Industry News

Many developing nations are struggling with plastics pollution and inadequate housing simultaneously. Enough plastic is thrown away each year to circle the earth 4 times The problem is particularly pronounced in Africa’s Sub-Saharan region, where plastic packaging collection rates are stagnating at 10% and 53 million citizens are believed to be living in slums. In a bid […]

It’s no secret that the construction industry has a significant impact on the environment. According to some studies, construction is responsible for up to 50% of climate change, 40% of energy usage globally, and 50% of landfill waste, not to mention air, water, and noise pollution and destruction of natural habitats. As the effects of climate […]

Sharing local solar power generation is on the increase as a potential sustainability solution for green urban environments. “Community solar” can either be ‘community-owned’ solar generation projects or third party-owned plants whose electricity is shared by a community. The primary purpose of community solar is to allow members of a community the opportunity to share […]

The world’s fourth largest cement company has pledged to bring its emission reduction targets in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The cement sector accounts for around 7% of carbon dioxide emissions, and in a first for the industry HeidelbergCement, which employs some 58,000 people in 60 countries, committed to slash direct emissions by […]

Cities house more than half of the world’s population and are responsible for over 70% of the world’s energy-related carbon emissions, so they could make or break efforts to tackle climate change. A new study has ranked the action of 596 cities’ action to cut emissions and set climate strategies and awarded a top score […]

A new carbon reduction target has been announced by Skanska UK, which includes cutting all direct and supply chain emissions. The goal is for Skanska UK’s portfolio of projects to be carbon neutral by 2045. By 2030, the objective is to cut total emissions by 50 per cent of 2010 level. Also by 2030, Skanska […]

A potential solution to housing shortages in city centres is a design for a sustainable treehouse. Street Tree Pods take up the same amount of space as a single car-parking bay, the Street Tree Pods are teardrop-shaped structures made from wood, designed to merge with existing or new trees. Each structure would offer accommodation to a single occupant, […]

Mayors and leaders of 210 European cities, representing 62 million citizens have written to European leaders demanding that emissions are halved by 2030 and reach a net-zero by the mid-century. They also call on EU leaders to step up the EU’s climate commitments, to show global leadership and drive ambition to make rapid progress in […]

Mass timber construction is gaining ground in North America, with the frequent justification that it reduces embodied carbon (the upfront greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacture and transportation of materials) when compared with concrete or steel. But not all wood products are created equal when it comes to carbon emissions, according to the newly created Climate-Smart Wood Group. The […]

New York City is to replace its glass and steel skyline with trading one replete with plants, solar panels, and wind turbines. Legislation being passed by New York City Council passed a historic act is to turn the city green. In April, the city council approved the Climate Mobilization Act, a package of bills and resolutions designed […]

A framework outlining how developers, designers, owners, occupiers and policymakers can define and deliver a net-zero built environment has been drawn up by the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC). It aims to build consensus on a clearly defined understanding of net zero for the built environment, both in terms of the construction phase and a […]

Platinum used to be the ultimate LEED rating. Not anymore. Under a new program, LEED Zero, construction projects have to show zero impact in at least one of four categories: energy, carbon, water, or waste. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has now awarded its first LEED Zero certification, for net-zero energy, to engineering and consulting […]