Sustainability
How to become a net zero carbon company
From entire economies (such as the UK’s commitment to be net zero by 2050) to the construction of a single building, the concept of net zero has proven highly adaptive to different units of analysis. In this article we look at what it takes to be a “net zero carbon company” and use our experience as an example.
By Richard Francis
The Future of the Office: Drivers for Change
Office space has had to adapt and evolve throughout the decades and never more so than following the events of the last two years. G&T’s expertise in the central London office market working with both developers, funders and end users has provided key insights to the trends that are becoming drivers for change to the future of the office.
By Stuart Le Boutillier
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Hydrogen: The Future Fuel for Net Zero Ambitions
Hydrogen: The Future Fuel for Net Zero Ambitions
In November 2020, the Government published a 10 point plan, laying the foundations to help reach its target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. It is their vision to build back better, support green jobs and accelerate towards a net zero Britain.
By Emily Wiltshire
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The 10 Point Plan: A Summary
The 10 Point Plan: A Summary
The built environment plays a critical role in advancing the climate agenda and so it is up to us, as professionals in the industry, to challenge ourselves and answer the call of necessity. Back in November 2020, the Government set out its ‘Ten Point Plan for Green Industrial Revolution’ – a plan that lays the foundations for the UK to become “cleaner, greener and more beautiful” as well as a global leader in green technologies and finance.
By Michael Urie
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The Plan to Enable a Green Industrial Revolution
The Plan to Enable a Green Industrial Revolution
With COP26 headlines currently dominating all media outlets and news channels, it is difficult to ignore phrases like ‘green recovery’, ‘build back better’ and ‘net zero carbon’, as well as the continuous updates on the progress being made on climate negotiations.
By Michael Urie
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Electric Vehicles: The Road To Zero
Electric Vehicles: The Road To Zero
What is a Gigaplant and what are the challenges for developing them?
By Jason Fowler
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EV Facilities: Site Selection and Development
EV Facilities: Site Selection and Development
We are seeing some significant developments in the EV market. There is a perfect of storm of consumers wanting to switch to greener, more sustainable forms of transport, governments and regulators pushing legislation to enforce the transition to EVs and people showing little appetite for moving away from cars.
By David Norris
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NHS Estates: Cost Modelling for Operational Net Zero
NHS Estates: Cost Modelling for Operational Net Zero
The built environment contributes around 40% of the UK's total carbon footprint. It is therefore recognised that significant and collaborative changes to the design and operation of buildings are required if the 2050 net zero carbon emissions target set by the UK Government is to be achieved.
By Matthew Mills
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Low Carbon Buildings: G&T’s Observations
Low Carbon Buildings: G&T’s Observations
Based on our own observations there are an increasing number of alternatives to traditional cement and concrete. For example, blended cements and concretes that store carbon and are made from entirely different materials such as wood, hempcrete, straw bales and mycelium.
By Michael Urie
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Managing Low Carbon Design in Commercial Buildings
Managing Low Carbon Design in Commercial Buildings
Over the last two years we have seen an increasing recognition of the climate crisis as a fundamental briefing issue for a number of clients who now identify the net zero/low carbon agenda as an opportunity to positively contribute to the identity of their building and provide a point of differentiation relative to other competing developments.
By James Angus
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Reviewing the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) report: Building the Case for Net Zero
Reviewing the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) report: Building the Case for Net Zero
In order for the UK to meet its climate change targets by 2050, all new buildings must operate at net zero by 2030 which, according to the UKGBC means that all new buildings will have to be designed to meet the target of net zero operational energy by 2025. In the second in our series of articles on low carbon buildings, we look at the UKGBC’s “Building the Case for Net Zero” report and ask if net zero carbon really is obtainable in construction by 2050.
By Michael Urie
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Are Net Zero Embodied Carbon Targets Really Attainable in Construction?
Are Net Zero Embodied Carbon Targets Really Attainable in Construction?
As the construction industry makes the transition towards net zero carbon emissions, there is a growing body of guidance and performance targets to help improve the sector’s collective understanding on how to design and deliver low carbon buildings. The industry is becoming increasingly aware of the level of building performance that will be required to achieve a net zero carbon outcome.
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EV Series: Round-up
EV Series: Round-up
Over the past few months Gardiner & Theobald (G&T) has released a series of market intelligence articles on the subject of decarbonising transport.
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Decarbonising Transport: Retail in the Automotive Sector
Decarbonising Transport: Retail in the Automotive Sector
The fourth in our electric vehicles series, this report looks at retail within the automotive industry.
By Rob Lyons
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EV Manufacture in the UK
EV Manufacture in the UK
The latest independent outlook for the UK car manufacturing industry predicted that factories will make fewer than 885,000 cars this year — the first time volumes will have dipped below the one million mark since 2009. The one bright spot is EV manufacturing.
By Michael Urie
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Electric Vehicles Infrastructure: Charging Ahead
Electric Vehicles Infrastructure: Charging Ahead
Developing our own unique approach to everything is part of the UK’s DNA. As such, making the transition from internal combustion engines (ICE) to battery electric vehicles (BEV) will inevitably require new ways of doing things, especially if BEVs are going to contribute to the UK Government’s overarching policy to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
By Michael Urie
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Decarbonising Transport
Decarbonising Transport
Climate change is the most pressing environmental challenge of our time. The scientific evidence suggests that we need to take action now, and the UK Government is making this a priority. In June 2019 the UK became the first major global economy to pass a law that requires the country to achieve 'net zero' greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.
By Michael Urie
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Updated: Future Health of Buildings
Updated: Future Health of Buildings
The experience of COVID-19 has created two new and lasting requirements for buildings: 1. owners and occupiers need to provide an objectively safe indoor environment and 2. they must communicate trust and a sense of welcome to those coming through the doors.
By Richard Francis
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The Future Office
The Future Office
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted many to rethink their physical office space. In planning a logistically-difficult return to the office, organisations appear to be asking fundamental questions about the future design and purpose of the post-pandemic office. Whilst there are still many unknowns, the current pandemic has fuelled a seismic shift that will alter our perceptions of how and why we use offices and workspaces for years to come.
By Michael Urie
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Health and Wellbeing in Schools
Health and Wellbeing in Schools
How the built environment impacts health and wellbeing represents a critical and growing area of sustainability. We are increasingly aware of the connection between where we are and how we are. It is no surprise that the newest and most popular sustainability certifications for commercial buildings – the WELL Building Standard and Fitwel – focus on the building/body connection.
By Richard Francis
