New Green Fund Launched

Skanska (UK) has launched a new Green Fund to help the construction industry invest in cost-saving green solutions and initiatives, living by its commitment to energy conservation and carbon reduction.

The fund is a joint venture between Skanska and CO2Sense, the not-for-profit, low-carbon expert company that helps organisations to improve their environmental performance.

Following an initial injection of cash the Green Fund ‘pot’ will then grow year-on-year as it receives payback from successful green initiatives, enabling it to provide even more investment for future ideas.

Skanska’s project and bid teams can apply for seed funding of up to £25,000 from the Green Fund to invest in environmental solutions that are attractive to current or new clients.

Potential ideas can include any innovative product, technology, service or process that will reduce carbon, use less energy, water and raw materials, or produce less waste.

Skanska is now encouraging its project and bid teams to download application forms from an intranet page to provide a brief overview of the initiatives being proposed.

A ‘Green Steering Committee’ made up of senior management will review the applications and invite successful teams to Dragon’s Den-style presentations to discuss their ideas further.

The new Green Fund is one of four initiatives Skanska has launched as part of its annual Environment Week, which starts on Monday 11 June 2012. Others include: The green retrofit of Skanska’s head office, in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, An online ‘Site Swap Shop’, to help reduce the waste of spare materials and The launch of a supply chain green solutions award (third year running)