The Future of Sustainable Construction

03/31/25 • 36 min

In this insightful episode, we delve into the complexities of carbon emissions within the construction industry. Our guest, Gilbert Lennox King, CEO and co-founder of Construction Carbon, shares his mission to simplify carbon management for developers. We explore the crucial distinction between embodied and operational carbon, the drivers behind the growing focus on embodied carbon, and innovative financial incentives for sustainable development. Discover how Construction Carbon is helping developers and funders forecast, track, and reduce their carbon footprint, and gain valuable insights into the future of sustainable construction.
Key Takeaways
● Embodied carbon refers to emissions from the materials and construction processes of a building, while operational carbon is associated with its energy use.
● The importance of embodied carbon is growing as operational emissions decrease due to grid decarbonisation.
● Construction Carbon aims to simplify carbon management for developers by providing tools to forecast, track, and reduce emissions.
● Financial incentives, such as rebates on development loans, are being used to encourage developers to reduce embodied carbon.
● The UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard provides benchmarks and definitions for net zero carbon in construction and operation.
● Measuring and verifying embodied carbon is becoming increasingly important for reporting to voluntary frameworks and for due diligence.
● There are differing views on the role of timber in reducing embodied carbon, particularly regarding the accounting of carbon sequestration.
● The industry is working towards better integration of various standards and data to improve building sustainability.
Best Moments
● "It's not that complicated really."
● "Sometimes it's not that nice to run your company either."
● "We're on a mission to try and make carbon simpler for developers."
● "You could build the most energy-efficient building in the world and fly in the materials from coal-fired factories and nobody would actually care about that upstream emissions, whereas now I think there's sort of broader recognition that you need to look at the whole life of a building."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Jon Ackroyd - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jonackroyd
Oliver Lowrie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-lowrie/?original_referer=&originalSubdomain=uk
EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT
The Future of Sustainable Design with Kelly Alvarez Doran
Is the Future of Housing Rental? With Michael Keaveney from Grainger PLC
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Jon Ackroyd and Oliver Lowrie, the visionary hosts of Urban Forecast, bring their expertise from leading their innovative practice, Ackroyd Lowrie. Known for pushing the boundaries in urban design, Jon and Oliver use their podcast to delve into the future of cities, sharing insights from their work on projects that emphasise sustainability, community, and transformative architecture. Through Urban Forecast, they engage listeners with discussions on how architecture and design shape urban living, aiming to inspire new ways of thinking about the spaces around us.
CONNECT & CONTACT
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ackroydlowrie/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ackroyd-lowrie/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/discover/urbanforecast
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@UrbanForecast
Email: [email protected]

Previous Episode

The Future of Sustainable Design with Kelly Alvarez Doran

In this episode of Urban Forecast, we sit down with Kelly Alvarez Doran, Co-founder and CEO of Half Climate Design, to discuss the crucial role of embodied carbon in architecture. Kelly shares insights from his career, from working in mining to leading sustainable projects in Rwanda, exploring the choices architects make and their far-reaching impact. We dive into why current regulations are stifling low-carbon construction, how embodied and operational carbon should be viewed together, and what needs to change to make truly sustainable building practices mainstream.
Key Takeaways
1. Embodied vs. Operational Carbon – It is not an either-or debate. Both must be considered over a building’s lifetime.
2. The Scale of Architectural Impact – A single design decision, such as a foundation for a residential project, can have the carbon equivalent of driving a car for 60 years.
3. Lessons from Rwanda – Working in a context where materials are expensive but labour is abundant offers a completely different design approach, freeing architects to be more innovative.
4. UK Regulations Are Holding Us Back – Post-Grenfell fire safety rules have inadvertently made it harder to use lower-carbon materials like timber, despite these materials not being involved in the disaster.
5. Architects' Agency in Sustainability – While building regulations are restrictive, architects still have influence over material choices, and even small decisions can make a difference.
6. The Role of Education – Training architects and builders to understand the full carbon impact of their decisions is crucial for real change.
7. The Future of Sustainable Building – Countries like Denmark have embraced whole-life carbon policies, setting an example for others to follow.
8. Rethinking Materials – The construction industry relies too heavily on high-carbon materials like aluminium when lower-impact alternatives exist.
Best Moments
1. "One design decision I made for a foundation had the same carbon impact as driving a car for 60 years."
2. "Once you see embodied carbon, it is hard to unsee it."
3. "The irony is that post-Grenfell regulations have made it harder to build with sustainable materials that were not even involved in the fire."
4. "Architects are like chefs who do not think about the slaughterhouse – we specify materials without truly considering where they come from or their impact."
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Ackroyd Lowrie - https://www.ackroydlowrie.com
Half Climate Design - https://halfclimatedesign.com/
Jon Ackroyd - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jonackroyd
Oliver Lowrie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-lowrie/?original_referer=&originalSubdomain=uk
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Jon Ackroyd and Oliver Lowrie, the visionary hosts of Urban Forecast, bring their expertise from leading their innovative practice, Ackroyd Lowrie. Known for pushing the boundaries in urban design, Jon and Oliver use their podcast to delve into the future of cities, sharing insights from their work on projects that emphasise sustainability, community, and transformative architecture. Through Urban Forecast, they engage listeners with discussions on how architecture and design shape urban living, aiming to inspire new ways of thinking about the spaces around us.
CONNECT & CONTACT
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ackroydlowrie/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ackroyd-lowrie/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/discover/urbanforecast
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@UrbanForecast
Email: [email protected]

Next Episode

The Timber Ban | UK Regulations Killing Innovation & Blocking Net Zero?

Are the UK’s building regulations stalling progress towards net zero? In this episode of Urban Forecast, we discuss how current policies and industry fears are limiting the use of sustainable materials like timber. From towering timber structures in Japan to the challenges of insuring low-carbon buildings in the UK, we explore whether regulation is holding back innovation in sustainable architecture.
Key Takeaways
UK regulations restrict timber use – Anything above 18 metres eliminates timber as an option, limiting low-carbon building solutions.
Global precedents exist – Countries like Japan build 40-storey timber buildings in earthquake zones, proving it’s possible.
Insurance and mortgageability issues – Even when a building meets regulations, insurers and mortgage lenders may still refuse support.
Grenfell’s legacy – While safety reforms were necessary, the reaction may have unfairly impacted timber as a building material.
Embodied carbon matters – Reducing operational energy alone isn’t enough; the carbon cost of materials must be considered.
Retrofit first – The best sustainability strategy is upgrading existing structures rather than defaulting to new builds.
Timber can be a net carbon sink – Responsibly sourced timber absorbs more carbon than it emits, offering a sustainable alternative.
Smarter design can reduce emissions – Combining minimal concrete with well-planned timber structures can significantly lower embodied carbon.
Best Moments
“Buildings going up in Japan that are like 40 storeys in timber, which has got earthquakes and all sorts of stuff we don’t have here.”
“Retrofit first for me always makes sense.”
“If your top floor is above 18 metres, timber’s gone. I don’t get it, I think it’s an overreaction.”
“We have to learn from Grenfell, but also not learn the wrong things.”
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Jon Ackroyd - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jonackroyd
Oliver Lowrie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-lowrie/?original_referer=&originalSubdomain=uk
EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT
The Future of Sustainable Design with Kelly Alvarez Doran
Is the Future of Housing Rental? With Michael Keaveney from Grainger PLC
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Jon Ackroyd and Oliver Lowrie, the visionary hosts of Urban Forecast, bring their expertise from leading their innovative practice, Ackroyd Lowrie. Known for pushing the boundaries in urban design, Jon and Oliver use their podcast to delve into the future of cities, sharing insights from their work on projects that emphasise sustainability, community, and transformative architecture. Through Urban Forecast, they engage listeners with discussions on how architecture and design shape urban living, aiming to inspire new ways of thinking about the spaces around us.
CONNECT & CONTACT
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ackroydlowrie/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ackroyd-lowrie/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/discover/urbanforecast
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@UrbanForecast
Email: [email protected]