The Centre for Advanced Built Environment Research (CABER) at the University of the West of England has appointed Richard Broad of the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products to its advisory panel. His inclusion strengthens the Centre’s alignment with sustainable construction and material-driven innovation. The focus is expected to intensify on low carbon building solutions, whole life carbon assessment, and the practical application of sustainable building design through academic and industry collaboration.
Co-op’s new concept store in Soham showcases a live trial of energy-efficient buildings and low carbon construction materials in the retail environment. Incorporating CO₂ refrigeration and solar generation technologies, the site serves as a functional model of sustainable building practices. The design strategy aligns with eco-design for buildings, suggesting scalable pathways for reducing the whole life carbon footprint across commercial construction.
The UK National Wealth Fund’s £300 million loan guarantee to the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme signals a strong public investment in climate-resilient infrastructure. This move supports essential goals around environmental sustainability in construction and the integration of life cycle cost assessment into strategic infrastructure work. Upgrading Victorian systems to meet today’s standards reflects an understanding of life cycle cost and whole life asset performance.
The rise of extreme heat and its impact on workers has led to updated UN guidelines, urging construction firms to adapt project methods and schedules to mitigate thermal exposure. These changes reinforce the importance of sustainable design and building lifecycle performance as climate pressures increase. Passive cooling and net zero carbon buildings are no longer optional—they are crucial to reducing the operational and embodied carbon of future developments.
New government responses in Pakistan following severe floods highlight the long-term value of responsible planning in construction zones. Improved regulation of illegal building practices along vulnerable waterways contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of construction and supports broader aims in circular economy in construction and environmental impact mitigation.
Recent data showing a significant drop in workforce productivity linked to overheating in offices reinforces the critical need for low carbon design and sustainable architecture. By prioritising net zero whole life carbon solutions and better energy modelling, developers can deliver spaces that support climate resilience alongside economic performance.
