Skanska recently attended an event to mark the launch of the Mayor of London’s new RE:FIT Framework, which is providing the next round of green retrofit opportunities for London’s public sector organisations. The event also celebrates the success of the green retrofit programme to date.
Skanska is one of 13 suppliers to qualify onto the framework and will have the opportunity to bid for millions of pounds of work over the next four years.
RE:FIT is the Mayor of London’s innovative public buildings retrofit scheme set up to reduce carbon emissions in Greater London. The award-winning programme is designed to help public sector organisations achieve substantial financial savings, improve the energy performance of their buildings and reduce their carbon footprint.
The scheme enables the retrofit of existing buildings with energy-saving measures where organisations can either fund projects themselves or through a range of funding options available through the framework. It works by transferring the risk onto the supplier, guaranteeing a minimum level of annual energy savings over an agreed payback period.
The RE:FIT framework offers considerable opportunities for Skanska. Richard Byers, Associate Director, said: “Getting onto the framework is a great achievement. It gives us the ability to bid for a substantial amount of energy-performance contracting work over the next four years, with the first round of tenders being released in January 2013.”
Cecilia Fasth, Executive Vice President, commented: “It sends a very clear message to our competition that Skanska is serious and on schedule to achieve our aspiration to be the greenest provider in all of our home markets by 2015.”
The energy conservation measures that could be installed include insulation and building fabric improvements, replacement or upgrading of mechanical and electrical services equipment and the installation of bespoke energy efficiency measures, such as voltage optimisation equipment.
Already, dozens of public buildings have used RE:FIT, with works now completed or underway in 111 buildings, representing a total capital investment (by the building owners) of over £13 million.
A large number of public-sector organisations have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding to proceed with RE:FIT, including:
- 23 of the 33 London boroughs
- 18 NHS organisations
The RE:FIT programme is part of the bigger environment programme for London, which includes building better new developments, putting waste to good use and business energy efficiency.
Skanska in the UK
Skanska is involved in some of the UK’s most prestigious building and infrastructure projects, working with both private and public-sector clients. We also deliver numerous smaller schemes, including public-realm improvement, hard and soft landscaping and utilities projects.
In addition, by combining our skills and experience in construction and infrastructure development we have become a UK leader in delivering schemes in healthcare, education, defence, transportation and municipal services that bring together private and public investment.
Working together with clients, partners and our supply chain, we make a positive difference to each project. Part of that is our resolute commitment to a more sustainable world, creating green solutions and setting high standards in green construction, as well as helping project stakeholders to make more sustainable choices. In acknowledgement, in June 2011 we were named the greenest company in the UK across all industries in The Sunday Times Best Green Companies Awards.
We also strive to lead in health and safety, business ethics and the working environment. Construction News named us Employer of the Year in its 2012 awards. Our Code of Conduct and Five Zeros together embody our values and form the foundation of our culture: zero loss-making projects, zero accidents, zero environmental incidents, zero ethical breaches and zero defects.
Skanska UK is backed by the financial strength of Skanska AB in Sweden.