‘A reckless step’: Conservative party ditches net-zero by 2050 commitment
Conservatives’ Net-Zero Rollback Sends the Wrong Message The Conservative Party’s plan to abandon the 2050 net-zero commitment is a concerning step backward at a critical moment for sustainability. Environmental Gains Should Transcend Politics Convincing voters of specific ideologies is not my role, but environmentally friendly strategies appeared to gain bipartisan support recently. The climate crisis […]
Energy efficiency measures tail off in commercial sector – companies urged to do more
Britain’s commercial building sector looks set to miss the 2030 deadline for all non-domestic rented properties to achieve an EPC rating of B or higher due to current low rates of energy efficiency improvements. Research indicates more than 13,000 such properties in England and Wales remain rated F or G and at current rates, it […]
Syntegra MD Alan Wing-King backs BCIA’s praise of government measures, urges UK leadership in AI-driven proptech
Syntegra MD Alan Wing-King supports sentiments from a leading trade body in the construction industry which believes the UK Government’s reforms and regulatory changes will drive growth in the building energy management systems (BEMS) sector. The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) welcomed news of further grants for public sector bodies to fund heat decarbonisation and […]
New retrofit funding for Scottish social housing
New finance arrangements are being put in place in Scotland to encourage landlords to retrofit social housing properties and help encourage the drive to net zero, according to a new report.Financing and funding the decarbonisation of Scotland’s social housing by infrastructure body the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) explains that Scotland has more than 625,000 social […]
UK Government pledges £1.8bn for homes retrofit
Social housing providers and local authorities across England will receive up to £1.8bn of UK Government money, as part of its Warm Homes Plan, to improve the energy efficiency of homes. The aim of the funding is to retrofit up to 170,000 homes with improvements designed to reduce energy bills, improve comfort and cut emissions. […]
The world has only deployed 10% of the climate technologies it needs to achieve net zero, new research by McKinsey shows
I was somewhat disappointed- although less surprised – to read a recent summary of where the world is at in relation to deployment of effective climate technologies to tackle the crisis engulfing our planet. While people of my generation and younger have grown up knowing our energy mix has to change from fossil fuels to […]
Willow Review: Plan unveiled to help SMEs boost green growth
UK small businesses have been given a roadmap of recommendations to help them adopt sustainable green growth opportunities aimed at boosting profits, innovation and long-term growth. The Willow Review, launched last year, examined how sustainability can provide financial benefits for SMEs.Jointly chaired by Small Business Minister Gareth Thomas, Barclays’ global head of sustainability engagement Nick […]
Thoughts: Businesses increasingly targeting net-zero by 2030
By Alan King, Syntegra MD There is no doubt in my mind that organisations face some tough decisions around energy goals in the drive to net zero.So it was with some delight that I read the recent report from business consultants PwC indicating that the proportion of businesses committed to achieving net-zero by 2030 has […]
UK publishes roadmap to protect nature four months after UN deadline
The UK has released its national biodiversity strategy and action plan (NBSAP), outlining how it aims to meet commitments to protect at least 30% of land and sea, reduce pollution, and ensure sustainable trade of wild species.The plan sets out how the UK will meet its obligations under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).The GBF, […]
London energy efficiency retrofit boost
A new funding stream has been launched in London to help retrofit buildings and boost energy efficiency.The ‘Warmer Homes London’ scheme will fund the installation of insultation, solar panels and heat pumps at properties across the capital.The Greater London Authority (GLA) will work in partnership with London Councils to deliver the scheme, backed with £10m […]
UK Government unveils £2.65bn investment in flood defences
The UK Government has announced a record £2.65bn investment to improve flood defences designed to protect more than 66,000 homes and businesses.The funding will be used to build new barriers and maintain existing defences meaning that by March 2026, approximately 52,000 properties will benefit from newly built flood defences, while an additional 14,500 properties will […]
Ambitious policies and practical solutions to cut emissions
Syntegra MD Alan King has welcomed a report outlining how ambitious new policies coupled with practical solutions can decarbonise the building sector and have a major impact on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.A combination of electric, efficient and flexible solutions can decarbonise buildings, improve standards of living, and reduce energy bills “if supported by ambitious policy”, […]
More energy from renewables than fossil fuels – new figures
Renewable energy sources outstripped fossil fuels in the UK power mix for the whole of 2024 – the first time the balance has shifted for an entire 12 month period.A new report from energy think tank Ember revealed that throughout this year, wind, solar and hydropower combined produced 37% of the Uks electricity, 103 terawatt-hours […]
New plans for EPC measurements
The system for measuring energy efficiency of buildings in the UK is to be revamped, the Government has announced.Plans have been unveiled to include additional factors when grading buildings for Energy Performance Certificates which were first introduced as a way of assessing the energy efficiency of homes in 2007.Proposed changes have been circulated for consultation […]
PM’s clean electricity pledge welcomed
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to ensure electricity provision is 95% ‘clean’ by 2030 as one of his six milestones he unveiled in his Plan For Change speech.He said he plans to make Britain a clean energy superpower and will oversee the building of 1.5 million homes as well as ensuring fast-tracking planning on […]
UK Government to boost heat pump fund to £295m
The UK Government will make £295m in grant funding available to homes switching from gas boilers to heat pumps in the next financial year – almost double the £150m available over the current period.This major uplift in the budget for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is part of a broader package of measures intended to […]
UK renewable energy sector set to top £41bn by 2030
The UK’s renewable sector is increasing significantly in value – but policy changes are still required to meet ambitious government targets, according to new research.The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) has published its annual REview report, assessing the situation in the UK’s renewable energy and clean tech sectors.The sector has seen strong […]
Speed up clean energy reforms, urges Syntegra MD and major businesses
Syntegra MD Alan King has thrown his support behind calls for the Energy Secretary to bring down costs and access to clean power supplies by speeding up sector reforms. A group of leading businesses have called on Ed Miliband to unveil reforms to the current Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) scheme. Major businesses have […]
UK lags in efforts to set land and sea aside for nature
The UK is falling behind in its aim to reach a target of setting 30% of land and sea aside for nature. And it has missed the deadline to submit new plans to the UN ahead of its next international biodiversity summit. The accusation of the UK lagging in efforts to deliver the so-called 30×30 […]
SBTi initiative to reach emissions targets
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has launched a new framework for financial firms and companies operating in the built environment to indicate ways to achieve emissions reductions targets. The SBTi has released its Buildings Sector Science-Based Target-Setting Criteria, a document which offers organisations a “whole building approach” to decarbonisation, covering issues including energy consumption and […]
Increase in construction projects achieving sustainability targets
Seven out of ten construction projects now include sustainability targets, new research has revealed. The number of net-zero projects and the achievement of sustainability targets in the built environment sector are increasing but costs are still preventing further improvement in figures. The Sustainable Futures Report from built environment platform NBS, developed in collaboration with the Royal […]
Focus on buildings to treble emissions reductions
Emissions reductions in buildings need to treble by the end of the decade if the UK’s ambitions to achieve net zero are to be realised. The Climate Change Committee has published a report assessing only a third of the emissions reductions required to achieve the UK’s 2030 target are currently covered by credible plans. But […]
Reconomy launches framework to speed up UK’s net-zero journey
Syntegra boss Alan King is backing the implementation of a new framework aimed at tackling climate change by restructuring the waste industry. Circular economy specialist Reconomy believes its 10-point regulatory framework will help drive the UK economy and help meet net-zero targets. Steve Reed, the new secretary of state at the Department for the Environment, Food […]
Raft of green measures unveiled in King’s Speech
A series of measures have been outlined in the King’s speech to bring into law the new Government’s manifesto pledges on renewable energy and planning. Bills underpinning policy priorities are expected to be published in the coming months and include legislation to accelerate clean energy installations, grid infrastructure development and housebuilding. The King stated that […]