Sustainability

Production of the world’s first zero-emissions cement on an industrial scale has taken a “huge step” forward with the completion of an initial trial melt. The Cement 2 Zero project, which uses a byproduct of electric steel recycling as the basis of greener cement, aims to accelerate the decarbonisation of…

The government has named the members of the board that will oversee the implementation of the tighter energy efficiency standards in new homes. Matthew Pratt, chief executive of housebuilder Redrow, has been appointed co-chair of the Future Homes Standard Implementation Board alongside Catherine Adams, director of building systems and net…

The government has confirmed a delay to new regulations requiring developments to create a net improvement to the local environment – but only until January next year. The requirement for developers to deliver biodiversity net gain (BNG) of 10 per cent were due to come into force in November. But…

Reading Borough Council has expressed concerns that constraints on the local electricity capacity will block the development of new homes and green energy projects. The council said an “increasing number” of new connections in the borough had been restricted by Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN). This means larger housing…

Industry figures have criticised Rishi Sunak for creating uncertainty and confusion after he pushed back climate targets on home insulation, boiler replacement and electric cars. Yesterday (20 September), the prime minister scrapped plans to force landlords to upgrade their properties to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C or above by 2025.…

Major installer bodies have launched a coalition body that is working on a plan to address the green-skills crisis. The new Engineering and Building Services Skills Authority (EBSSA) will bring together existing members of engineering-services alliance Actuate UK with other bodies, including energy-infrastructure-technologies trade association BEAMA and the Chartered Institute…

LHC Procurement Group wants specialist contractors to help shape a new energy-efficient retrofit and decarbonisation framework for public sector buildings and social housing. The non-profit public sector construction framework provider will open a market-engagement and feedback process on 20 September on initial proposals for its Decarbonisation and Retrofit (N9) framework.…

The government has announced measures to lift the effective ban on onshore windfarms following a concerted backbench campaign. Pressure from rebel Tory MPs has been led by COP26 president Sir Alok Sharma to scrap a rule that allowed English local authorities to reject an application to build a windfarm on…

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) is to discard its NABERS energy performance rating tool in order to focus on the better-known BREEAM scheme. A new administrator is being sought for the UK version of NABERS – a system for measuring the energy efficiency of office buildings – after BRE announced…

Housebuilders have given a warm welcome to government plans to scrap regulations aimed at mitigating river pollution in a move ministers said could allow thousands more homes to be built in the next decade. An amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill repealing EU-era requirements for nutrient neutrality on…