As part of their commitment to significantly reduce their carbon footprint the Midland Metro Alliance, who are delivering the extensions to the tram network on behalf of Transport for West Midlands, have announced that they have already exceeded they target ahead of World Environment Day on 5th June.
The Alliance have had a long standing commitment to helping to protect the environment and maintain biodiversity during construction activities. Their efforts have led to the team exceeding its carbon reduction target for 2023 by over 300 tonnes, making a carbon saving of 3.38g tC02e – that’s the equivalent of more than 400 million smartphones charged!
This has been achieved by implementing a number of sustainable initiatives including using sustainable concrete for the base of the track installed in the Dale End area of Birmingham. Other initiatives have included the use of renewable fuels to power all sites and machinery, the introduction of eco welfare site cabins and the addition of 48 solar energy towers to light its compounds and power the cabins.
Most of last year’s carbon savings – 1,500 tonnes – were achieved by strengthening, rather than replacing, Dudley’s historical Parkhead Viaduct structure which will carry the West Midlands Metro extension to Brierley Hill.
And that’s not all as they have also planted new greenery, including trees, plants and shrubs, along Digbeth High Street and Lower Bull Street.
Julian Nartey, Sustainability Advisor, said: “The construction industry has a key role to play in global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and the alliance is committed to driving change as we work to expand the Metro network across the West Midlands. There’s so much more we can do as an industry for both us and our environment and we will continue to strive to add responsible and sustainable practices wherever we can.”