Sustainability
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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
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The Growth Of Healthy Buildings Is Changing How We Manage Them
The Growth Of Healthy Buildings Is Changing How We Manage Them
What makes us healthy? The things we do, the food we eat, the air we breathe? All these elements play a part, but a new factor is being recognised. Click here to read on.
By Felicity Francis, BISNOW
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Office Well-Being
Office Well-Being
Unlike other sustainable items, buildings do not communicate in simple terms what they are made of and why they are good for you. Yet all of us are making stronger connections between where we are and how we are, all the time.
By Richard Francis
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The New Normal in Higher Education: Health and Wellbeing in the Campus Of The Future
The New Normal in Higher Education: Health and Wellbeing in the Campus Of The Future
Research from the Urban Land Institute (ULI), the research and education organisation focused on the built environment, found that rising levels of interest in wellbeing in the UK will translate into significant investment over the next three years in the real estate industry.
By Michael Urie
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The New Normal in Higher Education: The Sustainable Campus Of The Future
The New Normal in Higher Education: The Sustainable Campus Of The Future
As part of their sustainable campus plans, several universities in the UK have made the construction and refurbishment of buildings a primary area of focus. Sustainability often comes at a cost as such buildings employ more premium construction techniques.
By Michael Urie
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Is BREEAM Sustainable?
Is BREEAM Sustainable?
Traditionally, measures of sustainability on building projects – for example BREEAM1 and LEED2 have been based on a very specific and prescriptive set of “environmental” criteria – energy use, water consumption and even proximity to public transport. However, the effectiveness and value of these forms of certification is under question. Why?
By Richard Johns
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Green Lending
Green Lending
Green lending is the means by which commercial lenders provide development finance to borrowers who develop green buildings or retrofit existing buildings with green or environmentally responsible features. The lending is conditional on the borrower fulfilling certain environmental criteria. Generally, this means that the borrower’s sustainability strategy is closely scrutinised.
By Mary Rose Griffiths
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Well and Fitwel
Well and Fitwel
People spend about 90% of their time indoors and businesses typically spend 90% of their budgets on people. In a well-regarded survey of global corporate executives, 90% reported that they expected to improve their approach to employee wellbeing. It is little wonder why health and wellness have become a dominant concern for the real estate and construction industry.
By Richard Francis
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Next Generation Sustainability
Next Generation Sustainability
In this article we look at the impact on sustainability when three worlds collide: health and wellbeing, technology and real estate.
By Richard Francis
