Actions to reduce embodied carbon
Practicable steps to reduce embodied carbon and achieve net zero: New guidance offers practical action points for clients to reduce the negative environmental impact of construction projects. The LETI Client Guide for Net Zero Carbon Buildings provides simple steps for clients to develop and deliver net zero carbon projects. The London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) […]
Design for Deconstruction
What is it and why do we need it now? To deliver sustainability in construction all stages of a building’s life must be considered from the very beginning of a project – including its end-of-life. While this might sound like a ‘topsy turvy’ approach, it is another way in which the construction industry can contribute […]
Module D – what is it and why is it important
How additional standards for lifecycle assessments will deliver truly sustainable construction: Improved standards and guidance for constructors calculating embodied carbon are helping to deliver truly sustainable construction projects. Lifecycle assessments (LCAs) are commonplace ahead of the use of a wide range of resources and materials and are an essential part of delivering sustainable construction. These […]
Sustainable Construction through LETI
It has been 18 months since two built environment guides were published sharing practical sustainable construction methods, to ensure new buildings meet the UK’s climate change targets. The London Energy Transformation Initiative’s (LETI) Climate Emergency Design Guide informs on how to design and build zero carbon buildings. The LETI was established to develop and deliver […]
Retrofitting existing building stock is essential for energy targets
Reimagining and retrofitting building stock will be a key driver for the built environment sector to meet net zero targets. It’s estimated that around 80% of the building stock we’ll be using in 2050 is already built, meaning older properties will need to be retrofitted to meet carbon reduction targets. And since a significant portion […]
Industry Insights – Rates of recovery in construction
Fast-rising prices and supply chain challenges aren’t entirely hampering the manufacturing and construction sectors. Both industries are seeing a mini boom, with manufacturing delivering record rates of growth and construction output set to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2022. Confidence is growing as a number of sector-specific reports predict good things for the remainder of […]
Mitigating risk as steel prices rise…again
The construction sector is booming and steel prices are rising – but things aren’t about to burst. Steel prices have risen once again, this time by £80 per tonne in June. The latest hike comes as British Steel faces increasingly high costs for raw materials and increasing pressures on availability. Steel prices in the UK […]
COVID – What are the new norms for Construction?
Methods like off-site manufacturing look set to stay long after lockdowns lift: COVID has changed the way we work. In many ways it’s hard to imagine going back to old ways of working, particularly when we consider the benefits brought by more flexible or efficient methods in construction. Across the sector, the pandemic has accelerated […]
Understanding steel manufacturing methods
Is all steel made equal? As constructors find ways to deliver carbon neutral projects, seeking to use materials which are not only recyclable, but already recycled, is tempting – something which could be delivered using steel. However, a shift to solely recycled scrap steel is, as yet, unattainable as scrap supplies are unable to keep […]
Practical steps to delivering Net-Zero buildings
When it comes to sustainability targets, we’re all clear on what needs to be achieved and why this is so important. It’s the how that’s often trickier. Since 39% of all carbon emissions come from buildings, the construction industry is one of the key sectors working towards the target of 40% reduction in carbon emissions […]