EFFORTS to cut the amount of carbon used in the construction industry are being pioneered in Cumbria, thanks to a project led by Esh Group.

The company, which owns Esh Border Construction in Carlisle and Kendal, is putting apprentices through the Carbon Coach Course, a skills-building programme that instils carbon reduction and energy-management knowledge in construction workers.

Esh Group’s latest cohort of 50 apprentices is poised to start the programme, which is funded by the Construction Industry Training Board.

The four-module course – studied online – aims to shape a sustainable future for the industry while reducing costs.

Apprentices will apply their learning to real-life construction site situations as the course tasks them with reducing carbon consumption on developments.

Rita Callender, business development manager at Esh Group, said: “The Carbon Coach Course is about two key things, tackling a skills shortage in the construction industry and meeting carbon-reduction targets.

“Esh Group is excited to be leading the field in this way, and, once we’ve proven the model in a pilot, we hope to encourage other firms in our industry to use it.”

She added: “By targeting apprentices early on in their training, we can help inspire many to make carbon reduction an important part of their careers.

“From a commercial perspective this also makes sense as saving energy means reducing costs and making our business more sustainable.”

The company is committed to carbon reduction in other ways. Its Trivselhus eco-homes set new standards in energy efficiency.

The first Cumbrian Trivselhus properties at Garth House Gardens, in Brampton, went on sale last autumn at prices from £575,000.

Buyers get a four or five-bedroomed detached house that is so efficient their energy bills will be near zero. Esh is building another three in Wetheral and 16 at Langwathby in the Eden Valley.

Trivselhus by Esh is a partnership between Esh Group and the Swedish firm Södra. Södra makes the timber-framed homes in sections, which are assembled on site by Esh in as little as 16 days.