The UK construction sector is moving towards large-scale sustainable energy infrastructure. The £200m financing of the Thorpe Marsh battery project, backed by the National Wealth Fund, demonstrates investment needed to stabilise renewable power supply and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Battery energy storage systems support the resilience of power infrastructure that underpins energy-efficient buildings and green construction projects, enabling future-proofed grids aligned with net zero...

The UK has confirmed £1bn backing for the country’s largest battery energy storage system at Thorpe Marsh, capable of powering over 785,000 homes. Large-scale energy storage is becoming central to sustainable construction within energy infrastructure, supporting the transition to net zero Whole Life Carbon. Alongside this, Jones Bros has been appointed to deliver another BESS facility in Newport, reinforcing the role of low carbon design in modern green infrastructure projects addressing the...

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has introduced a global standard for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in surveying. This connects directly with sustainable building design, where AI supports Whole Life Carbon Assessment, material selection, and lifecycle assessment. Embedding ethical guidance in digital tools ensures environmental sustainability in construction and strengthens sustainable construction practices. It also bolsters confidence that low carbon design...

The sensitive refurbishment of Custom House in London has been approved, marking a significant case of sustainable building design within a Grade I-listed heritage site. The redevelopment will incorporate energy-efficient buildings principles while protecting historical value, highlighting how whole life carbon assessment and embodied carbon reduction can be integrated into complex urban conservation projects. This type of eco-design for buildings demonstrates how low carbon design is becoming...

Europe is embracing measurable climate standards, as the Low Carbon Building Initiative granted its first certifications in Germany and Belgium. Projects such as The Stack in Munich and Luxia in Brussels are now recognised as low carbon buildings due to a rigorous Whole Life Carbon Assessment that covers embodied carbon in materials, operational use, and end‑of‑life demolition impacts. This highlights a shift toward verifiable sustainable building practices and greater accountability in...

The Low Carbon Building Initiative has marked a milestone by issuing its first low carbon building labels in Germany and Belgium, recognising The Stack in Munich and Luxia in Brussels as models of energy-efficient buildings. The scheme targets embodied carbon and Whole Life Carbon by setting rigorous benchmarks across the entire building lifecycle performance. This move places Whole Life Carbon Assessment at the centre of environmental sustainability in construction and signals a wider market...

Japanese firm Gunze has developed a technology that measures how much carbon dioxide is absorbed by rooftop gardens and vertical planting. This advance offers a new way to quantify embodied carbon reduction and the carbon footprint of construction linked to greening infrastructure. Integrating such metrics into whole life carbon assessment provides clarity for sustainable building design and supports greater accountability across fast-growing cities. Accurate measurement also strengthens...

Emma Reynolds has been appointed as the UK’s new Environment Secretary, a role that places sustainability in construction at the forefront of government policy. With the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors urging continuity of reform, the sector is focusing on whole life carbon assessment, life cycle cost strategies and embodied carbon reduction to accelerate net zero whole life carbon outcomes. This appointment is seen as critical for advancing environmental sustainability in...

The appointment of Emma Reynolds as the UK’s new Environment Secretary signals potential shifts in regulatory frameworks that could shape environmental sustainability in construction. With housing and infrastructure central to national growth, the construction sector is preparing for stronger enforcement of sustainable building practices and greater demand for whole life carbon assessment across projects. Clearer guidance from government could accelerate low carbon design and improve resource...

The appointment of Emma Reynolds as UK Environment Secretary signals increased urgency for environmental sustainability in construction. With the built environment contributing nearly 40% of emissions, expectations are high that whole life carbon policies and stricter efficiency standards will accelerate. The integration of whole life carbon assessment into planning frameworks is being viewed as essential for achieving net zero whole life carbon targets, with professional bodies such as RICS...