Search Results for: environmental

Smart cities infrastructure investment to top US$375 billion in 2030

Smart cities infrastructure investment to top US$375 billion in 2030

smart citiesAccording to technology intelligence firm ABI Research, investments in urban infrastructure aimed at implementing new visions for smart cities will reach US$375 billion by 2030 as cities invest in brownfield and greenfield projects. Drivers behind urban innovation are numerous but both the digitalisation of lifestyles, accelerated by Covid-19, and the increasingly pressing need to address climate change are powerful engines for metropolitan transformation. Additional agents of change include the call for more equity and inclusiveness, scalable economic development, and more affordable living. (more…)

Waverley and QMotion bring wire-free motorised shading to commercial sector

Waverley and QMotion bring wire-free motorised shading to commercial sector

An innovative hybrid-power shading solution has been launched which brings all the benefits of motorised blinds with none of the costly power supplies and electrical works to occupants and designers of commercial buildings. Waverley, which specialises in improving the performance and aesthetics of public and working spaces, and automated window treatment experts QMotion have partnered to bring a completely wireless and near-silent shading solution to the commercial market, called the ShadeTech RBL-QM Hybrid Roller Blind. (more…)

Built environment sector lacks clarity around its carbon emissions

Built environment sector lacks clarity around its carbon emissions

environmentAccording to new research, the majority (58 percent) of built environment professionals believe the sector is already doing enough to tackle its carbon impact, despite the built environment contributing 36 percent of total global energy-related CO2 emissions, and the most recent available data highlighting that CO2 from operational energy use of buildings reached its highest level yet in 2019. (more…)

HDR is providing engineering expertise on one of London’s most sustainable, all-electric office buildings

HDR is providing engineering expertise on one of London’s most sustainable, all-electric office buildings

Holbein Gardens, located at 7 Holbein Place in the heart of London’s Belgravia, will lead the way for future schemes on the road to achieving net zero carbon. Independent multidisciplinary engineering consultancy HDR has been commissioned by property business Grosvenor Britain & Ireland to provide engineering services on Holbein Gardens, a new office scheme located in the heart of Belgravia. (more…)

London office market reignites as occupiers implement hybrid working strategies

London office market reignites as occupiers implement hybrid working strategies

LondonResearch from Gerald Eve has highlighted a strong resurgence in activity in the London office market in Q3. Occupier take-up increased 30 percent to 2.8 million sq ft, driven by large commitments by major London occupiers. It was the highest level of occupier activity since before the pandemic and only 7 percent below the five-year quarterly average. (more…)

Why real estate businesses can’t afford not to invest in sustainability

Why real estate businesses can’t afford not to invest in sustainability

sustainabilityThe World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), a global network accelerating sustainability and decarbonisation in the building and construction sector, has set out the updated value proposition to drive investment in a sustainable built environment by launching a new flagship report ‘Beyond the Business Case’ at COP26 in Glasgow. (more…)

Net zero 2050 claims questioned by building performance analysts

Net zero 2050 claims questioned by building performance analysts

Glasgow net zeroA new report expresses scepticism about the UK government’s current net zero strategy for the country’s buildings, with 69 percent of built environment professionals doubting its feasibility. The research, published in the City of Tomorrow report by building performance analysts IES, found that more than half (51 percent) of those working in the sector believe that net-zero 2050 is only achievable with further legislative action. One in 10 think that the current plan is not ambitious enough, and 8 percent think it’s not realistic. (more…)

Companies focusing on holistic organisational health outperform their peers

Companies focusing on holistic organisational health outperform their peers

healthThe Josh Bersin Company have released a global study on the factors involved in creating a holistically “healthy” organisation. The research emphasizes the importance of transitioning from the traditional focus on employee benefits to one that encompasses job and work design, management, rewards practices, a demonstrated commitment to psychological safety and fairness, and a culture of employee health and listening. The research claims that a people-centric approach to all work is the foundation of every healthy organisation. (more…)

Net zero target will be missed by over half of organisations, claims report

Net zero target will be missed by over half of organisations, claims report

missing net zeroJust 41 percent of UK organisations are on track to meet the Government’s target for net zero carbon emissions by 2050, according to new research released by Dr Chris Brauer, Goldsmiths, University of London in partnership with Microsoft. The findings suggest strong ambition and strategic vision on sustainability within UK organisations, but most leaders are struggling to translate that intent into action, with almost three quarters (74 percent) described as having “one foot in and one foot out” on sustainability. (more…)

Employee experience is more important than ever

Employee experience is more important than ever

Work cafe by Boss and the employee experienceEmployee experience has never been so high on the corporate agenda; with recent figures finding that over 69 percent of businesses are currently concerned about talent shortages and difficulty hiring. With this in mind, organisations that want to grow must provide a market leading experience in order to remain competitive and attract and retain new talent. Companies that invest in their unique employee experience make four times more profit than those who don’t. (more…)

Helping the planet one chair at a time

Helping the planet one chair at a time

For Rainbow, looking out for the planet is just as important as taking care of clients. This is why they have been working hard to acquire the environmental standard ISO 14001, of which they have recently been accredited. Rainbow believes that receiving this attribution is important in illustrating their ongoing environmental commitments. (more…)

So what’s happening to all the plexiglass we thought was a solution last year?

So what’s happening to all the plexiglass we thought was a solution last year?

hyperobjects plexiglass styrofoamIn 2008, the philosopher and ecologist Timothy Morton coined the term hyperobject to describe things that can’t be seen directly or experienced at a point in time or space but which are nevertheless vast and important.  The example he gives is Styrofoam. We might be able to see a small number of cups or fast-food trays, but what we can’t see is all the Styrofoam ever produced. It is a hyperobject and one that will last for at least 500 years, even if we stopped producing it today.  (more…)