Mitsubishi Electric’s groundbreaking “SUSTIE” building in Japan has received the Asian Regional Award at the ASHRAE Technology Awards for its pioneering work in net zero carbon buildings. Designed in collaboration with Mitsubishi Jisho Design and Waseda University, this project demonstrates a high-performance model of sustainable building design. Leveraging passive systems and advanced climate-responsive technologies, the project sets a benchmark for whole life carbon reduction and low carbon building interventions across the sector.
In the UK, Birmingham City University has completed a major retrofit of its Benjamin Zephaniah building, focusing on energy-efficient buildings without resorting to demolition. The £11 million renovation led by Overbury incorporated sustainable construction techniques, life cycle cost optimisation and circular economy strategies. It represents a practical case of whole life carbon assessment that supports net zero goals while preserving existing assets and boosting long-term building lifecycle performance.
The Clean Growth Fund has secured £49 million to scale early-stage cleantech, particularly targeting innovations in sustainable building practices and low embodied carbon materials. These investments are critical in helping the construction sector address embodied carbon in materials and drive the adoption of renewable building materials. As developers look to reduce the carbon footprint of construction, access to capital for scalable clean technologies becomes a vital enabler of eco-friendly construction methods.
The Transition Finance Council released new guidance for channelling capital into industries with high emissions, including construction. This approach promotes finance aligned with credible decarbonisation goals and net zero whole life carbon strategies. Integrating environmental sustainability in construction with transparent lifecycle assessment frameworks, these tools aim to provide market clarity and support the operationalisation of climate targets for hard-to-abate sectors.
Ongoing extreme weather events across Europe and Asia are reinforcing the urgency for climate-adaptive architecture and resilient infrastructure. Wildfires and flooding are reshaping perceptions of green infrastructure from enhancement to necessity. Sustainable design is no longer optional, particularly when addressing the environmental impact of construction and long-term viability of the built environment under changing climatic conditions.
Collectively, these developments highlight growing momentum in aligning the built environment with low carbon design principles. By embedding circular economy in construction and embracing eco-design for buildings, the sector is advancing towards net zero carbon solutions. As policy, finance and technology converge, sustainable building design is proving both viable and essential for decarbonising the built environment globally.
