Prologis has announced the launch of a large-scale rooftop solar project across 45 warehouse facilities in Northern Illinois, marking a significant step forward in sustainable construction. This initiative, aimed at generating enough clean electricity to power over 10,000 homes, demonstrates how large-scale logistics buildings can integrate renewable energy systems as part of a broader shift towards environmental sustainability in construction. Projects like these support the delivery of net zero Whole Life Carbon targets within the industrial and commercial property sectors.
Frasers Property UK has secured a corporate power purchase agreement to supply its sites in the Midlands and South East with clean energy from a 27 MW solar farm in Wales. This targeted decarbonisation approach contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of construction across its business parks while supporting operational savings. By embedding energy-efficient buildings into its long-term strategy, the company illustrates a clear commitment to sustainable building practices and low carbon building operation.
Climate resilience is becoming essential in sustainable urban development, as highlighted in a new Environment Agency report warning that UK industrial decarbonisation clusters are vulnerable to extreme weather. Low-carbon infrastructure, such as hydrogen or carbon capture systems, may meet targets on paper but risk failure without proper adaptation to climate threats. Sustainable building design now requires integration of Whole Life Carbon Assessment in construction to address both carbon and physical climate risks.
Water scarcity has emerged as a critical barrier to sustainability in new industrial developments. Key decarbonisation areas like the Humber and HyNet clusters are facing difficulties securing adequate water supply—vital for hydrogen production and carbon capture functionality. These issues underline the importance of Whole Life Carbon assessment in project planning, where operational feasibility must align with environmental performance goals and resource availability.
Aluminz has opened the first zero-landfill aluminium facility in the United States, showcasing a new benchmark in Circular Economy in construction. This industrial plant demonstrates how circular construction strategies and end-of-life reuse in construction can be implemented even in heavy manufacturing contexts often overlooked in the sustainability discourse. Incorporating low Embodied Carbon materials and reducing landfill contributes to both Life Cycle Cost optimisation and reduced embodied carbon in materials.
Solar infrastructure continues to expand across building portfolios, reinforcing the role of renewable integration in sustainable building design. From new solar factories to large-scale rooftop installations, key players in construction are increasingly engaging with low carbon construction materials and energy systems. This convergence of renewable building materials and power generation not only supports green infrastructure but also directly impacts the building lifecycle performance required to achieve net zero carbon buildings.
