The UK government’s new 40-step plan to accelerate onshore wind farm development signals a shift towards environmental sustainability in construction. By replacing legacy planning obstacles with streamlined processes, the initiative is expected to catalyse investment and maximise renewable capacity within the built environment. This policy shift demonstrates the commitment to net zero whole life carbon goals, integrating low carbon design and renewable energy into core construction practices,...

Efforts to minimise avoidable plastic in construction are intensifying, as industry groups in the UK highlight the environmental impact of construction plastics. Reducing plastic waste directly supports the circular economy in construction and facilitates resource efficiency in construction. Industry campaigns are now encouraging the adoption of sustainable building practices, such as specifying low embodied carbon materials and sustainable material specification, ensuring the carbon footprint...

The movement towards decarbonising the built environment is gaining momentum, with the ULI Net Zero Imperative highlighting the significance of whole life carbon assessment as a foundation for delivering net zero carbon buildings. Their latest industry insights confirm that true progress relies on whole life carbon accounting, rigorous embodied carbon analysis, and integrating life cycle cost and lifecycle assessment into every phase of building delivery. Cross-sector collaboration, robust...

The construction sector is seeing rapid integration of digital solutions such as construction procurement software, revolutionising resource efficiency in sustainable building design. This technology optimises materials ordering and project management, significantly reducing errors, waste, and the carbon footprint of construction. By streamlining procurement and transactions, the industry supports key sustainability strategies, including whole life carbon assessment, lifecycle assessment, and...

Major infrastructure and regulatory updates are reshaping environmental sustainability in construction across the globe. Pakistan’s government has announced investments in new water storage facilities, including the Diamer Bhasha dam, prioritising resource efficiency in construction to enhance climate resilience and food security. This reflects an increasing focus on life cycle cost and whole life carbon considerations, as such projects demand whole life carbon assessment to ensure long-term...

The construction industry is at a pivotal point as both public policy and private sector investments increasingly shape the future of environmental sustainability in construction. In the UK, Ofgem’s proposal for a £3.1 billion reduction in grid investment threatens to slow the rollout of energy-efficient buildings and impede wider adoption of net zero carbon buildings. Delays in connecting new sites may challenge the integration of sustainable building practices and renewable building...

Amazon has set a new standard in sustainable construction with the launch of its geothermal and solar-powered fulfilment hub in Japan. This innovative project showcases the potential for sustainable building design and the integration of renewable energy systems into large-scale industrial buildings. The initiative demonstrates real progress towards net zero whole life carbon operations, while motivating the global construction sector to prioritise embodied carbon reduction and energy-efficient...

Sustainability in construction is under intense scrutiny as global regulators and investors weigh the need for green infrastructure against financial and operational realities. In the UK, proposed cuts to electricity grid upgrades threaten progress towards net zero whole life carbon and pose significant risks for sustainable construction projects reliant on robust, clean energy systems. Aligning infrastructure ambitions with climate targets is critical for net zero carbon buildings and for...

Driven by the urgent need to decarbonise the built environment and accelerate sustainable construction, the UK intensifies debate over electricity grid investment, a foundational move for electrifying construction processes and supporting large-scale adoption of low carbon building technologies. The current regulatory climate, with Ofgem proposing limitations on funding for transmission expansion, raises concerns for future green construction capacity and the broader carbon footprint of...

Etex’s inauguration of a £1.7 million plasterboard factory in Bristol marks a significant step towards reducing embodied carbon in construction materials. Local manufacturing strengthens sustainable construction by shortening supply chains, diminishing the carbon footprint of construction deliveries, and supporting circular economy in construction efforts. By aligning production with regional demand, this development aids resource efficiency in construction and increases access to low carbon...