction skills, interaction with the community and support for their families. Aspects/standards of this can be assessed through BREEAM and Sustainable development policies.

Environmental:

The building will have a construction impact and operational impact. Using responsibly sourced building materials with a low embodied environmental impact construction impact is minimised. Local suppliers/ materials reduce transport related emissions. Construction techniques to minimise energy usage and wastage from site together with pollution control will have a less damaging environmental impact. Building design by reducing demand, delivering it efficiently and then using low or zero carbon fuels the ongoing environmental impact is reduced. e.g. providing super-insulation walls with smaller heating. Building regulations, BREEAM, Sustainable development policies all feed into this.