This episode of Accelerate to Zero explores how better building data and control systems can unlock significant improvements in energy performance and comfort across the built environment.

Gavin Johnson speaks with Joe Miles, founder of Atamate Building Intelligence, about his journey from environmental engineering and construction into developing a wireless building control platform designed to make buildings simpler, more affordable and more efficient to run.

The discussion covers the performance gap between design intent and actual operation, the limitations of traditional building management systems, and why real time data is key to understanding how buildings are truly used.

This episode of Accelerate to Zero explores how education is helping shape the next generation of built environment professionals.

Gavin Johnson speaks with Lee Ciarsolo, architect and lecturer at City of Glasgow College, about the 10th anniversary of the HNC Computer Aided Architectural Design and Technology course. They discuss how the programme combines design, technology and sustainability, giving students early exposure to carbon literacy, low carbon materials and industry tools.

The conversation highlights strong links with industry and BE-ST, hands-on learning through live projects such as the Social Bite Village, and the value of site visits, competitions and international study pathways.

It also reflects on how confidence, creativity and collaboration are preparing students to contribute to a more sustainable built environment.

In this episode of the Accelerate to Zero podcast, Gavin Johnson is joined by Charlie Forshaw from Rainmaking and Douglas Morrison from BE-ST to explore the partnership behind the Thames Freeport Sustainable Construction Lab.

The conversation looks at how collaboration, AI planning tools, new financial models and industrialised construction approaches could help unlock greener, faster and more affordable housing delivery. The episode also explores the role of innovation ecosystems in driving meaningful change across the built environment.

In this episode of the Accelerate to Zero podcast, Gavin Johnson is joined by Allan Smith from Morrison Construction and Catriona Jordan from Built Environment - Smarter Transformation (BE-ST).

They explore how a long running collaboration has supported the delivery of low energy buildings through testing, shared learning and supply chain engagement. From early Passive House training to full scale innovation rigs, the conversation highlights how practical research and open collaboration are shaping real projects across Scotland.

The episode also covers the Low Carbon Passport and the importance of embedding skills into education and practice, alongside the launch of the Delivering Quality publication.

In this final Accelerate to Zero episode from BE-ST Fest 2025, Hannah Lloyd speaks with Roddy Yarr, Director of Sustainability at the University of Glasgow, about turning net zero ambition into action.

From decarbonising a complex estate to navigating cost, infrastructure, and live operational challenges, Roddy shares how the university is moving into delivery and why collaboration at a regional scale is key.

A practical and optimistic conversation on scaling what works, working together, and building a more sustainable future.

In this episode, we’re joined by Tara Gbolade, co-founder of Gbolade Design Studio, to explore what it really takes to scale climate solutions in the built environment.

From wildlife led masterplanning to large scale retrofit programmes, Tara shares how a people first, data led approach is shaping projects across the UK. The conversation covers collaboration, skills, and why looking beyond project boundaries matters. It’s a practical, honest take on how we move from one off success stories to consistent, system wide impact.

At the Accelerate to Zero Awards 2025, Brogan MacDonald was recognised as a BE-ST Beacon for her leadership in advancing low carbon, circular and regeneration-focused work across the built environment. Her influence spans both her professional role at Ramboll and her wider advocacy, where she champions sustainability, equity and systems change. 

In this episode of the Accelerate to Zero podcast, the discussion explores what it really takes to scale solutions, and the culture change needed to make this happen. 

In this episode, host Hannah sits down with Amandeep Kalra, CEO and co-founder of GreenFlip, a climate tech startup on a mission to make decarbonising investable.

Amandeep's path to founding GreenFlip started in a cold, damp council flat in southwest London and led through architecture, social housing delivery, and the messy reality of trying to retrofit 29,000 homes without the data or tools to make projects fundable. Now, GreenFlip is working with energy suppliers, local authorities, and housing associations across the UK to predict energy use, costs, and savings at scale, turning retrofit from a pilot-stage idea into a scalable investment opportunity.

In this episode of the Accelerate to Zero Podcast, Hannah Lloyd speaks to Matthew Clubb, founder of mwclubb and double winner at the Accelerate to Zero Awards, recognised for his leadership in community-led retrofit and tackling fuel poverty.

Matthew shares his journey from oil and gas engineer to climate-focused architecture, and explains why retrofit is one of the biggest opportunities we have to cut emissions, improve health and create local jobs. From whole house retrofit in the North East to working with community buildings and Scottish rugby clubs, he makes the case for people-first design, trusted conversations and scaling solutions from the ground up.

This is a discussion about what it will really take to accelerate retrofit, and why community, skills and action now matter more than ever.

In this episode of the Accelerate to Zero podcast, Hannah Lloyd is joined by Lizzy Westmacott, Associate Director and Regional Head of Sustainability at ECD Architects, to explore what it really means to scale low-carbon solutions in the built environment.

The conversation builds on the Scaling Solutions theme highlighted at BE-ST Fest, where Lizzy took part in the panel From Pilot to Portfolio: Financing Retrofit at Scale. Together, they discuss the challenges and opportunities of scaling retrofit, from funding and skills to community engagement and legislation.

Drawing on real project experience, Lizzy shares why planning, communication and collaboration are essential to moving beyond pilots and delivering retrofit at pace, with lasting benefits for people, places and the planet.