Climate change and the built environment: What is next?

Sector Development Director Built Environment, Americas

Keith Bryan

Sector Development Director Built Environment, Americas

Article published January 26, 2022

A few weeks on from COP26, what were the key takeaways from discussions around sustainability and the built environment?

In this series of blogs, we will discuss why climate change is such an important issue in the built environment, unpack some of the new alliances, agreements and initiatives, what they mean for the sector, and what comes next. 

What’s next for sustainability and the built environment?

How can these commitments best be put into place and how can construction organizations, architecture firms and decommissioning companies follow the lead?

Offsite modular manufacturing

Offsite manufacturing in the building and construction industry offers huge opportunities for waste reduction and efficiency by enabling precise component design and automated processes. By designing buildings with maintenance in mind, repairs, dismantling, upgrades, adaptations, renovations, and high-value recycling becomes more manageable and efficient. Buildings of the future will require retrofits and upgrades as needs change, and offsite modular construction allows structures to be quickly switched from commercial to residential use. This is particularly important in the wake of the pandemic, as businesses look for alternatives to office-based working.

Building Information Modelling (BIM)

BIM enables efficient, consistent, and transparent communication throughout an asset’s entire lifecycle by giving the right people shared access to the right information. This collaborative approach provides sustainability insights, drives efficiency and is becoming a prerequisite for many tenders in the built environment space.

A standards-based approach

Adopting internationally recognized standards and best practices helps organizations to take a transparent, responsible approach to increase their sustainability and long-term resilience.

‘International standards form the backbone of effective sustainability strategies, enabling the global construction industry and all who manage assets in the built environment to adopt a common language which drives consistency, and gain a competitive edge.’

(A Green Print for a Resilient, Sustainable Built Environment report, BSI)

At BSI, we’re at the forefront of sustainability and environmental management, offering a wide range of solutions to help you manage social and environmental responsibilities. From Environmental Management Systems to Waste Management and Energy Audits - learn more about our products and services that are helping to advance a sustainable built environment. 

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BSI is also committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with these blogs contributing to Goal 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, and Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities.

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Our CEO, Susan Taylor Martin, explains how BSI is taking action on climate change