Mitsubishi Electric’s groundbreaking “SUSTIE” building in Japan has received the Asian Regional Award at the ASHRAE Technology Awards for its pioneering work in net zero carbon buildings. Designed in collaboration with Mitsubishi Jisho Design and Waseda University, this project demonstrates a high-performance model of sustainable building design. Leveraging passive systems and advanced climate-responsive technologies, the project sets a benchmark for whole life carbon reduction and low...

Birmingham City University has completed a major refurbishment of its Benjamin Zephaniah Building with a strong emphasis on sustainable construction. Led by Overbury, the £11 million project focused on energy-efficient lighting, improved insulation, and low carbon construction materials. The initiative showcases how eco-design for buildings and retrofitting existing structures can significantly reduce the embodied carbon associated with demolition and new builds, aligning with net zero whole...

Birmingham City University has completed an £11 million retrofit of its Benjamin Zephaniah Building, transforming the five-storey facility into a model of low carbon design and sustainable building design. The refurbishment, delivered by Overbury, integrates low embodied carbon materials, enhanced energy efficiency systems and future-focused infrastructure—demonstrating the power of eco-design for buildings in extending the life and function of existing assets. This project exemplifies...

Real estate and construction sectors are increasingly leveraging voluntary carbon markets to address the growing financial demands of net zero targets. As whole life carbon emissions remain a major challenge, high-integrity carbon offsets are emerging as a tool to bridge emissions that cannot be eliminated on-site. Developers are integrating whole life carbon assessment protocols to ensure credible mitigation strategies while aligning with global standards on carbon footprint reduction. Green...

Oxford United’s proposed all-electric football stadium has received critical planning approval, positioning it as one of the UK’s leading examples of sustainable construction in sports infrastructure. Powering the venue exclusively through renewable energy, the project incorporates onsite solar generation, battery storage, and low-emission transport links. This signals a bold step toward net zero carbon buildings and demonstrates how sustainable building design can be scaled across...

Oxford United’s all-electric stadium has received planning approval, setting a new benchmark for sustainable building design in large-scale sports infrastructure. Fully powered by renewable energy and constructed using low carbon construction materials, the UK’s greenest stadium integrates energy-efficient systems and advanced eco-design for buildings. This high-profile development places net zero Whole Life Carbon goals at the core of public architecture. The voluntary carbon market is...

Construction companies across the UK are being urged to take full advantage of Level 7 apprenticeship funding before upcoming changes to the Apprenticeship Levy take effect. This funding supports professional development in sustainable building design and leadership, critical for driving environmental sustainability in construction. As the industry faces an urgent need to integrate low carbon design and life cycle thinking in construction, the window to build future-ready skills is closing. In...

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has partnered with the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership to help embed environmental sustainability in construction through research-led, systemic change. This strategic collaboration aims to drive adoption of sustainable building design and promote whole life carbon assessment methodologies across building lifecycles. By integrating science-based targets into professional standards, it supports the industry's move...

A recent benchmark from ShareAction exposes a widespread lack of climate ambition among the world’s leading real estate investment managers. Despite the building sector accounting for nearly 40% of global emissions, few firms have implemented robust strategies to cut embodied carbon or achieve net zero Whole Life Carbon outcomes. Weaknesses in emissions tracking, transparency, and climate risk mitigation highlight an urgent need for comprehensive Whole Life Carbon Assessment and stronger...

New digital construction management software is enabling the sector to make meaningful progress toward whole life carbon transparency. Tools that integrate material tracking, labour deployment, equipment monitoring and site management are enhancing project efficiency and data visibility. As platforms like Onsite’s gain market share, they support a critical shift from reactive to strategic resource management—key to sustainable building design and effective whole life carbon assessment. As...