Morgan Sindall is advancing its carbon assessment tool with government backing.
- Collaboration with Nottingham Trent University enhances CarboniCa for education.
- Innovate UK’s £55,000 grant supports feasibility studies for the project.
- The software has significantly reduced carbon emissions across numerous projects.
- The initiative aims to bridge the skills gap in the construction industry.
Morgan Sindall has received a government grant aimed at promoting its carbon measuring tool, CarboniCa, within the education sector. This initiative is facilitated through a partnership with Nottingham Trent University, focusing on the tool’s adaptation for academic use. The collaboration aims to integrate CarboniCa into higher education by developing teaching modules that can be licensed to other institutions, thereby expanding its reach and impact.
With a £55,000 grant from Innovate UK, the CarboniCa Education programme embarks on conducting feasibility studies essential for its adaptation. This funding complements a previous grant of £947,000 awarded to Morgan Sindall, Nottingham Trent University, and ConstructSys for developing algorithms that streamline data collection and evaluation in whole life carbon assessments (WLCA). By automating processes, these innovations are expected to expedite carbon assessments, enhancing efficiency.
Launched in 2021, CarboniCa is already in use across more than 100 significant construction projects annually, contributing to over 30,000 tonnes of carbon savings. The software’s adaptation into educational modules includes CarboniCa Engage, which educates on the carbon impact of materials, and CarboniCa Immerse, which offers tutorials on utilising WLCA tools. Upon completion, these modules will be integrated into curriculum content related to the built environment at Nottingham Trent University.
Tim Clement from Morgan Sindall highlights the project’s role in addressing the skills deficit within the UK construction industry, particularly in green skills, as essential for achieving national net zero ambitions. According to Clement, “The whole CarboniCa programme is at the leading edge of speeding up the response to meeting the sustainability challenges our country faces.”
Professor Richard Bull of Nottingham Trent University describes the collaboration as pivotal in equipping students with the necessary skills for a sustainable future, thereby influencing education for sustainable developments in construction. He notes the exceptional opportunity this project provides to students, lecturers, and alumni to actively participate in shaping future educational paradigms.
This initiative represents a strategic step towards integrating sustainability in education, aligning with the industry’s evolving demands.
