With the UK holding the global climate summit this November, known as COP26,  the environmental issues facing the planet are being brought to the front of everyone’s minds. It is not surprising the conversations being held revolve a lot around the production of greenhouse gases. The past decade has been the warmest on record, partly because of fossil fuel emissions, and governments around the world agree that action is needed urgently.

The construction industry accounts for a large part of the UK’s carbon emissions, as the built environment contributes around 40% of the total carbon footprint. This has led to the statement that the UK construction sector should decarbonise more urgently in line with the national emission reduction targets of 68% by 2030 and 78% by 2035 *. In the construction sector, this will be an opportunity to encourage more climate-smart production of materials. But it also creates opportunities to replace non-sustainable alternatives with more sustainable building materials.

So what can construction business owners do to help? Thinking creatively when it comes to materials can go a long way to reducing construction businesses’ carbon footprint. One of the easiest shifts that can be made is to move away from using concrete in your projects, to using ground screws instead. But what makes ground screws better for the environment? And does it make sense for your business to use them?

SUSTAINABLE

A large part of the construction industry’s impact on the environment comes from concrete, both with production and also the use in construction projects. Not only is digging for concrete foundations time consuming and also tiring, but it has a large impact on the environment. In comparison, ground screws produce 60% less CO2 than an equivalent concrete foundation.

There are several reasons for this. The screw itself is climate-smart (please drop us an email if you would like a copy of our life-cycle assessment), but the installation of the ground screw is also gentle on the environment, which makes the construction of the building itself better for the surrounding area. The screw leaves minimal damage when it is time to remove it. This means that the ground screw is also suitable for temporary buildings and projects that would otherwise leave a big impression on the area.

REUSE AND RECYCLE

Being able to recycle building materials is becoming increasingly important, and as mentioned will go a long way to reaching the targets set by the UK government. Stop Digging ground screws are as easy to recycle as metal, compared to concrete which cannot be recycled or reused when its life is finished. Our ground screws are designed to be 100% reusable and recyclable, so they are easy to reuse for other projects.

The removal itself is an uncomplicated process that most importantly does not damage the ground and soil around it in the way that digging and installing concrete would. This is a massive plus for site-set up, caravan parks, festivals, farmers, temporary classrooms or buildings to name just a few, as the foundation can be relocated to a new location if the homeowners decide to move. Ground screws come in different sizes and can be adjusted to suit different areas, so even if the homeowners are moving their building to a different terrain they won’t need to worry about changing the foundation. If you want to move the structure, the ground screws can be moved with it causing minimal disruption to the surrounding area.

GREAT QUALITY

Sustainability is a big part of environmental work and by having great quality ground screws we help create a more sustainable future. The screws are made of steel and covered with a thinner layer of zinc and are also hot-dip galvanized. They go through a rigorous testing process. We have developed specifications regarding compression, tensile and horizontal load that has a 100 year++ life expectancy (dependant on soil conditions) and we provide a 25 year guarantee, which makes ground screws not only a sustainable building material but a long-term investment. As they are easy to install and remove/reuse without damaging the ground.

Stop Digging ground screws are a sustainable building material for various construction projects, large and small, that causes minimal damage to the environment. Does it also make business sense to use ground screws? The answer is yes and here are three reasons why:

• Installing an individual screw usually takes no more than five minutes.
• No digging and carrying of heavy tools.
• It is not weather dependent.

These three reasons will give you as a construction owner more time to work on other projects, and also save you money in the long term.

The time for change is now. By moving away from more traditional construction techniques, and using Stop Digging ground screws, you can do your part for the environment while still doing what is best for the health of your business. If you would like any more information about how you could use Stop Diggings ground screws in your projects please contact us on: SALES@STOPDIGGING.CO.UK or 020 3970 3979