Building up to COP29 – here’s what to expect from this year’s conference

This November sees the return of one of the most controversial yet significant events in the sustainability calendar. On 11 November, United Nation’s latest Conference of the Parties (COP) event…

What are smart cities (and are they the future of the built environment)?

Are smart cities another marketing buzzword in the built environment, or are they really the future of our urban infrastructure? You may well have heard of smart homes and smart…

What is the green skills gap (and why does it matter)?

The built environment is in dire need of sustainability talent. Here are 10 skills that can help close the growing green talent gap. The UK is in a race to…

Everyone can contribute to global change: a Q&A with UCEM Student Officer for Sustainability Kian Bruney

Kian Bruney has been appointed as one of four new Student Officers for Sustainability at UCEM. We sat down with him to find out what drew him to the role…

A guide to ESG: what is it and why does it matter?

ESG has grown from a small CSR initiative into a global business priority and a multi-million-dollar industry. Here’s why it matters. The factors that determine success for a company have…

14 building materials shaping the future of the built environment

These 14 innovative and futuristic materials are set to change the way our infrastructure is built. Through innovations in energy efficiency, resource usage and insulation, the built environment is hard…

Smart buildings, explained – here’s what they mean for the built environment

Smart buildings could represent the intelligent, connected and sustainable future of the built environment. The built environment is no stranger to digital transformation. Just as technology is revolutionising processes across…

Why are buildings being sold for £1?

More and more buildings are being sold for loose change across the world, but is this an anomaly or a sign of things to come? Anyone who has been following…

Mastering the art of master planning

Could master planning help us mitigate climate change and combat increasing urbanisation, overpopulation and urban sprawl? Despite accounting for less than 2% of the Earth’s surface area, cities are currently…

A guide to reversible building design (with 4 examples)

One way the built environment can reduce both its emissions and the amount of waste it produces is to design buildings to be taken apart. Here's how. Carbon emissions are…

Material banks, explained: could they be the path to a circular future?

Material banks could help reduce the enormous amounts of waste produced by the demolitions of buildings and infrastructure. Here's how they work. A wide array of different materials, components and…

7 skills all architectural technologists need

If you're interested in a career in Architectural Technology, here are 7 key skills that can help you succeed in this field. Architectural technologists are the built environment professionals that…