UK’s offshore wind sector boosted by £100m programme
A new £100m programme has been launched to boost the growth of the UK’s offshore wind sector which will, in turn, benefit businesses. The 10-year initiative, the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP), has been unveiled by the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) to support more than 650 businesses boost the value and growth of the […]
UK to use more electricity from renewables than coal for first time in 2019
The UK’s electricity system will distribute more power from renewable sources than coal-fired power stations for the first time this year, new figures indicate. The National Grid revealed that 47.9% of electricity generated between January and May this year came from clean energy sources – solar, wind, hydro and nuclear, while 46.7% came from coal […]
Carbon neutral deadline revised by UK Government
The UK has increased its commitment to reduce carbon usage by 80% by 2050 to a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050. This is expected to be achieved by adopting Hydrogen as an alternative to gas, and using renewable sources for electricity generation, with a greater utilisation of GSHP and Air Source heat pumps. […]
Hedgerows warning over biodiversity threat
Landowners have been warned of the threat to biodiversity by mismanaging their hedgerows. Syntegra’s Director of Ecology Services Trish Holden called for rotational cutting of hedgerows and tree lines outside of the bird nesting season to help protect valuable wildlife. She said: ‘Most landowners don’t realise how important hedgerows and tree lines are for bats […]
Records broken for low-carbon options
Once again as Brexit continues to dominate airtime, column inches and many a social media post, it can be hard to find glimmers of any positive moves being made to tackle the country – and world’s – even more pressing emergency: climate change. Yet buried deep in the weeds of daily news coverage recently were […]
Cities pledge to decarbonise buildings by 2050
A project has been launched that will see a coalition of eight European cities, including Dublin and Leeds, completely decarbonise their existing building stocks by 2050. The commitment, Build Upon2, is being convened by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and will see the cities collaboratively develop and implement a built environment renovation and retrofitting […]
Climate change: positive steps to celebrate
Once again as Brexit continues to dominate airtime, column inches and many a social media post, it can be hard to find glimmers of any positive moves being made to tackle the country – and world’s – even more pressing emergency: climate change. Yet buried deep in the weeds of daily news coverage this week […]
UKGBC urges business leaders to embrace net zero measures
Syntegra Managing Director Alan King is fortunate to be a member of the UK Green Building Council’s Leaders Network which recently received a very useful update on key developments in the built environment sector and what organisations can focus on in a bid to achieve net zero carbon by 2050. Below are some of the […]
Defining and delivering net-zero built environment
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has launched a new five point framework outlining how developers, designers, owners, occupiers and policymakers can define and deliver a net-zero built environment. The report, co-sponsored by sustainable developers the Berkeley Group, aims to build consensus on what net-zero looks like and means in relation to the built environment, both […]
Building a sustainable future with CLT
With all eyes very much on the built environment getting its house in order in the sustainability spotlight, one solution might be waiting neatly packaged for developers to consider. Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), has many advantages over traditional build materials in terms of cost, speed and safety of construction and, critically, environmental concerns. Softwood boards […]
EV target needs to be sooner
MPs have warned the UK must stop selling diesel and petrol cars by 2030 as electric vehicles will match them in terms of range and price by then. Members of the climate change committee recommend bringing forward the target date previously set for such a ban of 2040. That is the date by which all […]
BEIS to launch energy efficiency consultation on commercial buildings
A Government consultation is to determine measures to drive up improvements in the energy and emissions record of commercial buildings. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has described the sector as a ‘huge untapped area’ for improvements. The fact that about 60% of commercial buildings are rented can lead to issues around […]
Draft Environment Bill ‘severely downgrades’ environmental laws from EU standards, MPs warn
The UK Government’s draft Environment Bill would lead to significant environmental policies being ‘severely downgraded’ in comparison to current EU rules, MPs have warned following their scrutiny of proposals. The Environmental Audit Committee criticised the Environment Principles and Governance Bill as ‘lacking coherence’ and claimed it leaves “many Governmental departments exempt” from environmental responsibilities. Committee […]
Developers urged to consider impacts on wildlife
Developers have been warned to take more care to protect wildlife habitats when undertaking construction projects following concerns raised over netting being placed over trees and hedges. In a letter to developers, Communities Secretary James Brokenshire MP reminded developers of their legal obligations to consider the impact of their work on wildlife and take action […]
What does it mean for green policy?
Analysts at Edie have prepared this detailed matrix for what could happen to green policies in the event of a range of possible Brexit outcomes. https://www.edie.net/news/11/Green-Brexit-Matrix-UK-envirionment-energy-policy-impacts/
Ecology advice after huge fine for developers who destroyed bat roost
Clients have been warned to consider ecology in the initial stages of their planning proposals after a huge fine was imposed on a development company for the illegal destruction of a building where protected bats were known to roost. Landrose Developments was fined £18,820 at Brent Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to destroying the breeding […]
New carbon tax model could make polluters fund green policies
Ministers are being urged to introduce a raft of policies paid for by a new carbon tax model that would make corporates in the oil and gas sector pay a premium for failing to decarbonise after a new Friends of the Earth report revealed at least £44 billion worth of costs are being caused through […]
Why the construction industry needs to embrace the fourth industrial revolution
The construction industry has been urged to shed its decades-old working practices and embrace the wave of digitalisation sweeping the global economy if it is to shake free of stagnation and flourish with trillions of dollars of cost savings. The fourth industrial revolution, as it has been termed, has seen a revolutionary merging of the […]
Syntegra Group acquires Building Services Group Ltd (BSG)
Syntegra Group are delighted to announce the acquisition of hotel specialist M&E consultants Building Services Group Ltd (BSG). The move transforms Syntegra into a 35-strong team working out of five offices (London/Reading/Tonbridge/Bristol/Leeds) with M&E design services now providing 55% of its portfolio. Alan King – Syntegra Managing Director – said: ‘With this move, we have strengthened […]
Biodiversity net gain guidance launched
Development plans are set to include detailed calculations on the biodiversity net gain of their projects in a bid to reverse losses of natural habitats from previous construction schemes. Industry associations have teamed up to produce guidance on the scheme first launched by DEFRA to improve provision of natural habitats for species potentially displaced by […]
Government measures needed to get tough on housing stock to meet carbon reduction targets
Legally binding carbon reduction targets will not be met in the UK unless the Government takes steps to tackle the “increasingly uncomfortable and unsafe” existing housing stock and implements stringent measures around new build projects. That is the conclusion of a report by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). The report criticises the withdrawal of […]
How could a no-deal Brexit affect the UK’s low-carbon energy transition?
Brexit…love it or loathe it, there’s simply no getting away from it as the divorce deadline looms ever closer with as much confusion as ever (if not more) about what life after Brussels will look like for Britain.With all the debates and meetings going on, publicly and behind closed doors, it’s clearly impossible to keep […]
Landlords could be letting illegal properties due to ‘inaccurate’ EPC ratings, report finds
Tens of thousands of properties are potentially being let illegally by landlords due to false Energy performance Certificate (EPC) scores affecting around 2.5 million buildings, according to a new report. The report by property technology solutions provider Spec notes that floor space is used as a key component to creating an energy rating, and that […]
UK cities to become ‘climate hubs’ under new £3.5m scheme
A series of ‘climate hubs’ are to be created in some of the UK’s major cities bringing together research and best practice to tackle the decarbonisation issue. The Government’s £3.5m initiative, the Place-based Climate Action Network (P-CAN), will cover work in Edinburgh, Belfast, Leeds and some projects in London. The Department for Business, Energy and […]
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