Digital school unites global experts to slash climate impact of construction

This week's report by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) made starkly clear the urgent need for strong rapid and sustained global reductions in climate heating emissions, including the need to bring cumulative CO₂ emissions to net zero. The building industry is one of the key sectors needing to act, as the construction, occupation, maintenance and demolition of the world’s-built environment consumes around half of all raw materials annually - and generates over 45% of the world’s CO₂ emissions.

The University of Brighton Waste House

The need to bring radical change to the construction sector is the driving force behind the University of Brighton's ongoing Digital School of Re-Construction. Running until 13 August, this brings together UK and international architects plus construction firms to explore ways of slashing carbon emissions, waste and energy use in the building industry by promoting far greater re-use of materials and other resources more commonly referred to as waste.

The Brighton hosting team is led by principal lecturer and leading sustainable architect Duncan Baker-Brown - best known for his work on the Brighton Waste House – alongside Anthony Roberts, Lucy-Anne Gilbert, Prof. Andre Viljeon, Michael Howe, Nick Gant and Dr Ryan Woodard. Among those taking part in the school are experts from the French company Bellastock, currently deconstructing the 59-storey Montparnasse Tower in Paris.

Duncan Baker-Brown said: “In the UK, construction generates over 60% of all waste going to landfill and incineration – that’s 120 million tonnes of useful resources thrown away! If we can find ways to dramatically reduce the amount of stuff the built environment consumes then we can go some way towards reducing our negative impact of our beautiful host planet.”

The Digital School has also brought together 80 students in design, construction and engineering from across the world to help work on different projects stemming from the re-use theme. It is part of a 4.3 million Euro three-year Interreg NWE (FCRBE) project lead by world leaders in the area of building de-construction and re-use, Rotor DC of Brussels. The project includes creating an online directory of over 1500 specialised salvage dealers across Europe, plus a pre-demolition 'tool kit' to boost the re-use potential of materials and products present in buildings being demolished.

The Brighton summer school not only responds to the worldwide declaration of Climate and Ecological Emergency, but also taps into Brighton and Hove’s ambition as a city to become Net Carbon Neutral by 2030.

Mita Patel, Sustainability Programme Officer at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “Brighton & Hove City Council recognises that in order to meet our ambitious carbon targets we need to fully embed circular principles across all of our projects. Shifting away from old wasteful ways will be a challenge but there is a real commitment in making this transition. Our Circular Economy Programme and Route Map is identifying actions and opportunities for implementing circular solutions in both policy and practice, helping us design out waste, and rethinking how we procure and manage projects - reducing the environmental impact of our built environment and across other key priority areas. We welcome the opportunity to share our approach and learn from others, through this Digital School of Reconstruction.”