Welfare units are a vital element of any construction site, but not all welfare units are created equal. 

Sourcing the right welfare vans and mobile welfare units can actually have a dramatic impact across a number of areas, and in this article we’re going to look at five key ways switching to eco-friendly welfare units will improve your site in 2021.

1.  Reduced emissions 

Sustainability is a defining challenge for the construction industry, and mobile welfare units and welfare vans are a key piece of the puzzle. 

With the UK’s hugely ambitious new target of reducing emissions by nearly 70% in the coming decade, leaders are feeling a new pressure to implement innovative, eco-friendly strategies and find ways to improve the energy efficiency of their sites. 

Mobile welfare units are an ‘easy win’ in this context: they offer clear ecological benefits from the moment they are introduced to the site. Products like our ECO10 Smart Welfare Unit run on hybrid power, have a unique water WC system and are transported by ULEZ towing vehicles, all of which radically reduces both the transport and running fuel emissions.   

By comparing the performance of our eco-friendly welfare units with the industry standards, we’ve been able to put some exact numbers on the ecological impact of switching away from traditional units onsite. 

The EC010 uses over 90% less fuel on a daily basis than a standard static unit. If we assume a large contractor uses 100 units, switching to eco-friendly welfare units could reduce their annual onsite CO₂ emissions by 47 tonnes – the equivalent of planting over 2.2 million trees. 

2.  Employee experience 

Employee wellbeing is paramount on construction sites, with mental health and employee burnout an important consideration. 

Larger, better designed welfare units create a more positive, more inclusive and safer environment for workers on site. Our ECO10 welfare units, for example, fit up to 10 workers at a time, as well as providing vastly improved hygiene and break facilities. 

These may seem like relatively small factors, but the combined improvements to employee experience can be massive. And this in turn creates ripple effects, leading to improvements in productivity, employee retention and overall staff morale accruing over time. 

3.  Lower service costs 

Maintaining your equipment on site is vital but often costly, both in terms of the price of regular servicing and the emissions produced transporting service vehicles to and from the site. 

Eco-friendly mobile welfare units reduce these costs considerably: our ECO units feature non-chemical, extra-large smart water systems, for example, which run so efficiently that they negate the traditional requirement for weekly servicing; instead, their average service interval is a full 18 days without compromising on facilities.

The net result is reduced transport risk, fewer man hours required to manage services, and lower service vehicle emissions from this unique, extra-large smart water system. And this is all achieved whilst reducing the Health and Safety vehicle risk onsite by up to 60%. 

4.  Easier access 

Moving vehicles and equipment to and around your site can be a big challenge. But our mobile welfare units allow lower cost, easier access and delivery. 

All of our ECO mobile welfare units are towable, with hydraulic setdown in just six seconds, as well as being more economical and easier to transport and locate onsite, requiring no access or lifting plans. Plus, with our own skilled drivers and fleet of modern ULEZ pick-ups, we produce far lower emissions than standard HGVs, helping to reduce substantially the welfare net carbon footprint for projects. 

Ultimately, this unparalleled flexibility allows for more dynamic project management with far fewer logistical headaches and a much greener footprint. 

5.  Bottom line performance 

Sustainability is essential. But too often, the movement towards eco-friendly technology is seen as a challenge, when it ought to be seen as an opportunity. 

Eco-friendly facilities are often not only environmentally efficient but financially too: by reducing operational and service costs, facilities which are generally marketed towards environmentally conscious users can also radically improve a business’s bottom line. 

Because the Smart water WC system requires far fewer services, our ECO Welfare Units can produce a 60% reduction in operational and labour costs. Add to that the savings on fuel mentioned above, and the right mobile welfare units could see a huge saving in overall costs that amounts to a significant increase in bottom line profitability.

Kelling Group is the UK market leader in mobile welfare hire. Browse and compare our range of eco-friendly mobile welfare units and welfare vans on our website to establish which product best suits your needs.