Construction firms to develop sustainability tool

Contractors, architects and construction clients are to develop a sustainability online review site to help professionals in the area to find more reliable advice.

The Pinpoint initiative, started by the UK Green Building Council, is being led by Wates Group, Marks and Spencer, EPR Archtiects and Mitsubishi Electric Systems.

It will develop a website with reviews of the prolific amounts of sustainability tools, training and advice. A steering group including contractors BAM and Morgan Sindall will help develop the project.

Rachel Woolliscroft, sustainability director at Wates Group said: “The tool will help navigate people to information quickly and simply to drive the delivery of more sustainable buildings for the industry.”

Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council, said there had been an “explosion” of sustainability initiatives. He said: “While that has to be a good thing, it’s incredibly confusing for professionals working in this space to know where to turn for reliable advice, information, tools and guidance.”

King added that it was time to try and organise this mass of information into a navigable resource for professionals.

The site, which is still under construction, will launch at the Ecobuild conference in March 2013.