Construction firms are being urged to ditch diesel and use electricity to power site machinery enabling them to cut carbon emissions by 97 per cent, by the National Federation of Builders, NFB.
The trade body has partnered with energy consultants Utility Team to help builders secure a green temporary building supply offering electricity from renewable sources for up to three years.
NFB chief executive Richard Beresford said: “Due to its intensive processes and reliance on diesel generation, the construction industry has always been a heavy energy user. In turn, there has been a significant amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere.”
He added that most construction firms should be phasing out all their diesel generators and switching to having a green temporary building supply.
Incentives to do so will increase once tax rebates of 46.81 pence per litre on red diesel, which has a marker dye, finish in April. Currently, the levy on red diesel is 11.41 pence per litre but in April it will pay the same levy as white diesel of 57.95 pence per litre.
Historically contractors have shied away from using temporary building supplies because of the infrastructure cost and the time take to negotiate supply with distribution network officers.