Constructive Voices

In this episode of Constructive Voices, we’re joined by Stephen Barrett, the driving force behind Ireland’s transition to whole-life carbon assessment in construction. (Bookmark this page for the release date of 29th July)

As Programme Manager at the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC), Stephen is at the heart of implementing the updated Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)—a policy shift that’s set to transform how we design, construct, and assess buildings across Europe.

Whether you’re a building designer, material supplier, or policy watcher, this is the insight you need to prepare for what’s coming.

"Don’t worry about the result—just begin assessing. It’s the act of questioning your design that starts to change behaviour." — Stephen Barrett, IGBC

Architects, engineers & building designers

Construction managers & BIM specialists

Sustainability officers & ESG consultants

Policy makers & local authorities

Students and educators in built environment studies

What the updated EPBD really means—and why it’s a "starting gun" for industry change.

Why lifecycle carbon is overtaking energy as the key metric in building performance.

The vital role of BIM (Building Information Modelling) in meeting new EU carbon targets.

Open source vs proprietary BIM platforms: How to start now, without breaking the bank.

Lessons from the Nordics, and how Ireland’s ahead of the curve with its prototype methodology.

What the construction industry must do before 2030 to stay compliant—and competitive.

Why your old tools won’t cut it anymore—and how new platforms like One Click LCA are changing the game.

Simple advice for professionals: Start assessing now—don’t fear the results.

"If we design with carbon in mind from the beginning, we won’t just build better—we’ll change the entire supply chain behind construction." — Stephen Barrett, IGBC

Stephen joined the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) in 2020 and is currently Programme Manager for Whole Life Carbon initiatives.

He has contributed to several key European and national projects, including Level(s) – the EU framework for measuring the environmental performance of buildings – and the #BuildingLife campaign, aimed at aligning public policy and industry practices with Whole Life Carbon (WLC) goals.

Stephen led the UPFRONTCO2 and INDICATE projects and is currently managing IMPLEMENT, which focuses on mainstreaming WLC approaches.

He holds an MSc in Sustainability and Adaptation in the Built Environment and brings a strong background in data management, analysis, and visualisation.

The Irish Green Building Council’s work on carbon emissions & LCA , includes the lifecycle assessment methodology developed through the INDICATE project and other resources on whole life carbon: IGBC Carbon & LCA Projects

In 2024, during World Green Building Week, the IGBC hosted a tour of Cobh, which really highlighted the role of Tidy Towns and community-led action.

IGBC hosts week of events focused on climate action and nature-positive design

Highlights from World Green Building Week 2024

The Irish Green Building Council – IGBC, is a non-profit organisation that was launched in 2011 with organisations and businesses from across the value chain of the built environment.

These include architects, engineers, contractors, universities, professional institutes, NGOs, local authorities, energy companies, leading national and transnational companies.

All are united in one common goal to accelerate the transformation of the built environment to one that is sustainable through leadership, research, education, and providing policy input to national and local government.

The Irish Green Building Council aims to:

The Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) is leading Ireland’s implementation of the updated Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), with a strong focus on whole life carbon assessment.

As part of this, the IGBC is collaborating with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to develop national methodologies, digital tools, and educational resources—ensuring industry professionals are equipped to assess and reduce embodied carbon.

Through pilot projects, training, and open-source BIM initiatives, the IGBC is positioning Ireland as a proactive player in Europe’s transition to a low-carbon built environment.

Welcome to the very first edition of the Constructive Voices News — a short, sharp burst of uplifting stories from the built environment, with a side of conservation.

Hosted by Jackie De Burca, this six minute episode showcases inspiring developments in construction, sustainability, and social integration. Here’s what’s in the spotlight:

In Amersfoort, Netherlands, the Arcadis Future Academy is changing lives. A powerful collaboration between Arcadis Refugee Talent Hub, New Dutch Connections, and De Taaltrainer is helping refugees build careers in construction and architecture.

One standout story is Ayoub Choban, who arrived in the Netherlands from Iraq in 2014 and has now secured a contract with Arcadis. The programme combines technical training with soft skills and mentorship, paving the way for a more inclusive future in the sector.

French firm Bouygues Construction is leading the charge towards a low-carbon future. With a bold goal to cut carbon emissions by 40% by 2030, they’re investing in eco-design, bio-based materials, reuse strategies, and life cycle analysis (LCA) at every stage of construction.

Digital tools and staff training are central to their approach — and they’re calling on the industry to join in the transformation.

Related episode plug: If this topic piques your interest, don’t miss our newly released episode on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive with Stephen Barrett of the Irish Green Building Council.

In a moment of joy for wildlife enthusiasts, Dublin Zoo has welcomed its first okapi calf in over a decade. This elusive and endangered species — often called the “forest giraffe” — is native to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Courtesy of Dublin Zoo

Born to Lumara and Kitabu, the new calf represents hope for the future of the species and a proud achievement for the zoo’s conservation team. Although born on Good Friday, the news was only released officially in late July.

Helen Clarke, the Team Leader at Dublin Zoo said,

“The calf is thriving, and visitors exploring the African Plains area may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of her in the coming days – and see just how much she has grown!”

Where better than your own home country to start exploring something that is very close to one’s heart? And I believe to lots of people’s hearts when they start to think about it. At Constructive Voices, we’re not only exploring the obvious parts of the built environment.

“In fact, we’re digging a bit deeper. And connecting the people and their places together, because this is what it’s all about.” Jackie De Burca

How the environment affects us every single day with our health in mind, with how our daily activities are able to be conducted. There’s just a whole host of things that our environment brings to us or perhaps makes more difficult for us.

So tune in to Jackie De Burca as she speaks with Stephen Barrett. He’s the program manager for the Whole Life Carbon Programme at the Irish Green Building Council, and he is going to talk to us about Cobh, which is a picturesque Irish town just outside Cork.

Stephen has planted his roots there for the moment, and now he questions some aspects of the area, such as development.

Biodiversity transport and community pride and how this area Cobh and Cork in general can shape a more sustainable way forward. This episode touches on subjects such as underused train lines to cruise ship impacts, and the local lens that Stephen sees on global challenges.

“What struck me moving from the UK to Ireland is how undervalued Tidy Towns is—those people know their place better than anyone.” – Stephen Barrett on the untapped expertise within community-led groups

Stephen joined the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) in 2020 and is currently Programme Manager for Whole Life Carbon initiatives.

He has contributed to several key European and national projects, including Level(s) – the EU framework for measuring the environmental performance of buildings – and the #BuildingLife campaign, aimed at aligning public policy and industry practices with Whole Life Carbon (WLC) goals.

Stephen led the UPFRONTCO2 and INDICATE projects and is currently managing IMPLEMENT, which focuses on mainstreaming WLC approaches.

He holds an MSc in Sustainability and Adaptation in the Built Environment and brings a strong background in data management, analysis, and visualisation.

The whole-life carbon approach to buildings and infrastructure

How Cobh’s train line could hold the key to more sustainable living

The overlooked power of community groups like Tidy Towns

Concerns over woodland management and local biodiversity

Cruise tourism and its complex impact on small towns

What policymakers should be listening to—and acting on

“We had dolphins last summer… this year, they’re gone. If they came in looking for food, that’s not something to celebrate—it’s something to investigate.”– Stephen Barrett reflecting on changes in marine biodiversity around Cobh

“We are past the point of return for trying to save traditional methods of building. We need to focus on what is performing now and deliver with confidence.”
— Will Frost

“We don’t just need to build faster — we need to build better. And that means solutions that are lighter, lower carbon, and actually deliver for people on the ground.” Will Frost

In this powerful and timely episode, Jackie De Burca sits down with Will Frost of Saint-Gobain Offsite Solutions to explore how modern methods of construction (MMC) – or as Will prefers, “optimised construction” – are helping address the UK’s urgent housing crisis.

With the UK government aiming to build 1.5 million homes in five years, Will explains why Category 2 panelised systems are gaining momentum over the struggling Category 1 volumetric builds – and how Saint-Gobain’s EnveoVent system is delivering results on the ground.

From solving the skills shortage, to navigating procurement hurdles, to reducing embodied carbon and embracing Future Homes Standard, this episode is packed with real-world examples, industry insights, and a human-centric approach to innovation.

“EnveoVent isn’t just a product — it’s a complete through-wall system that’s been tested, certified, and proven to save time on-site without compromising on quality.”
— Will Frost

What is MMC and why Category 2 panelised solutions are rising

Case study: 12-unit pilot in Birmingham using the EnveoVent system

Labour shortages & upskilling the traditional workforce

How MMC can save up to 6 weeks per build

Social housing realities: over 1 million on waiting lists and 150,000+ children in temporary accommodation

Why procurement reform is a game-changer

Meeting the Future Homes Standard and reducing long-term running costs

The potential of bamboo and timber alternatives

Net zero goals and 70%+ reductions in embodied carbon

The one message to local authorities and housing associations

“It’s time to stop calling it modern methods of construction — it’s optimised construction. We’re not experimenting. We’re improving.”
— Will Frost

“To truly meet the Future Homes Standard, it starts with the fabric. Better-performing buildings reduce running costs and protect the people living in them.”
— Will Frost

Will has extensive international experience in timber engineering. He has partnered with renowned architectural and engineering firms, contributing to iconic global projects spanning locations from Chile to the Middle East. He has a deep understanding of timber gained through his work with the Institute of Wood Science (now a part of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3)).

In his current role, he collaborates with key stakeholders to address challenges in the UK housing sector – a sector that has been neglected since the late 1960s. Driven by a desire to make secure and comfortable homes available to everyone, he leads a team focused on delivering cost-effective, high-performance, truly sustainable solutions for social housing providers.

When you think of the future, do you picture space—or water?

In this eye-opening episode, Jackie De Burca speaks with Peter Robbins, one of the world’s leading voices on the floating economy. From delivering fresh meals via jet skis to developing mega-scale coastal innovation projects in Korea and the US, Peter is building a blueprint for what he calls the next “mega-trend”: the floating economy.

More than a futuristic fantasy, this is a global movement gaining momentum across industries like logistics, hospitality, port infrastructure, energy, and even education. Learn how floating solutions are solving everything from workforce shortages to population crises, and how ports are being reimagined as launchpads—not limits.

Whether you're a policymaker, investor, engineer or just curious about where cities are headed, this episode dives deep into the possibilities of our water-bound future.

“We’re not just building floating solutions. We’re building the workforce, the policy awareness, and the investment appetite to support a floating future.” Peter Robbins

The distinction between the floating economy and the blue/ocean economy

Why nearshore logistics could transform coastal commerce

How floating housing could solve affordability and flood resilience

Case studies: Busan, Rotterdam, Brisbane, and beyond

The urgent need to build a water-based workforce—starting in schools

How the private sector, governments, and NGOs can work together to scale floating infrastructure

Peter began his career in Air Force intelligence, tracking global naval threats. He later held roles in defence recruiting, government operations, and private-sector training.

He helped scale startup operations before joining Homeland Security.

After relocating to South Korea, Peter built maritime education programmes and led training for government leaders focused on coastal business strategy.

Through his consultancy, he developed tools for U.S. companies in supply chain and nearshore logistics. Today, Peter leads The Floating Economy and is building The Floating Institute, a nonprofit focused on business and infrastructure at the water’s edge.  

At The Floating Institute (TFI), we connect governments and private capital to partners who design and build floating logistics hubs, modular waterfronts, offshore business districts, floating neighbourhoods, defence applications, and more.

The Floating Economy spans logistics, defence, infrastructure, mobility, real estate, energy, aquaculture, industry, tourism, water services, and offshore commerce, creating entirely new markets beyond the limits of land.

We give governments the tools to expand offshore, investors the access to frontier industries, and entrepreneurs the platform to launch new businesses before the world catches up. The Floating Economy is a race, and the leaders are already pulling ahead.

Check out his website: https://www.floatingeconomy.com/

Here is Rutger de Graaf

The podcast that features Jane Findlay can be found here:

The mini-series that features Dr Nadina Galle is available at:

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Catherine Cleary, author, journalist, and the CEO & Co-founder of Pocket Forests. Having authored and co-authored 4 books and been a Restaurant Critic for the Irish Times for more than 10 years, Catherine has now turned her attention to nature, climate action and greening Ireland.

In 2020, Catherine embarked on two projects: one, to establish a social enterprise planting mini forests in community areas, and the other, to plant her own native woodland across 40 acres of land.

Pocket Forests is a social enterprise bringing nature into towns and cities around Ireland by creating pockets of native trees and shrubs within communities.

In this episode of the Constructive Voices podcast, we explore the work of Pocket Forests in the urban greening of Ireland and their role in reconnecting our communities with nature.

We also discuss Catherine’s personal journey in creating her own native woodland, The Forest Midwife documentary, and the attitudes of landowners towards planting forests.

“The forest is the root of all life; it is the womb that revives our biological instincts, that deepens our intelligence and increases our sensitivity as human beings”

Akira Miyawaki [1]

Although 80% of the country was once covered in forests, Ireland’s forest area is now estimated to be 808,848 ha, or 11.6% of the total land area [2]. Of this 11%, nine per cent of the land is planted with fast-growing tree species like spruces for rapid timber production, while only 2% is planted with native broadleaf trees [3]. Sitka spruce is the most common tree species in Ireland, making up 44.6% of the total forest area [4].

The country has an annual afforestation target of 8,000 ha, with the goal of reaching 18% forest cover by 2050; however, planting has continuously fallen short of this goal [5].

At 11.6%, Ireland has one of the lowest forest covers of any country in the European Union, which has an average tree coverage of 39% [6, 2].

The countries with the highest percentage forest cover in the EU are Finland (66%), Sweden (63%), Slovenia (58%), Estonia (54%) and Latvia (53%) [6].

Ireland’s Forestry Strategy provides a framework to expand the national forest estate between 2022 and 2030 to create lasting benefits for the environment, society and economy, and lays the foundation for the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 [7].

The Strategy has been designed around the guiding principle of “the right trees in the right places for the right reasons with the right management”, with the goal of producing multi-functional, diverse forests, considerate of People, Planet and Prosperity [7].

The Forestry Programme aims to produce diverse, multifunctional forests that “strengthen the economic viability of rural communities, protect our environment and that are resilient in the face of climate change.” [7].

Tune into the podcast and discover more about this topic: https://constructive-voices.com/greening-ireland-pocket-forests-native-woodlands-with-catherine-cleary/

“We are turning a waste stream into a carbon sink — that’s the real magic.”

️ Guest: Anna Haas, Business Development & Partnerships at Neustark
 Topic Spotlight: Carbon Capture
️ Release Date: Tuesday 20th May 2025

In this powerful follow-up episode, Jackie De Burca sits down once again with Anna Haas from Swiss climate tech company Neustark.

If you thought concrete was the end of the story, think again. Anna explains how Neustark is turning demolition waste into a carbon sink — and why this matters now more than ever.

From CO₂ mineralisation and circular construction practices to global expansion and the nuances of regional policy, this episode dives deep into the tangible side of carbon removal. Anna brings clarity, passion, and pragmatism to one of the most pressing topics in the built environment.

Whether you’re in construction, sustainability, or just curious about where climate tech is headed, this conversation offers real-world insights and hopeful innovation.

“It’s one of the hardest things to explain: We’re not just avoiding emissions — we’re actually removing carbon from the atmosphere.”

How Neustark’s solution works: storing CO₂ in recycled concrete through mineralization

Why not all demolition waste is created equal

How the sales cycle looks when you’re offering a carbon removal product

Challenges of scaling while staying scientifically rigorous

The importance of geographic clusters in carbon capture logistics

Why permanence is key in carbon removal — and how mineralisation delivers

The role of public tenders, policy, and incentives in adoption

Lessons from Anna’s trip to the U.S. concrete and demolition market

What motivates Anna personally to keep working in this space

Anna is the global business development lead at Neustark, a scale-up in the fast-growing world of climate-tech.

With a background in tech as well as in the building industry Anna is responsible for market exploration and expanding Neustark’s business opportunities.

Prior to her current role she worked in the Swiss machine-building industry as well as in a VC-backed construction tech startup where she headed all activities around innovation and sustainability.

Anna holds a M.Sc. in mineral resources engineering from RWTH Aachen University and has lived and worked across five countries before settling down in Switzerland.

Tune into Anna in her episode about Zurich as a sustainable city.

Limiting global warming to safe levels will only be possible by globally deploying carbon removal (CDR) solutions at the scale of billions of tons of CO2.

Neustark is a leading provider in this rapidly growing field, having developed a solution to permanently store CO2 from the air in recycled mineral waste such as demolished concrete. Our first solutions have been deployed in Switzerland and Europe and are already leading to a significant removal of CO2 from the atmosphere.

We are currently substantially scaling up our operations and impact.

By 2030, we aim to remove and store permanently one million tons of CO2 every year. Founded in 2019, neustark AG is based in Berne, Switzerland, and is a team of around 30 people (as per beg 2023).

Together, we enable permanent CO2 storage for a bright future of all generations on our planet.

In this insightful episode of Constructive Voices, Jackie De Burca sits down with Anna Haas from Neustark to explore the city she calls home—Zurich. Known for its efficient public transport, green infrastructure, and direct democracy, Zurich has long been a sustainability frontrunner. But how is it maintaining its reputation amid global competition?

Anna unpacks the urban planning, mobility strategies, carbon removal innovations, and deep-rooted community involvement that define Zurich’s approach to sustainable development. With firsthand insight into both public policy and grassroots action, Anna shows us why Zurich isn’t just following green trends—it’s setting them.

Often perceived as a pristine financial hub, Zurich is also quietly one of Europe’s most forward-thinking green cities.

Beneath its polished exterior lies a living lab of urban experimentation—where bicycle highways weave through the city, schoolchildren are raised on recycling habits, and carbon neutrality isn’t just a goal but a work in progress.

From lakefront green spaces to car-free infrastructure and community-driven pilots, Zurich integrates nature, governance, and innovation in a way few cities manage.

As Anna puts it,

“Planning makes all the difference—and Zurich plans with purpose.”

“Politics is sometimes lacking trust in people. But Zurich’s direct democracy shows us what’s possible when you trust citizens to make educated, responsible choices.” 

Why Zurich dropped from 1st to 24th on the Sustainable Cities Index—and why that’s not necessarily bad news

The 2000-Watt Society goal: how Zurich plans to cut energy use without sacrificing quality of life

Bicycle highways, expensive parking, and the art of nudging behavior

Pilot boroughs and real-time community feedback

Zurich’s bold CDR (Carbon Dioxide Removal) projects, and what other cities can learn from them

Anna is the global business development lead at neustark, a scale-up in the fast-growing world of climate-tech.

With a background in tech as well as in the building industry Anna is responsible for market exploration and expanding Neustark’s business opportunities.

Prior to her current role she worked in the Swiss machine-building industry as well as in a VC-backed construction tech startup where she headed all activities around innovation and sustainability.

Anna holds a M.Sc. in mineral resources engineering from RWTH Aachen University and has lived and worked across five countries before settling down in Switzerland.

“At the end of the day, we have limited resources. This issue isn’t going away—so dismantling sustainability programmes is a short-term decision with long-term consequences.”

“We’re trying to accelerate innovation by helping sustainable products get to market faster—and make sustainability a sales advantage, not a cost.” Kathleen Egan, CEO and Co-Founder of Ecomedes

In this episode of Constructive Voices, host Jackie De Burca is joined by Kathleen Egan, the dynamic and purpose-driven CEO of Ecomedes. This platform connects sustainability data to real business outcomes in the built environment.

Kathleen’s journey from Harvard MBA grad to serial entrepreneur to sustainability tech leader is compelling in itself—but it’s her mission to embed sustainability into every purchasing decision in construction that truly stands out.

What triggered her shift toward sustainability?
How does Ecomedes simplify compliance and empower sales teams with data?
Why is backing away from ESG investments short-sighted—even in politically uncertain times?

Kathleen doesn’t hold back in this engaging and deeply informative conversation.

“The only way to avoid greenwashing is through third-party certifications. Yes, they’re messy—but they’re necessary.”

“No one wants to deal with 100 certifiers, but everyone wants valid data. That’s where we come in.”

From Oil Spills to Startups: How a San Francisco oil spill, global climate leadership, and political turbulence drove Kathleen to launch Ecomedes.

Aligning Profit with Purpose: Why sustainability and revenue don’t have to be at odds—and how Ecomedes proves it.

Greenwashing & Real Impact: The role of third-party certifications in cutting through the noise and ensuring credible ESG claims.

The ROI of Sustainability: Kathleen breaks down where the return is real—and where regulation must do the heavy lifting.

Policy Watch: Why regulations in California and the EU are far more than regional concerns for global companies.

The Role of AI: How Ecomedes is leveraging artificial intelligence to democratise sustainability insights across the construction sector.

“Half of a building’s carbon footprint is in the materials. The other half is in operations. You can’t manage what you don’t measure.”

“It’s time to stop with the token programs and move to real impact—starting with data from the meter and the materials.”

Kathleen Egan is an innovator, serial entrepreneur, and champion for sustainability.

She is currently the CEO and Co-founder of Ecomedes the largest B2B SaaS platform for efficient communication across the $1T building product supply chain and the Chairman of the Board of The 5 Gyres Institute, the leading non-profit working to reduce the harm from plastic pollution.

Kathleen has worked in Silicon Valley since 2000 and achieved four venture-backed exits: ProfitLogic, a price optimisation pioneer acquired by Oracle, Revionics, the leader in merchandise optimisation, acquired by Aptos, Quri, the first crowd-sourced app for CPG store compliance, acquired by TRAX Retail, and flyswat, an early web navigation tool acquired by NBCi.

She is passionate about communicating complex topics through art, producing a documentary, It Ain’t Pretty about sexual objectification and pay inequality in big wave surfing.

She pioneered making artwork from beach plastic in a series of mosaics. Her education is in engineering at Lehigh University and business from The Harvard Business School.

Kathleen lives at Ocean Beach in San Francisco with her son and husband, where they love to surf, bike, ski, attend concerts, and watch whales.

We’ve fought water for centuries, but maybe it’s time to live with it—and even on it.” – Rutger de Graaf

In this eye-opening episode of Constructive Voices, host Jackie De Burca speaks with visionary Dutch engineer Rutger de Graaf, co-founder of Blue21, about how floating urban developments can offer real, resilient solutions to the climate crisis.

“Floating developments aren’t just a backup plan for climate change; they’re innovation platforms for decentralised energy, housing, and community.” Rutger de Graaf

For over 18 years, Rutger has been leading the charge in designing, engineering, and implementing floating infrastructure in the Netherlands and beyond.

This episode delves deep (pun intended) into how floating neighbourhoods, ports, and even social housing could redefine our relationship with water—and why this isn’t science fiction but a rapidly emerging reality.

 From Fight to Float: How Dutch engineering is shifting from battling water to embracing it—and how other coastal cities can follow.

️ Floating Cities 101: What they are, how they work, and how they’re being built today.

 Innovation Meets Ecology: The hidden ecosystems growing beneath floating platforms, and why they’re good news for biodiversity.

⚡ Decentralised Resilience: Why floating buildings can be more energy-efficient, flood-resistant, and self-sufficient than traditional ones.

️ From Luxury to Inclusion: Blue21’s pioneering work on the world’s first floating social housing complex.

 Tipping Points & Tech Curves: Rutger shares why we may be near an inflection point for global adoption—and what’s holding us back.

 A Call to Policymakers: Why mayors and urban planners must show leadership now if we want cities to truly adapt to rising seas.

“With the right leadership, floating communities can become models of ecological, social, and democratic resilience.” Rutger de Graaf

Rutger de Graaf is a pioneer in climate resilience, water management, and sustainable urban development.

As co-founder of Blue21, he is a global frontrunner in floating urban development, merging engineering, governance, and sustainability to create climate-adaptive cities on water.

With a background in civil engineering, Rutger has transformed groundbreaking research into real-world projects, such as the Floating Pavilion in Rotterdam and the Bluelands Floating Tiny Office.

A thought leader and keynote speaker, he advocates for innovative, socially embraced, and ecologically sound solutions to global urban challenges.