Britain 2100: Energy Abundance, Equity, and the Path to Regeneration
By Alan Wing-King, CEO & Sustainability Consultant Founder | Engineering & Environmental Strategist | Advocate for Regenerative Futures As we stand on the cusp of one of the greatest transitions in human history, the UK’s journey toward a fully regenerative energy system offers both a compelling vision and a sobering challenge. The insights shared in […]
‘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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
European Manifesto for sustainable built environment
The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has unveiled a raft of new sustainable building policy recommendations ahead of key elections where the built environment will feature prominently. The European Manifesto for a sustainable built environment has been designed for EU policymakers to “implement more robust initiatives and incentives to secure sustainable buildings across the continent”. […]
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 […]
King Charles’ climate call to action
King Charles has been praised for his COP28 speech calling for further efforts to protect the planet. Syntegra MD Alan King hailed his opening ceremony speech as “genuine concern and critically important,” after the monarch said that a net-zero and nature-positive future was achievable, but that a “starker and darker world” was inevitable based on […]
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 […]
Government to delay biodiversity net-gain requirements for buildings
The target for built environment companies to achieve biodiversity net gains at sites has been pushed back until next year, the UK Government has announced. At the start of this year, the UK Government confirmed that developers will need to achieve 10% biodiversity net-gain (BNG) at all large domestic, commercial and mixed-use sites from this November […]
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 […]
Government unveils winners of £46m green innovation funding
More than 20 UK businesses have received shares of a £46m Government funding pot to promote clean energy innovation including hydrogen, data centre chillers and alternatives to diesel for vehicles. The UK Government has confirmed the 26 businesses and projects that have been granted funding for low-carbon innovation. The primary focus is to help sectors […]
Net Zero: Biggest challenge ever
Net zero presents the “single biggest challenge that anyone working in the built environment has ever faced”, and pressure is increasing to achieve the aim, according to a report by the The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM). By 2030, emissions need to be reduced by 50%, and by 2050, net zero must be achieved, according to Government […]
Experts losing faith in UK’s ability to meet net zero goals
Authorities are losing faith in the UK’s ability to meet its net zero goals with a significant dip in confidence over the past year. The Climate Change Committee’s confidence in the UK meeting its net zero goals from 2030 onwards is now “markedly less than it was in our previous assessment a year ago”, according […]
Call to retrofit buildings as net-zero quick win
The government has been urged to accelerate plans to retrofit buildings as a quick win to get its net-zero targets back on track. Following the publication of the latest report from the Climate Change Committee (CCC), the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) said the government should make the built environment a priority as the UK’s […]
UK Government unveils updated Energy Security Plan
The UK Government has updated its Energy Security Strategy with an undertaking to upgrade 300,000 of the country’s least energy-efficient homes, launch carbon capture and storage projects and accelerate the development of green hydrogen, nuclear and floating offshore wind. The Government has confirmed that a new Energy Security Plan will be published, as well as a response […]
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 […]
SMEs see range of benefits as reasons to achieve net-zero
Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in the UK are finding a variety of reasons beyond financial gains in their drive to reach net zero. The latest edition of Lloyds Bank’s Net Zero Monitor was published earlier this month having surveyed 1,074 financial decision makers in SMEs and revealed that 64% of their companies have […]
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 […]
