Centre for Low Emission Construction

The Centre for Low Emission Construction (CLEC) is part of the Aerosol Science team, running projects that combine the specialist research skills from across the entire Environmental Research Group, and has over 20 years' experience working with central government policy makers, local planning authorities and partners within construction industry and their supply chain. They also work with equipment manufacturers, and organisations bringing technology innovation to the sector.

Research is often conducted using active construction and demolition sites as 'living labs' for emission measurement trials and to test the efficacy of mitigation and abatement techniques under real-world conditions. This has allowed us to design an improved approach to emission inventory development for non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) to inform future generations of policy makers and model the benefits of emission reduction strategies.

Research

CLEC aims include:

• Raising awareness of the air quality impacts from construction and demolition activities, both to the industry itself, and wider government, non-government organisations.
• Support international, national and local government in the development and delivery of policies to reduce emissions from demolition and construction projects.
• Support industry and regulatory bodies in the delivery of demolition and construction projects that minimise the health and environmental impacts.
• Support the industry in decarbonisation strategies to achieve NetZero targets.
• Deliver high quality, peer reviewed research to advance the understanding of reducing machine exhaust and fugitive dust emissions construction projects.
• Work with manufacturers and construction industry to develop low emission technologies to deliver cost effective, cleaner practices.
• Quantify the health impacts from emissions for people working in the construction sector and evaluate approaches to minimise exposure.
• Provide independent scientific evidence and develop guidance for industry, planners, and air quality professionals.
• Train the next generation of researchers to establish low emission construction approaches.

Further information on CLEC and our current projects can be found on the Centre for Low Emission Construction website.