Marcelle Hornshaw

Said the following about Gary O'Brien:

“Gary is working for Crossrail as part of ATCjv Systemwide. His enthusiasm and friendly nature has taken Environmental Performance to the next level. Since joining the project he has worked across all levels to promote and embed innovation and best practices from the start of construction, included implementing energy efficient initiatives and DPF supplier engagement.

We would like to nominate Gary O’Brien as Graduate of the Year for his innovative thinking, ability to communicate with the team at all levels and his drive to achieve a world class, sustainable legacy for ATCjv and Crossrail. He has a proactive attitude and is always chasing solutions. His creative style and thoughtful approach has endeared him to both the project team and the client alike.

“Gary’s determination to deliver all aspects of sustainability on site has been nothing short of inspirational. He has taken on all challengers from engaging the workforce to implementing advanced energy saving initiatives. He is a real asset to the C610 team and I feel extremely confident that he will keep championing sustainability for the entirety of C610s time on site”

Jamie Williams - Crossrail Environmental Advisor (Systemwide)

Gary’ commitment to a number of multiple sustainability project has identified environmental successes these include;-

Environmental Close Call Campaign

Designing, implementing and championing the Costain Group (corporate level) environmental close call campaign. Using data from various Costain site across the region, he has mapped and increased the awareness of Environmental Close Call reporting so that trends can be identified from a previously was a weak reporting field.

Energy saving strategies

Working closely with the M&E team he has identified and introduced various areas of energy savings including the use for new Photocell LED lights along site hoarding at Plumstead, on the 78 bulbs which stretch 187m across our North boundary hoardings. The concept is simple. Reduce the duration the lights are on, and reduce the energy demands of the individual bulbs by using 6w LED’s compared to 40w Halogen bulbs. The outcome has generated a reduction in embodied carbon and significant financial savings.

1) Total financial costs incurred for LED photocell innovation retro fit = £1423.72

2) Payback time = 6 months ~

3) Total saving over project lifetime = £6456.00

4) Total energy saving over project = 76,645 Kwh

5) Total carbon saving over project lifetime= 34.14 tCo2e

Three Phase PowerCube:

Gary has engaged with both the ATC plant manager and the suppliers to introduce the Power Cube is a portable energy pod that stores and delivers clean, silent power and acts as an alternative to gas oil powered conventional generators. Resulting in is significant savings in fuel expenditure and CO2 emissions. As the Power Cube operates by working alongside and electronically converting stored energy into mains power when the site load is low or when silent running is preferred, the generator is automatically turned off and Power Cube continues to silently to reliably operate the hoarding lights, security cabins and drying rooms throughout the night completely free from noise and fuel dependent generators

Since mobilisation in February the PowerCube has generated:

1) Total weekly tCO2 e Saving: 3.39

2) Total weekly cost saving: £351.44

3) Zero night-time noise emissions from power generation

4) Intangible statement of environmental intent

DPF / Air Quality / Supplier engagement:

Working closely with A-Plant, ATC’s plant supplier, Gary has pushed the boundaries of contract requirements and perused in-depth and detailed analysis of our diesel powered plant.

Gary developed collaborative relationship established between ATC and A-Plant with the instigation of a system to monitor its performance and trend emissions ATC have been conducting periodic exhaust tests using a sophisticated EiUK emissions analyser. Conducting visits the A-Plant Watford depot to test their products to ensure environmental ‘world class’ compliance.

1) 85% reduction in PM10 proven

2) £100 week saving in hire price

3) Periodical plant emissions tests

4) Sustainable supplier engagement

Gary has communicated continued to communicate this efficiently to all Crossrail projects via EMF.

Other Activities

Gary also participated in a volunteering day ‘Biodiversity Event’ in North Woolwich, not only taking part in the event , but producing a social sustainability report on the success of the day to the wider Crossrail and Costain audience.

With a strong proactive attitude to ATC’s aspiration to be ‘World Class’ project, Gary is a key role to promoting environmental awareness, promoting for water and waste reduction methods and leading a pollution prevention work force engagement.“