In our efforts do decarbonise the built environment, we need to address every aspect of planning, design and construction. From the tools used to predict the environmental impact of new buildings to the whole life cycle of the materials used in their construction, there is potential to reduce emissions at every single stage of the design and build process.

In this issue, we take a look at some of the technologies, ideas and innovations contributing to the industry’s push for net zero. On the planning side, we hear about how design tools must evolve to better predict operational energy requirements and embodied carbon throughout the life cycle of a building project.

In building materials, we speak to the developers of a new concrete floor system that uses 70% less material than traditional reinforced concrete to find out how concrete construction can be made fit for a net-zero future. We also take a look at a new type of brick made from 90% construction waste and explore the potential for building a circular economy for bricks in the UK.

Timber has yet to prove its viability as a material for large-scale construction. We find out how the new Built by Nature fund hopes to scale up its use by offering grants pioneering projects that address barriers to timber construction.

Read on for all this and more news, views and insights from the industry.

Susanne Hauner, publisher