As utility companies across the UK implement programmes to monitor and reduce carbon emissions, there is a clear expectation for their supply chain to follow suit. Buyers are increasingly looking at suppliers environmental and sustainability policies, so it is now more important than ever for contractors such as CSC Services to demonstrate their stance on sustainability, not just through their affiliations and accreditations, but in every day practices.
Mark Lemon, Managing Director, explains some of the ways CSC Services are looking to do this across the business:
“CSC Services specialise in protective coatings, and work in partnership with many of the leading manufacturers. Coatings manufacturers invest heavily in R&D and continually update product ranges. Sustainability is very often a key innovation driver as these manufacturers look to enhance durability and improve both energy and material efficiency.
It’s really important for CSC Services to keep up to date with these product advances so they can advise clients using the most sustainable systems, particularly in terms of VOC levels and the use of recycled materials. The latest cementitious coating systems, for example, are developed using advanced waterborne technology, so they cure without the release of hazardous solvents or heavy odour, and are environmentally friendly.
For use in repairing and protecting structures such as wet wells, the latest cementitious coating systems can provide many environmental advantages over use of traditional resin systems or polyurethanes. These systems can be applied to damp substrates without the risk of osmotic blistering. This eliminates the requirement for costly heating and dehumidification which would usually be required to ensure a structure was dry before a coating could be applied. This will usually represent not only a huge cost saving but a huge carbon saving, and generally means work can take place all year round and not just in warmer and drier months.
CSC Services look to minimise waste and energy use across all parts of a refurbishment project. Induction dis-bonding is the latest technique to remove failed coatings and rust. Based on the principle of induction heating, coatings can be removed quickly from conductive materials such as steel. Manufacturers of the equipment claim there is a 75% reduction in energy using this method with minimum power consumption required. In 2017, CSC Services used the process of induction dis-bonding to remove failed coatings and rust from a filter tank. Traditionally, the process of grit blasting would be used for such a task. For a job of this size, over 40 tonnes of grit would have been used and disposed of.”