Climate change and the built environment: What is next?

Sector Development Director Built Environment, Americas

Article published 26 January 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. 

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.

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.

From designing out waste from the start to building for longevity, taking a lifecycle approach to new buildings and infrastructure results in a more efficient use of materials, time, and people, leading to lower emissions outputs. Learn more about circular economy or watch our webinar: Thinking differently. Defining future success for a sustainable, resilient business – the circular economy

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.