FOOTPRINT+ podcasts

What are the options for commercial buildings not captured in heat networks? Changing the source of heat can be an extremely challenging process for businesses. In this session we explore the opportunities for some of the biggest emitters to overcome the barriers:

Thirty High sets an example for the retrofit of office buildings found in city centre locations across the UK and further afield. By retaining the primary structure and core and refurbishing the existing facades, the team have sought to maximise the building's energy efficiency, achieving a target operational energy use that is comparable to that of modern commercial buildings

Targeting WELL Core Platinum, Thirty High will provide the amenity space desired by modern office occupiers. The design team have aimed at achieving maximum performance improvement with minimum embodied energy emissions by retaining and upgrading the facade and improving airtightness with the project on track to achieve

 BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and NABERS 5*. This 60-year old building demonstrates that revitalising an existing asset can deliver top-quality space at a fraction of the carbon emissions of new build.

The growth of the UK's research and innovation sector continues to be a key contributor to the economy. Increased investment in life sciences real estate has led to a growing pipeline of speculative laboratories under construction in cities like London, Cambridge, and Oxford. As these projects come to market, the ability to attract occupiers by achieving the right fit for the space becomes crucial. One avenue for meaningful differentiation is understanding what decarbonisation efforts in laboratories mean for the lab occupier and users' operations. 

In this panel, Oxford Properties, The Institute of Cancer Research, 3PM and GXN will debate how science occupiers move towards net zero. You will hear directly from scientists about how building owners can support behaviours that contribute to credible decarbonisation pathways. The panel is part of the Transforming To Zero initiative, which has engaged with key players in the UK science ecosystem through interviews, workshops, and ongoing conversations since 2022. 

There are many innovative low-carbon concretes in development but, even when they are proven in laboratory or small-scale trials, the investment to develop the supply chain remains complex and uncertain. The Advance Market Commitment (AMC) for low-carbon concrete and cement products intends to overcome these barriers by being explicit about the quantity and price of the next generation of low-carbon concretes that the property and construction sectors would be willing to procure over a number of years. This demand-side commitment can be used to seek investment to rapidly scale the development and production of innovative concretes to meet the demand.  In this session we hear from Innovate UK and the companies working together to develop the AMC and how this might help unlock investment to accelerate decarbonisation of construction. 

There are a growing number of low and lower carbon concretes available on the market, with the potential for cutting the embodied carbon of new development. This session explores new product development and initiatives to help facilitate their specification and use at scale.

An expert panel from across the design, construction and supply chain will present discuss examples, projects, technologies and experiences including:

Meaningful participation involves engaging local communities, workers, and stakeholders in decision-making processes, ensuring their voices are heard in shaping policies and investments. This participatory approach enhances social equity and strengthens the long-term sustainability plans by aligning them with local priorities. 

Place-based impact investing directs financial resources towards local initiatives that foster sustainable development, create jobs, and support community resilience. By investing in purposeful projects that are rooted in the unique needs and potential of specific regions, this approach ensures that the communities are empowered to fully participate in change. 

What are the ingredients for success that will future proof your investments?

Timber-framed housing: Growing sector

Large housebuilders are partnering with or investing in timber frame manufacturing capacity to develop their own supply chain. With larger numbers of timber-framed houses being built in England than ever before our expert panel will explore what we can expect to see in the sector:

Designed by Sir Denys Lasdun and completed in 1983, the IBM Building is a bold presence in the buzzing cultural playground of the South Bank. Developer Stanhope is sensitively refurbishing and extending this Grade II listed Brutalist treasure to update it for contemporary office occupiers and give it a longterm,  energy-efficient future.

Retaining 80% of the original structure’s concrete has minimised the CO2 emissions generated by the retrofit works. Fabric improvements and improvements to services will reduce operational energy consumption by 50%. Targeting BREEAM outstanding, EPC A rating and a NABERS 5 star rating will bring the building right up to date without compromising its status as a key Listed building in the historic Southbank composition.

Circular Economy in practice is about sequentially looking at what to retain, reuse on site, reuse within a portfolio or reuse elsewhere through trade partners, together with close collaboration between deconstruction and construction contractor and clients. Circularity requires a collaborative, can-do attitude supported by technology built around the industry’s workflows. 

General Demolition have been pioneering reuse at many sites, and using the Material Index platform have facilitated precise deconstruction and efficient storage methods, helping clients to meet their reuse targets. The team have also conducted deconstruction time trials, providing valuable cost-benefit insights to support informed decision-making.

British Land has been working with technology providers and sustainability focussed contractors such as Cast, implementing end-to-end reuse practices spanning from audits and material passports, to transferring material both internally and to the wider reclaim industry. 

Join our expert panel who will take you step-by-step through the process and show how digitisation allows parties to manage the process of deconstruction and onward material management leading to much higher levels of reuse.

The UK’s non-domestic building stock is responsible for 23% of operational carbon emissions, posing a significant challenge to net zero targets. Energy efficiency in commercial buildings is essential, with optimisation being a key step before broader retrofits. To support the industry, UKGBC has collaborated with leading experts to share their insights, to encourage and support optimisation actions across the industry. 

The program has reviewed strategies such as data collection & analysis, understandings set points, stakeholder behaviour and engagement, technology solutions and many more. By examining and discussing learnings, this session will present real insights into sustainable building operations, reducing energy use, and driving positive impact.