Sustainable Ideas Seen at the London Build 2023 Expo
Read on to find some innovative ideas that could help lower the environmental impact of construction projects
Amanda Pollard
23 November 2022
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Sustainability was a hot topic at the London Build 2023 Expo, the celebrated construction trade event held at London’s Olympia on 16 and 17 November. There were headline talks highlighting inspiring ways to lower the industry’s carbon footprint, and some product ideas on display to help construction professionals bring sustainability into all parts of their projects. Here are just a few of the innovations on display.
Solutions for the construction phase
The climate collective, Zero Construct, were exhibiting at the show to offer advice about sustainable construction practices. The aim of this community of construction professionals is to encourage the industry to place greater importance on carbon efficiency at all stages of a project.
“Construction emits around 4 billion tonnes of CO2e [CO2 equivalent] per year,” said Zero member and eco-consultant Jonathan Munkley during the discussion, ZERO Uniting Construction to Tackle Embodied Carbon. In an effort to deal with the problem, Zero is putting together a Playbook. This useful resource will be a practical guide for carrying out low carbon projects and is scheduled to be released in January 2023.
The climate collective, Zero Construct, were exhibiting at the show to offer advice about sustainable construction practices. The aim of this community of construction professionals is to encourage the industry to place greater importance on carbon efficiency at all stages of a project.
“Construction emits around 4 billion tonnes of CO2e [CO2 equivalent] per year,” said Zero member and eco-consultant Jonathan Munkley during the discussion, ZERO Uniting Construction to Tackle Embodied Carbon. In an effort to deal with the problem, Zero is putting together a Playbook. This useful resource will be a practical guide for carrying out low carbon projects and is scheduled to be released in January 2023.
Removing emissions: There were plenty of ideas at the event for construction businesses who want to lower their on-site environmental impact. These included products that help to reduce carbon emissions from diesel-powered energy generators, such as the Enertainer from AMPD Energy. This battery energy storage system (BESS) was designed to replace diesel generators, reducing carbon emissions by up to 85% and eliminating air pollutants.
A similar idea came from fellow exhibitor New Era, which has partnered with Green Biofuels to supply a fossil-free, renewable fuel as an alternative to fossil fuel-powered generators.
A similar idea came from fellow exhibitor New Era, which has partnered with Green Biofuels to supply a fossil-free, renewable fuel as an alternative to fossil fuel-powered generators.
Reducing wastage: Construction waste was another issue with solutions at the show, particularly in relation to damage that can occur to surfaces on-site. “12% of construction costs are from errors, so reducing that by even 5% is 5% less embodied carbon,” said Jonathan Munkley in the ZERO panel discussion, so it pays to plan and execute a build with care.
Elsewhere, repair and restoration firm Plastic Surgeon (pictured) was exhibiting to explain how it can help firms adopt a repair-first approach by restoring all manner of hard surfaces, from stone, ceramic and metal to wood, MDF and acrylic.
Elsewhere, repair and restoration firm Plastic Surgeon (pictured) was exhibiting to explain how it can help firms adopt a repair-first approach by restoring all manner of hard surfaces, from stone, ceramic and metal to wood, MDF and acrylic.
Sustainable materials: For those build professionals who are keen to find an alternative to high-carbon cement, the Natural Cement stand was a good place to start. The company produces a cement, Natcem 35, that contains no harmful chemical additives that would damage river and marine life, and that can be fired at much lower temperatures than Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC).
A fellow exhibitor at the show was EDGE (Eco Design Green Environment), which aims to help home professionals make sustainable choices by bringing together brands dedicated to circularity and sustainability into one showroom. Products highlighted at the show included Cocoboard (pictured), which is an MDF substitute made from coconut husks and natural adhesive, and Zero Waste Works’ reinforcement fibres made from waste materials, which can be used in numerous ways in construction.
A fellow exhibitor at the show was EDGE (Eco Design Green Environment), which aims to help home professionals make sustainable choices by bringing together brands dedicated to circularity and sustainability into one showroom. Products highlighted at the show included Cocoboard (pictured), which is an MDF substitute made from coconut husks and natural adhesive, and Zero Waste Works’ reinforcement fibres made from waste materials, which can be used in numerous ways in construction.
Circular design: Along with sustainable products, the show also highlighted the importance of thinking ahead to ensure materials and buildings can be reclaimed and reused. “[It’s about creating] buildings that last and can adapt to the needs of the user,” explained Dr Katherine Adams during the Future Proofing London: Applying the Circular Economy Through Flexible Design discussion. “We need to think about what will be recyclable in future,” she said.
In terms of renovating existing spaces, it takes thought and planning to recycle materials, but Peter Swallow of Grimshaw Architects said, “There are reuse routes for most materials.”
In terms of renovating existing spaces, it takes thought and planning to recycle materials, but Peter Swallow of Grimshaw Architects said, “There are reuse routes for most materials.”
Low carbon solutions for buildings
Insulation: There were some interesting sustainable insulation ideas on display at the show, including IndiNature’s natural fibre insulation boards and batts. Made from hemp grown in Yorkshire and formed into insulation at a zero-waste site near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders, the material is projected to last around 60 years, after which time it could, in theory, be recycled.
Elsewhere, Marmox explained how 15% of a building’s heat is lost at the junction between the wall and the floor. The firm’s load-bearing thermal insulation blocks, Thermoblock (pictured), can be placed in this tricky area to reduce heat loss to just 1%.
Insulation: There were some interesting sustainable insulation ideas on display at the show, including IndiNature’s natural fibre insulation boards and batts. Made from hemp grown in Yorkshire and formed into insulation at a zero-waste site near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders, the material is projected to last around 60 years, after which time it could, in theory, be recycled.
Elsewhere, Marmox explained how 15% of a building’s heat is lost at the junction between the wall and the floor. The firm’s load-bearing thermal insulation blocks, Thermoblock (pictured), can be placed in this tricky area to reduce heat loss to just 1%.
Energy saving: Efficient heating solutions can reduce costs as well as emissions, and there were some options on display at this year’s show. At the InfraHeat stand, for example, professionals could learn about infrared heating and how it compares to the more common convection heating. Where the latter only heats the ambient air in a room, the warmth from an infrared heating system is spread more evenly among all the objects in a space.
More energy-saving products were on display at the XO stand, including its solar roof tiles (pictured), which can replace traditional roof tiles. The tiles cover more of the roof’s surface in solar than conventional panels, creating even more clean energy than usual.
Meanwhile, Zypho showed off its shower unit, which recovers heat from waste water, improving the efficiency of the shower by 30-75%.
Tell us…
Did you visit the London Build 2023 Expo? What stood out for you at the event? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
More energy-saving products were on display at the XO stand, including its solar roof tiles (pictured), which can replace traditional roof tiles. The tiles cover more of the roof’s surface in solar than conventional panels, creating even more clean energy than usual.
Meanwhile, Zypho showed off its shower unit, which recovers heat from waste water, improving the efficiency of the shower by 30-75%.
Tell us…
Did you visit the London Build 2023 Expo? What stood out for you at the event? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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I like the sound of hemp insulation. Hemp is an ages old material that needs to be revived for many things. I'm researching straw panels instead of brick and cement.
May just be me, but doesn’t anyone else find it annoying that it is called build expo 2023 and held in 2022!?