Articles tagged with "Sustainability"

Digital product passports, already prevalent in the textile and electronics industries, are being introduced to the construction sector. These passports aim to enhance transparency across the supply chain for construction materials and products. This development aligns with broader industry trends towards increased digitalization and accountability.

The Canada Housing Design Catalogue, released by CMHC, has garnered recognition for its approach to building design and operational energy efficiency. The catalogue is not meant to be comprehensive for all types of developments, but it provides valuable insights into these specific aspects. The focus appears to be on improving processes and efficiency in residential building designs.

Procure Plus has announced a £1.6 billion framework involving over 100 companies to retrofit social housing and public buildings with low and zero-carbon technologies. The four-year project is structured into regional and technology-specific lots, extending to 2029 and including the installation of heat pumps, solar PV, insulation, and other green measures. This initiative will work alongside housing associations, councils, and public bodies to enhance decarbonisation efforts and increase local employment and training opportunities.

Michigan has introduced a mass timber program to encourage the adoption of this alternative building material. The state will provide financial support, guidance, and technical assistance to accommodate rising demand. This initiative is part of a broader effort to incorporate sustainable building practices in construction.

Sundt, Jacobs, and HDR have completed a $597 million wastewater treatment plant in San Mateo, California. The plant is a key part of San Mateo’s $1 billion Clean Water Program, aimed at upgrading the sewer infrastructure in the San Francisco Bay area. This project is instrumental in modernizing the region's water management systems.

The United States Department of Energy has canceled over $7.5 billion in clean energy awards, ending 223 projects. Additionally, nearly $100 billion in clean energy loans and conditional commitments are now under review. These actions have caused disruptions, particularly as the European Union progresses in its clean energy initiatives.

NEC Contracts has introduced NEC Digital, a new online platform designed to transform contract drafting within the construction industry. The system offers guided contract setup, a comprehensive clause library, and enhanced collaboration tools tailored for various stakeholders. By digitizing these processes, NEC Digital seeks to improve efficiency, reduce disputes, and encourage wider adoption of collaborative contracting practices.

Australia will launch the Solar Sharer program in July 2026, providing three hours of free solar power daily to households in New South Wales, South Australia, and south-east Queensland, regardless of whether they have solar panels. The program aims to utilize surplus solar energy and stabilize the power grid by encouraging electricity use during midday. Some industry representatives criticize the lack of consultation, while clean energy advocates support the initiative for its potential to lower household expenses and boost renewable energy usage.

Despite Donald Trump's attempts to prioritize fossil fuels, the clean energy sector continues to grow. Investments in renewable technologies have surpassed those in fossil fuels, with notable increases in Texas, a Republican state. While Trump's proposed tariffs might affect some supply chains, domestic investments in clean energy remain strong. Solar and storage projects are expected to lead new electrical capacity additions in the U.S. in the coming years.

A construction team has been selected for the first phase of a $15 billion data center campus in Wisconsin. The facility will feature a closed-loop liquid cooling system to optimize water use and energy efficiency. This project represents a significant investment in sustainable technology and infrastructure development.

German researchers have developed a new sodium-ion battery using lignin, a wood waste by-product, as an electrode material. This project, called ThüNaBsE, involves the transformation of lignin into hard carbon for use in battery technology, avoiding the use of critical metals like lithium. The battery aims to power small electric vehicles and warehouse equipment, with early tests showing promising results. This initiative is supported by regional funding and aims for scalability and sustainability.

Bahrain's Foulath Holding has partnered with Yellow Door Energy to construct the world's largest single-site rooftop solar power plant, with a capacity of 123 MWp. This transformative project will consist of 77,000 solar panels on a 262,000-square-meter stockyard shed, generating 200 million kilowatt-hours in the first year. This initiative aids Bahrain's goal to reach Net Zero by 2060, reducing carbon emissions by 90,000 metric tons annually. It also represents a $250 million commitment from Foulath Holding to sustainable projects.