It’s a snow-brainer – remote working is a sustainable business option
It’s that time of year when we’ve all got one eye on the weather app or out of the window to check for snow and the chance of a snow-day remote working from home. But should businesses capitalise on people’s enthusiasm for remote working and actively encourage it – not just rely on goodwill when […]
The 10 Year Challenge: How the UK’s low-carbon economy has changed
As our clients know, here at Syntegra we like to read widely around our subject to broaden our knowledge and expertise and spend a considerable amount of time explaining to potential new customers how making even very small changes to their sustainability record can have an impact on their environmental footprint. So we were delighted […]
UK Clean Air Strategy launched
The UK Government has unveiled its Clean Air Strategy to how it will tackle all sources of air pollution. Exposure to the pollution still present in our atmosphere is one the UK’s biggest public health challenges, shortening lifespans and damaging quality of life for many people. It also harms the natural environment. Clean air is […]
Emissions increase – focus on the built environment
The first rise in Co2 emissions for four years has been recorded by UN scientists who announced their findings on the eve of a follow-up to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. To meet the goals of the Paris deal, global emissions need to peak by 2020. But the UN emissions gap report suggests that won’t happen […]
Emissions reduction and cash savings identified by use of low carbon technologies
Carbon emissions from energy generation and use could be cut by more than half with the introduction of low carbon technologies, a new report has indicated. Electric vehicles, renewable energy and innovative new fuels could help power the shift and lead to a reduction in emissions of 54%, says the report, ‘Technology – the climate […]
From puddings to packaging: Inside the UK’s Christmas waste problem
While the Christmas decorations have been taken down and everyone is immersing themselves at work again (and many on diets!), our friends at Edie have shared with us the sustainability cost of the festive season and given us food for thought in relation to the waste associated with this time of year. With plastics action […]
Government funds to boost clean technologies development
The UK Government has launched schemes to help speed up the adoption of clean technologies. The first is a £320m Heat Networks Investment project (HNIP) offering grants and loans to businesses, hospitals, schools and local authorities with a heat network of two or more buildings. The scheme is being operated by the Department for Business, […]
Zero carbon – international roadmap agreed
The Mayor of London has pledged to expand standards for zero-carbon new homes to all new buildings from next year as part of an international move to create more sustainable cities. Sadiq Khan is one of 19 city leaders around the world to sign the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Declaration to introduce planning regulations that […]
Lower parking rates for electric vehicle drivers
London’s first ‘environmentally-friendly’ parking tariff is being introduced with discounted rates offered to drivers of electric and hybrid vehicles as an incentive to boost sustainable travel in the capital. The City of London Corporation is launching its scheme on Monday (Aug 20th) for on-street parking within the Square Mile commercial and financial district. Drivers will […]
Blockchain technology to help Liverpool become world’s first climate-positive city
Liverpool City Council is joining forces with a blockchain platform to offset more than 110% of its carbon emissions in a bid to become the world’s climate positive city by the end of 2020. The council is set to conduct a year-long trial with the Poseidon Foundation to use a blockchain platform to offset the […]
UK taken to Europe’s highest court over air pollution
The UK is one of six countries being taken to Europe’s highest court for failing to tackle illegal levels of air pollution. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has the power to impose multimillion euro fines if the problem is not addressed promptly by the UK, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Romania, all of whom […]
Government unveils fund to tackle air pollution
Local authorities in some of the most polluted parts of the UK will be able to access a multi-million pound fund to boost air quality levels in their area. The government has unveiled a £220m fund to improve air quality plus a £40m support scheme for local authorities to combat air pollution, part of a […]
Be good, for goodness sake!
It’s the time of year when lists are frantically being drawn up with wish lists for Santa and checklists for festive feast ingredients. And it seems US President Donald Trump has been joining in the Christmas spirit with a list of his own – his new national security strategy has just been unveiled with details […]
Clean Growth Strategy
Much has been trailed about the Government’s Clean Growth Strategy since its launch last week. But is it all hot air or are there some nuggets in there which will energise the debate about our country’s future direction and place on the world stage when it comes to putting the environment at the heart of […]
New international standard to help measure greenhouse gas emissions from buildings
A new international standard has been introduced to help measure and report greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. The International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) 16745 framework will provide a system to calculate, report, communicate and verify carbon metrics for emissions arising from the measured energy use during the activity of an existing building. The simplicity of its […]
Energy Sector Emissions Fall But Household Levels Rise
Greenhouse gas emissions attributed to the energy sector in the UK fell by 12 per cent in 2015. Emissions from business in general fell by three per cent but emissions from households rose by four per cent and from transportation by two per cent. Transport is set to overtake energy as the biggest source of […]
Businesses urged to act now to curb global emissions
Businesses and policymakers have been urged to work together to halve global emissions by 2040 and push on to ambitious targets for the rest of the 21st century. The ‘Better energy, greater prosperity’ report from the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), argues that it is technically and economically feasible to grow economies, provide affordable, reliable clean […]
New EPC rules mean landlords could be barred from letting out properties without urgent energy efficiency improvements
Landlords need to act now to avoid costly penalties and protect their assets as important legal changes are introduced to energy regulations. From April 1st next year (2018), commercial and domestic landlords must have implemented Energy efficiency measures to improve the existing Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) value of their properties in order to obtain new […]
Time for clear the air talks
Let me clear the air…Syntegra is not a political beast. We have no political affiliations or allegiances. We simply want what’s best for the planet and, as a secondary spin-off, UK businesses. But against that backdrop, there is a lot we need to say to campaign on our mission which is born from political announcements […]
CO2 Emissions – we can’t afford to ignore them
Nobody said changing public attitudes to tackle climate change would happen overnight. The international community was always going to struggle with different perceptions of the problem, its scale and causes. And scientists and policymakers realised early on during the debate that they would face challenges and criticism over the long haul. In the space of […]
Indoor Air Quality Plan – Plot C Farnborough Business Park
Syntegra Consulting has been appointed as indoor air quality consultants for Plot C, Farnborough Business Park. With poor indoor air quality now recognised as a major factor underlying occupant health issues and reduced productivity, it has become an important consideration for building design and management. In accordance with BREEAM’s stringent indoor air quality assessment criteria, […]
Indoor Air Quality Plan & testing – Renaissance Office Buildings, Croydon
Syntegra Consulting has been appointed as indoor air quality consultants for the Renaissance office building development in the heart of Croydon’s Central Business District. With poor indoor air quality now recognised as a major factor underlying occupant health issues and reduced productivity, it has become an important consideration for building design and management. In accordance […]
Indoor Air Quality Plan – Requirements and Criteria
With poor indoor air quality now recognised as a major factor underlying occupant health issues and reduced productivity, it has become an important consideration for building design and management. Poor indoor air quality can be the result of external pollutants entering building interiors, use of pollutant emitting building and cleaning materials, damage or poor maintenance […]
Key Green Building Rating Systems- what systems are used where?
The increased number of green building organisations has lead to an increase in the use of green building rating systems on an international scale. These rating systems include: LEED (USA), BREEAM (UK), Green Star, (Australia) CASBEE (Japan) and Green Star (South Africa). These assessment tools provide projects with a qualitative evaluation of the several benefits […]
You must be logged in to post a comment.