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 life carbon strategies.
The role of voluntary carbon markets in decarbonising the built environment is gaining traction as pressure grows on developers to meet net zero carbon targets. Redirecting capital into credible and long-term environmental programmes could help reduce the whole life carbon of real estate developments. As financial flows increase, whole life carbon assessment and lifecycle assessment are becoming essential tools in sustainable building practices and long-term value generation.
Extreme flooding in Pakistan, linked to climate change, poses increasing risks for the real estate and construction sectors. Damage to infrastructure and supply chains underlines the urgent need for resilient, low carbon design and environmental sustainability in construction. Rising insurance costs and asset vulnerability underscore the necessity of building lifecycle performance planning and life cycle cost analysis in future developments.
Ikea’s franchise operator, Ingka Group, is investing in plastics recycling initiatives in China to support the wider circular economy in construction. Recycled polymers contribute to sustainable material specification in construction products like insulation and piping. This signals a push towards green building materials and resource efficiency in construction, demonstrating how global supply chains are integral to sustainable building design.
The closure of the UK’s largest bioethanol plant, Vivergo Fuels, reflects the fragility of low-carbon ecosystems without consistent policy support. While not directly tied to construction, access to renewable resources and energy alternatives is vital in supporting eco-friendly construction and reducing the carbon footprint of construction over a project’s full life cycle.
Efforts like these across both new builds and retrofits reflect a broader shift toward decarbonising the built environment through strategies anchored in life cycle thinking in construction. Embracing green infrastructure, end-of-life reuse in construction, and low embodied carbon materials is critical for achieving net zero carbon buildings in line with global sustainability targets.
