Environmental Policy:

1.0. Tweedale Limited commits itself to be a responsible member of society, to treat the general public, the community and the environment within which it operates with respect.

2.0. Tweedale Limited will continue to be a member of the Business in the Community movement, and to support other local initiatives, encouraging its employees to join in the schemes enhancing the environment within which we operate - by means of day and block release or secondment - and encouraging the communication of the results of such work to other employees.

3.0. Tweedale Limited recognises the importance of environmental issues and commits itself to work towards the introduction of processes and practices that least harm, or do not harm, the environment. It welcomes ideas for protecting the environment from its operations from whatever source, and will work to introducing such feasible and viable ideas.

4.0. Tweedale Limited will work towards the reduction/elimination of waste and the maximisation of the use of resources.

5.0. The views of pressure groups and those representing environmental groups will be considered objectively and borne in mind when making any decisions on these issues.

6.0. Tweedale Limited will endeavour to support local education establishments generally and in detail by representing the Company through the training organisations, Compact, The Industrial Society and The Wolverhampton Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

7.0. Tweedale Limited will occupy and use its facilities with due regard for the interests of its neighbours whether these be domestic or business.

8.0. Complaints about the activities of the Company will be dealt with courteously and with patience. A full investigation will always be mounted and the findings will be conveyed to the complainant and a record kept.

9.0. Wherever possible waste products will be saved for recycling either internally or externally. Tweedale Limited will provide suitable facilities for this purpose and encourages all employees to use such facilities to recycle waste products. Where possible company recycling will try to benefit local or national charities.

BUILDING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

It is Tweedale Limited’s policy to draw the client’s attention to matters which may have a significant impact on all environmental and energy conservation matters.

Agenda’s for design team meetings are required where appropriate to include the heading ‘Environmental Matters’ and refer in full to the relevant aspects of the Building Research Establishment Environment Assessment Method (BREEM) requirements.

An ‘aide memoir’ for discussion at such meetings includes the items shown below, though it must be appreciated that additional items and specialist aspects relating to individual clients requirements, would be included as appropriate.

Site Aspects:

* Impact on the existing environment, destruction of landscape, modifications to natural features. * Exploitation of site to minimise the inclusion of features which may have long term costs in use. * Orientation of the building to exploit the use of positive natural features eg. daylighting and measures to reduce the impact of solar problems. * Consideration of any special conservation orders relevant to the site.

Building Aspects

* Creation of spaces to minimise the need for energy demanding systems - air conditioning, artificial light, ventilation. * Acknowledgement of the relationship between orientation and energy use.

Fabric Design

* The use of the external fabric as a climate modifier - the thermal impact of the fabric, the role of the window in the positive entry of light and the negative loss of energy. * The long term value of selecting materials which will require low maintenance.

Selection of Materials

* To select materials from sustainable resources. * To select materials which will have a minimal impact on users. * To specify materials with a long life where required for long term use.

Building Services

* Reduction of energy use through careful fabric design. * Introduction of systems which recognise the variety of human needs.

Construction Stage

* Minimise the use of materials which can be harmful to the building operatives. * Utilise construction details which reduce waste. * Reduction of pollution to the environment. * Optimum ‘buildability’ of the project by simplified programming. * Avoidance of waste.

In addition, the following aspects also form part of the check procedures:

Avoidance of nuisance from:

* Smoke, dust, rubbish etc * Noise * Materials identified as deleterious * Insulation materials with ozone depleting gases * Un-necessary escapes of CFC refrigerants

Use of:

* ‘Long Life, Loose fit, Low Energy’ principles of design * Recycled materials * Low energy lighting * Exterior lighting fittings to reduce upwards ‘spillage’ pollution * Hardwoods only from proven sustainable sources

Disposal of:

* Waste matters in accordance with the Duty of Care provisions of the Environmental Protection Act.

The majority of the matters listed can be integrated into a building design with little or no additional cost. Where costs would be affected, the implications are fully reported and set out in order that the necessary agreement and instructions could be approved prior to incorporation into any project.