Report: UK’s net-zero energy transition requires £900bn investment
More than £900bn could be required to transform the UK’s energy supply in readiness for net zero in 2050, new research warns. New policy interventions, investments and corporate partnerships will need to be put in place to unlock energy transition opportunities ahead of the target deadline. The new report by NatWest and Boston Consulting Group […]
Boost to workplace tech investment
More than 90% of real estate business occupiers are willing to pay a premium for technology-enabled workspace which could boost their revenue options. Investment in technological solutions is set to outstrip expenditure on hiring new personnel and operating costs, according to research data from JLL’s 2023 Global Real Estate Technology Survey . Sustainability tools look set […]
Concerns over Sunak’s weakened net zero approach
Concerns have been raised over the Prime Minister’s apparent weakening of Government commitment to net zero measures. Rishi Sunak has confirmed that his Government will weaken policy proposals relating to electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, home heating and building energy efficiency, claiming it was unfair to impose significant extra cost burdens onto stretched household budgets. He […]
New home insulation fund launched
The UK Government has launched a £1bn new home insulation scheme, which it hopes will provide financial support to more than 300,000 properties. The Great British Insulation Scheme will provide grant funding to homes in England, Scotland and Wales with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or lower. The UK Government is aiming […]
UK property market update: Interest rate rises and sustainable buildings- Are there trends to be aware of? Syntegra Managing Director Alan King reports.
The UK property market is experiencing a notable shift as interest rates continue to rise, coinciding with an increasing focus on sustainable buildings, Passivhaus standards, and the integration of Greentech solutions. This update aims to shed light on these interconnected developments and the implications they hold for property investors, developers, and homeowners still reeling from […]
UK Government unveils plan for £1.8bn of spending on building energy efficiency
The UK Government has unveiled its plans for almost £2bn of funding to improve the energy efficiency of more than 115,000 homes and public sector buildings like schools and hospitals. Details of the allocation of the latest phases of the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG), which applies to privately owned properties, and the Social Housing Decarbonisation […]
Budget energy roundup
UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled a series of energy policies in his Spring Budget, introducing fresh funding for carbon capture technologies, reclassifying nuclear as a “sustainable” energy option and extending energy efficiency relief for households. Our colleagues over at Edie.net have produced this comprehensive overview of the measures announced: Energy cost relief The Chancellor unveiled […]
UK needs to overhaul plans to reach net-zero ambitions – new report
The UK needs to implement new measures if it is to achieve its 2035 net-zero ambitions, according to a new report from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) that calls for better planning policies on infrastructure, batteries, flexibility and consumer demand. The CCC has published a raft of recommendations to improve projects that will enable the […]
Scientists discover enzyme that turns air into electricity
Scientists in Australia have discovered an enzyme that converts air into energy leading them to predict ‘the sky is literally the limit’ for a potential new clean energy source. The finding identifies how the enzyme uses the low amounts of the hydrogen in the atmosphere to create an electrical current. The research team, led by […]
Heat pump installation kickstart
The UK Government has unveiled a £5m heat training grant aimed at supporting 10,000 low-carbon heating installers for the next two years. Heating engineers will be eligible for grants of up to £500 towards training costs, creating new green jobs, and helping to future-proof the heating industry, in a moved backed by the Heat Pump […]
More businesses setting ambitious decarbonisation targets
Increasing numbers of businesses are setting ambitious decarbonisation targets in a bid to achieve net-zero by the middle of the century, according to a new study. According to Climate Action 100+, there has been a 17% year-on-year increase in the number of large businesses setting such targets. The report found a variety of methods used by […]
Built environment taskforce created to devise energy procurement guidance
A team of cross-industry experts has been created to help devise guidance for the built environment on renewable energy procurement. The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has pulled together the team to help draft documents for businesses of all sizes in the sector as part of its commitment to tackling climate change. Decarbonising the UK’s […]
G20 nations failing to retrofit buildings to reach net-zero targets
G20 nations are failing to retrofit the built environment with energy and carbon saving measures at an appropriate pace to meet the Paris Agreement net zero targets. That is the key finding from the Global Retrofit Index which assesses the progress G20 countries are making to reduce emissions from existing buildings. With 80% of the […]
Report shows construction industry can improve sustainability record
The built environment needs to do more to improve its sustainability credentials, particularly in relation to reducing carbon emissions, according to a new report. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Sustainability Report 2022 said that while progress had been made in certain areas, ‘the rate of advancement needs to accelerate significantly and become more widespread’. […]
Concern over mini budget’s energy focus
Key organisations in the sustainability sector have expressed concerns and disappointment following the U.K. Chancellor’s mini budget believing it failed to deliver appropriate measures to safeguard homes and businesses from rocketing energy prices. While there is support for Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s measures to fast track offshore wind development, many pointed to missed opportunities on other […]
Net zero strategy unlawful, court rules
On the day the UK was subject to its first ever red alert for extreme heat, the Government was dealt an embarrassing blow as the High Court ruled its strategy for getting to Net Zero is inadequate and unlawful. The Climate Change Act requires Government to hit Net Zero by 2050, to make proposals as […]
New Building Regulations Part L 2022
New Part L Building Regulations come into force in June this year meaning residential buildings will be required to produce 30% fewer carbon emissions and non-residential buildings 27% fewer compared with current standards. Part L of the Building Regulations has been revised for the first time in a decade as part of the drive towards […]
Focus turns to embodied carbon emissions
The Syntegra team is committed to helping the construction industry fulfil its requirements of cutting emissions from embodied carbon – as well as operational carbon – in the drive towards net zero to tackle the climate crisis. Embodied carbon emissions have largely been overlooked historically but contribute around 11% of all global carbon emissions, according […]
Built environment accused of failing to account for projects’ lifecycle emissions
Less than 1% of global building projects currently calculate and report on lifecycle emissions, according to a new report which urges businesses in the built environment sector to measure the full extent of their carbon footprint in the bid to reach net-zero by 2050. A new report from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), supported […]
Poverty harming UK’s chances of reaching net-zero
Unfortunately, the word ‘poverty’ is one with which we are all too familiar and conjures up images of people, often children, in far off lands struggling to survive in poor economic situations. Sadly, while the UK is considered an affluent country with a stable economy, we also suffer our own levels of relative poverty. And […]
Report outlines broader UK green recovery
The UK Government has been urged to adopt a broader “green recovery” approach focusing on policies for biodiversity and the circular economy as well as energy and transport transformation. The calls to action have been made by MPs through the Environmental Audit Committee’s (EAC) report, ‘Growing Back Better: Putting Nature and Net-Zero at the Heart […]
Gas grid companies collaborate to outline hydrogen deployment plans
Britain’s five major gas grid companies have launched a major collaborative plan to create the UK’s first hydrogen town by 2030. They have also unveiled plans for developing a network of hydrogen refuelling stations for transport and helping to decarbonise industrial clusters. The companies own and operate the infrastructure that delivers gas to 85% of […]
The new Green Homes Grant
Residents in England are now eligible for Government funding of up to £10,000 towards the cost of energy efficient home improvements. The Green Homes Grant 2020 scheme has been launched by the UK Government to provide benefits both to homeowners and the environment as the qualifying improvements will help reduce fuel bills and carbon emissions. […]
All UK domestic electricity to be wind-powered within 10 years, PM pledges
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced plans for every home in the UK to be powered with electricity from offshore wind farms within a decade. Addressing the Conservative Party’s virtual conference, he unveiled a £160m fund for the wind energy sector. He announced that the Government has increased its 2030 target for installed offshore […]
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