External environment

BWG Homes aims to be a leader in the development of the space and energy-efficient houses of the future. The Group’s products satisfy regulatory energy consumption requirements. Energy and environmental issues are taken into consideration when selecting building methods, materials and solutions from sub-contractors. BWG Homes mainly builds timber frame houses. As a building material, wood is environmentally friendly, and wood products achieve negative CO2 emissions throughout their lifecycle.

Norwegian operations

During 2009, Block Watne was able to supply low-energy houses based on the new energy regulations (TEK07) contained in the Norwegian Planning and Building Act, which came into force in August 2009. Back in 2007 all the standard houses in the portfolio were adapted to incorporate technical solutions which give a 20 per cent reduction in energy consumption. Balanced ventilation with 80 per cent heat recovery has been a standard feature of Block Watne’s houses since 2006. This satisfies the indoor climate regulations and also reduces heating costs.

An environmental and lifecycle report is produced for each dwelling produced. The report contains environmental and energy consumption data for the dwelling. All sub-contractors contributing products to a Block Watne house submit their own environmental reports. The houses’ annual energy consumption (average 17,000 kWh) for heating rooms and water is shown in specific heat-loss and energy calculations. These calculations are included in the overall documentation for the house, Average annual energy consumption for a Block Watne house satisfies the requirements laid down in the Norwegian Building Code.

In 2009, Block Watne took part in cooperation projects (Forum for Environmental Technology) with other major players in the building sector to evaluate new energy-efficiency measures based on commercial solutions demanded by the market. The cooperation projects are continuing into 2010, and are based on the goals of “Lavenergi-utvalget - the Low Energy Committee”, which are aimed at reducing energy consumption in the construction sector from 80 TWh to 70 TWh by 2020.

In 2010, Block Watne will test products and solutions to enable it to offer houses adapted to the “passive house standard”, namely houses with energy consumption of 75 kWh/m2 usable floor space.

Most houses that are produced are supplied in universal design, which means all individuals should be able to use them in the same way. These houses have step-free access, and their main functions are dimensioned to accommodate wheelchairs. Block Watne’s production system is based on a limited number of components, known building details and optimised material dimensions. Most of the building materials are made of timber. The insulation materials are produced from recycled glass, and the company uses interior cladding which does not emit gases. By continually improving building methods, the company will be able to cut material consumption even more and also reduce transportation of goods.

Waste generated in the production phase is dealt with in accordance with specified waste management plans. These plans include separation at source, which is handled by companies specialising in sorting and recycling. Surplus material from the building work is returned to the supplier.

Amounts of waste from construction sites:

Swedish operations

Environmental work is part of the standard quality programme. The aim is for all products to be recyclable or reusable. The companies have annual environment goals relating to energy consumption in the house portfolio, reduction of environmentally harmful chemicals at the production facilities and the proportion of waste going to landfill.

The three production facilities have the same technical production solu-tions which satisfy regulatory energy requirements for residential buildings. Building materials and solutions from sub-contractors are checked to ensure they follow quality and environmental specifications.

The BBR 16 building regulations issued by the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning (Boverket) require residential buildings (detached and semi-detached) to be designed with a maximum specific energy consumption of 110 kWh/m2 in zone south and 150 kWh/m2 in zone north. The regulations are checked by calculating the building’s expected energy consumption in the project phase and measuring the specific energy consumption in the completed building. A list of expected purchased energy needs in normal use has been produced for all standard houses in the portfolio.

Average energy consumption kWh per m2 in 2009, as described in the table at the bottom left, has increased by 6 per cent since 2008. This is mainly due to a change in the measurement parameters. The average U value (measurement of heat insulation level; a low U value gives good heat insulation) for 2009 was 0.27, and the target for 2010 is 0.24. The average energy consumption and average U value satisfy the requirements of the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning (Boverket).

The National Board has issued more stringent requirements regarding use of electricity for heating in houses, and these came into force on 1 January 2010. A number of construction changes were made in 2009 in order to satisfy the stricter energy consumption requirements for houses. In particular, the “Effektväggen”, a more weather-tight and better insulated external wall, was developed. This wall is produced for both brands, and all houses in 2010 will be supplied with the wall as standard. Efforts aimed at further reduction of energy consumption will continue.

Energy consumption at the production facilities is measured constantly. The Myresjö and Sundsvall production facilities use district heating fuelled by renewable energy (wood chippings). In 2010, oil heating at the Vrigstad factory will be replaced by district heating (wood chippings). 2009 energy consumption at the production facilities was 267 kWh/m2 in Myresjö, 181 kWh/m2 in Vrigstad and 104 kWh/m2 in Sundsvall.

Chemicals used in house production are checked against the Swedish Chemicals Agency PRIO List and registered in the Sunda Hus Miljödata environmental database. The aim for 2010 is to further reduce use of environment harmful substances in production and in products used in the houses. When possible, it is required that contractors register their products in the BASTA-system which is the building industry’s register of products that meet specified environmental requirements.

Waste from the production facilities and offices is sorted at source. Waste at construction sites is separated at source in accordance with local authority requirements. The proportion of waste going from the production facilities to landfill in 2009 was 2.2 per cent, compared with 2.5 per cent in 2008. The target for 2010 is 2.0 per cent.