Ørsted’s decision to halt its Hornsea 4 offshore wind farm highlights concerns over the economic viability of large-scale renewable energy projects in the UK. This announcement amplifies questions about the nation’s ability to reach its 2030 clean energy targets, a key factor in decarbonising the built environment. Offshore wind plays a major role in enabling net zero whole life carbon and reducing the operational carbon of new infrastructure. Uncertainty in project delivery may challenge...

Sustainable construction is seeing rapid change as the sector integrates advanced technologies to lower the carbon footprint of construction and address environmental sustainability in construction. UK engineers are now using artificial intelligence daily to improve sustainable building design, with an Arup survey highlighting AI’s role in enhancing energy efficiency and driving whole life carbon reductions. These technologies support the shift towards net zero whole life carbon in buildings...

UK engineers are turning to artificial intelligence to support sustainable building design and accelerate progress towards net zero whole life carbon targets. These digital tools are being used to optimise energy-efficient buildings, improve low carbon design, and underpin eco-design for buildings, reflecting a wider shift towards data-driven environmental sustainability in construction. The adoption of AI is expected to help with whole life carbon assessment, lifecycle assessment, and reduce...

Kiverco has secured a contract to manufacture and install a new recycling plant for the McKinstry Group as part of a £16 million sustainable construction project. This milestone builds vital recycling infrastructure, supporting the circular economy and increasing resource efficiency in construction. Expanding recycling capacity is essential for reducing the embodied carbon in materials, lowering the carbon footprint of construction, and promoting end-of-life reuse in construction. Advanced...

The UK government has advanced environmental sustainability in construction by appointing the UK Deposit Management Organisation Ltd to operate the new Deposit Return Scheme. This move aims to boost recycling rates of single-use packaging, aligning with the principles of circular economy and circular economy in construction. Improved recycling of construction waste and enhanced infrastructure are expected to lower the carbon footprint of construction projects and support resource efficiency in...

The UK construction industry is confronting new obstacles after a pause in the Hornsea 4 offshore wind farm project, one of the largest renewable energy developments, due to rising supply chain costs, growing operational risks, and higher interest rates. This has raised concerns over the environmental sustainability in construction and progress toward net zero carbon, emphasising vulnerabilities in both supply chain resilience and the availability of low carbon construction materials. Industry...

UK construction output has declined for a fourth straight month, reflecting ongoing economic pressure and uncertainty. Despite a slower rate of decrease, the sector faces persistent challenges, accentuating the urgency for investment in sustainable construction and green infrastructure. Achieving environmental sustainability in construction, while progressing towards net zero carbon and decarbonising the built environment, remains a central goal for industry recovery and...

UK construction project managers report increased confidence in delivering the 2050 net zero carbon and net zero whole life carbon targets. This optimism persists despite political uncertainty, demonstrating a robust shift towards decarbonising the built environment and advancing sustainable building design. Expertise in environmental sustainability in construction is driving independent progress, as project teams prioritise operational carbon and embodied carbon reduction strategies. The UK...

The global construction sector is witnessing rapid progress towards environmental sustainability in construction, notably through the uptake of renewable energy and innovation in low carbon construction materials. Solar power installations now exceed 2.2 terawatts globally, signalling a strong shift towards integrating renewable energy into sustainable construction projects. The adoption of local solar and battery storage solutions advances the creation of net zero carbon buildings and...

Global solar energy installations have surpassed the 2 terawatt capacity mark in 2024, marking a 33% increase, with China leading this rapid expansion. This surge offers significant opportunities for sustainable construction and sustainable building design, as the sector accelerates the adoption of solar technologies to lower the operational carbon of new builds and retrofits. Meeting both market demand and regulatory pressure, the shift supports the transition towards energy-efficient...