Scope 3 Emissions

 

Zero Carbon Strategy

Mainer Associates offers management and monitoring advice on scope-3 embodied carbon emissions resulting from on-site development impacts.

Scope-3 Emissions: Scope 3 emissions are the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by the reporting organisation, but that the organisation indirectly impacts in its value chain.

Mainer Associates manages a developer’s scope-3 emissions by supporting post-contract teams in reaching embodied carbon targets set out by clients who have net zero carbon status targets. 

There is a limited understanding of the scale of scope 3 emissions in the CRE sector. There is a lack of sector-specific guidance for scope 3 reporting using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard (GHG Protocol). UKGBC’s ‘Guide to Scope 3 Reporting in Commercial Real Estate’ states that the “lack of consistency means reporting companies may apply poor screening exercises, undertake incorrect assessments and, ultimately, under-report scope 3 emissions” as a result.

We manage this through a combination of innovative on-site software applications and continuous consultancy through our LCA specialists.

Mainer Associates can assist clients in establishing solid development briefs and contract documentation which supports /facilitates net zero carbon targets.  Additionally, we can offer advice and scoping assessments of appropriate offsetting methods after working with designers to create low embodied carbon buildings / developments.

Software

Mainer Associates uses Qualis Flow (Qflow) to monitor site impacts and quantify and monitor embodied carbon.  QFlow has developed an intuitive, secure, and effective cloud-based solution to capture, audit, and manage construction material and waste data, available 24/7. Qflow is simple and quick to deploy over a range of construction types from major infrastructure projects to commercial and residential developments and is today used to manage over 10 billion pounds of construction. It provides:

  • Automated Data Capture

  • Automated Materials and Waste Auditing Alerts

  • Data exports

  • Sustainability certifications

Consultancy

Alongside the use of software application to automate data monitoring, we also offer in depth embodied carbon strategy implementation for contract teams.

On net zero carbon developments, contractors would be required to deliver an as-built WLC assessment through the appointment of a Mainer Associates LCA consultant. This is focused on updating the pre-contract dataset to reach a final as-built embodied carbon total. The total is detailed in a final post-completion carbon assessment and report addressing the whole development. The intention is to confirm the updated Whole life Carbon budget following the issue of the as-built embodied carbon data, along with forecasting operational carbon information.

 

Embodied Carbon Strategy

Mainer would look to develop an embodied carbon or whole life carbon strategy for the client outlining how they intend to approach the assessment throughout procurement and construction, to reach an as-built embodied carbon position.

The intention of this strategy is to provide the client with an efficient approach and platform to present opportunities to improve and reduce the final embodied carbon total of the build. The purpose is to demonstrate how the client intends to co-operate with Mainer to measure their preferred supply chain and identify ways in which carbon could be saved.

It will be critical to engage the supply chain as early as possible on each work package to ensure we put forward embodied carbon saving opportunities that meet common client requirements and which are:

·       Cost neutral

·       Programme neutral

·       Technically viable

·       Equal quality 

Between Mainer Associates and the Contractor we would agree the platform through which opportunities are tracked and presented to the client.