Growing interest in sustainable jobs among Generation Z is highlighted in a recent report, with many young people motivated to join the sustainability workforce. Despite high enthusiasm, a lack of awareness about career pathways into sustainable construction means the industry must provide clearer guidance. This is important as demand rises for skilled professionals able to deliver environmental sustainability in construction, especially in areas such as whole life carbon assessment, low carbon...

The UK construction sector faces increased advocacy for embodied carbon regulation, with the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products championing “Part Z”. This proposal pushes for robust inclusion of embodied carbon standards in national building regulations and aims to reduce the carbon footprint of construction across the country. Rising industry-wide support reflects urgent recognition of the need for rigorous whole life carbon assessment and controls to achieve net zero whole life...

The UK government is under increasing pressure from energy companies to improve incentives for offshore wind developers. This comes ahead of a crucial clean power contracts auction, seen as vital for achieving the nation’s climate targets. Growth in the offshore wind sector is essential for sustainable construction and decarbonising the built environment, providing clean electricity that supports low carbon design and reduces operational carbon across construction projects. A £923 million...

The UK construction sector is making strong progress in environmental sustainability by prioritising sustainable construction practices and green advancements. Recent contracts, like Cube Glass’s projects with Tesco in Yorkshire and the University of Glasgow, emphasise eco-design for buildings, precision manufacturing and a shift towards energy-efficient buildings. Innovations in building lifecycle performance and sustainable building design are shaping construction and refurbishment of key...

The world’s first commercial-scale e-methanol plant is now operational, representing a major step for the decarbonising of the global shipping industry. E-methanol, created from renewable electricity and captured carbon, could reduce the carbon footprint of construction by offering the shipping sector and other carbon-intensive industries a realistic alternative to fossil fuels. This innovation highlights the significance of whole life carbon analysis and low carbon construction materials as...

The UK government has introduced new planning regulations this month, aiming to speed up the adoption of heat pumps in homes as part of its Warm Homes Plan. These regulations are designed to remove barriers faced by installers and make low carbon energy solutions more available to homeowners, directly supporting the decarbonising of the built environment. Energy-efficient buildings and low carbon building upgrades are central to this commitment, furthering the UK’s progress toward net zero...

The construction industry is accelerating its shift towards environmental sustainability in construction and resilience, with a growing focus on the use of non-combustible building materials. Recent events, such as increased wildfires in California, underline the need for sustainable building design that withstands natural disasters and advances climate and clean air goals. This direction supports the adoption of whole life carbon assessment and low embodied carbon materials, ensuring...

Recent sustainability news shows increasing momentum for green construction and sustainable building design worldwide. In the UK, the government is progressing with green hydrogen initiatives, while Black & Veatch leverages their engineering expertise to support shortlisted projects in Hydrogen Allocation Round 2. Despite these advances, the complexity of green hydrogen’s role is underscored by Statkraft’s decision to pause new projects because of uncertain market conditions, highlighting...

The UK government will require rooftop solar panels on all new-build homes. Sustainability advocates view this as a key step to decarbonising the built environment and accelerating the transition to net zero whole life carbon. This policy is projected to lower operational carbon for homeowners while supporting the adoption of renewable building materials and sustainable building design practices across the residential construction sector. Industry groups note this move demonstrates advances in...

The UK government has announced a £1 billion investment to develop a major battery gigafactory in Sunderland. This public funding, including loan guarantees and grants, will enable the AESC facility to produce batteries for up to 100,000 electric vehicles each year. The project is designed to boost environmental sustainability in construction and support the decarbonising of the built environment by investing in low carbon construction materials and green infrastructure. Job creation in the...