Sustainability

Learning from Europe when dealing with heatwaves

Shawn-Galliers-web-300x200.jpg

Shawn Galliers is director of sustainability at property and construction consultancy Ingleton Wood As a northern hemisphere nation that is closer to the North Pole than the equator, Britain was built to deal with (and moan about) the cold – not the heat. But, perhaps the summer of 2022, when…

We’re doing our bit for net zero. Will the new PM?

Graham-Harle-Gleeds-300x200.jpg

Graham Harle is chief executive of Gleeds Worldwide While everyone is struggling with how best to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, output from the construction sector has fallen for the first time in 18 months, according to the purchasing manager’s index. Gleeds’ own market survey found that eight in 10 contractors…

Wind and solar won’t help building sites to ditch diesel. But this will

IPG-Toby-Gill-300x200.jpg

Toby Gill is chief executive of IPG, a company that is developing a renewable alternative to the diesel generator The current energy crisis unfolding in Europe and the increasing frequency of global climate events demonstrate the importance of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Expanding wind and solar generation is the…

Structures, not aircon, should be first stop for cooling buildings

Andy-Lerpiniere-web-300x200.jpg

Andrew Lerpiniere is a director at Webb Yates Engineers  The construction industry has, for a long time, talked about the benefits of collaboration, about joined-up design and how that improves coordination and buildability. But it is far from the only benefit. Integrated design has the potential to deliver truly sustainable,…

What can we do about rising construction costs?

TOM-OBRIEN-300x200.jpg

Tom O’Brien is partner and head of building consultancy at Glenny LLP Prices have been going up across the board, and with headlines dominated by the rising cost of living and sky-high energy bills, many industries have been feeling the sting. In the built environment, the BCIS Materials Cost Index estimates that…

Hot weather and delays – what’s my entitlement?

Tim-Marlow-300x200.jpg

Tim Marlow is founding partner of Chronos Consult Last week, the UK saw its hottest temperature ever, with an official high of 40.3o. The Meteorological Office says this is likely to happen again within weeks. As always, the industry has shown its resilience, with most sites remaining open. But, even…

Water treatment: go clean to go green

Tristan-Hughes-web-300x200.jpg

Tristan Hughes is business development manager at specialist provider OSSO Daily walks along riverbanks, canals, lakesides, beaches – they were a familiar routine for many of us during the long months of COVID-19 lockdowns. And I believe they gave us a greater appreciation of our local aquatic environment – a new…

Repurposing is the sustainable way to boost towns and housing

Steve-McSorley-Perega-300x200.jpeg

Steve McSorley is director of civil and structural engineering consultancy Perega It’s a sad fact that town centres across the UK are struggling to re-establish themselves in a tighter economic landscape post-COVID. Department stores are closing across the country at a worrying rate, and reduced discretionary spending, as well as…

Middle East can point the way to cooler buildings as UK swelters

Abdulrahman-AbdulAziz-Khansaheb.jpeg-300x200.jpg

Abdulrahman Khansaheb is managing director of construction company Khansaheb Industries With UK summer temperatures reaching an all-time high, the pressure is on to find better solutions for keeping our buildings cool. Much can be learned from looking at how companies with warmer climates cope with everyday temperatures reaching these heights,…

Repurposing can give a sustainable boost to city centres

Steve-McSorley-Director-Perega-web-300x200.jpg

Steve McSorley is director of Perega It is a sad fact that town centres across the UK are struggling to re-establish themselves in a tighter economic landscape post-COVID. Department stores are closing at a worrying rate and reduced discretionary spending, as well as consumers moving online, will potentially lead to…