Futurebuild 2022 provides a space for disruptors across the built environment the opportunity to collaborate on the latest net zero innovations
Futurebuild 2022 began with programme director at the Construction Innovation Hub Keith Waller reflecting on the industry’s current efforts to meet net zero three and a half years into the four years of government funding.
Waller demonstrated how collaboration between government and industry can achieve the deal’s goals.
He also emphasised that technical innovation alone is not the answer – policymakers must be empowered, solutions must be developed and collaboration must be at the centre of everything the industry does. Only then will transformation be achieved.
Futurebuild discusses COP26
The first conference session saw panellists discuss action beyond COP26.
Hannah Vickers, CO2nstructZero member of the Construction Leadership Council, shared that its industry change programme aims to focus on three areas:
- measuring progress across the sector
- signposting to avoid duplicating efforts
- focussing on one area, such as zero diesel construction sites, to enable whole industry change
Rachel Skinner, past president of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and executive director of WSP discussed her thoughts on COP26.
We must understand what net zero means as a concept and recognise how we can realistically achieve it.
Companies will be more successful when they truly collaborate together as opposed to working on net zero goals separately.
Ultimately, net zero is complicated and there is a lot to be done. She encourages workers to call out malpractice so that positive changes can be made on the road towards net zero.
Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN)
Futurebuild allows the voices of pioneers in sustainability to be amplified.
This year Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN) hosted a bar takeover. The bar features tables themed on the network’s nine working groups. The team also hosted daily live demonstrations on how to use natural materials in future construction, such as straw building and lime plastering.
“We cannot affect climate change without changing how we construct and our attitude to how we construct,” explained Sam Turner of ACAN.
“We’re a collective of individuals who are coming together to fill the gap and make change happen. However, we don’t always have the answers, so to get people talking at Futurebuild we’re hosting an open meeting on Wednesday at 5:00pm, giving people the opportunity to discuss where they want to see change in the industry.”
Smart low carbon cements
Innovation Stage saw three of the show’s Innovation Partners, Procore, Worcester Bosch and C-Probe present their game-changing solutions to visitors.
Procore vouched for cultural change to overcome barriers to enable digital transformation in the sector.
C-Probe reported that 70% of infrastructure damage is caused by corrosion and showed how companies can use smart low carbon cements to preserve embodied carbon in structures.
Alex Turner, key account director at Worcester Bosch, commented:
“Futurebuild gives us the opportunity to see other industry innovators face to face and collaborate on how we can achieve net-zero. It also gives us the chance to speak to distributors and gain valuable feedback about how end users, landlords and homeowners feel about the latest sustainable technologies, so that we can adapt to meet their needs.”
