Sometimes the best solution for sustainable energy is a heat network. In this session the practicalities and real-life lessons of heat networks - from feasibility through to implementation - will be shared, drawing on real-life case studies.

• Jo Mortensen, Associate Director of Sustainable Places, Bioregional

• Stuart Gadsden, Commercial Director, Kensa

• Sarah Burgess, Development Officer for Grand Union Community Energy

The housing sector is at a crossroads. The Labour government has pledged to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years and has set out planning reforms and the reintroduction of mandatory housing targets to help facilitate this. However, imminent updates to the building regulations following the Future Homes Standard consultation are not expected to go far and fast enough in addressing the urgent need for change to meet our climate commitments, or to deliver the healthy homes with low bills that we need.

Bioregional co-led a coalition of 250 prominent industry organisations, to draw out a shared approach, supported in a letter to Government calling for a better standard to be adopted. In tandem with this, Bioregional is working with progressive local authorities to help them create and adopt their own ambitious net-zero planning policies that set higher standards above and beyond national levels. Join this session to find out the latest updates from those striving to go further and faster on standards in order to meet our climate commitments.

Chair: Julian Brooks, Programmes Director, Good Homes Alliance

Speakers:

• Lewis Knight, Director of Sustainable Places, Bioregional
• Julie Godefroy, Head of Net Zero Policy, CIBSE
• Kirsty Girvan, Policy and Public Affairs Advisor, UKGBC

The government has made a commitment to deliver the SDGs by 2030 with a focus on tackling global poverty, instability and the climate and nature emergency. This also applies to what we achieve within the UK. What is our progress to date? How can the industry have a greater focus on these critical ambitions, as all 17 goals have a relevance for all those working in the built and natural environment? Would delivering the SDGs improve social equality in the UK?

• Chair: Sue Riddlestone OBE, Chief Executive, Bioregional

• Saul Humphrey, Vice President, Chartered Institute of Building and Professor of Sustainable Construction Management at Anglia Ruskin University

• Will Arnold, Head of Climate Action, Institution of Structural Engineers

• Cressida Curtis, Group Sustainability Director, Wates

Session curated by the Edge with partners Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and Bioregional

Analysis by the UN shows that reducing carbon in concrete and steel will not be enough to allow truly sustainable construction. We need to increase the use of bio-based and reclaimed materials, and design for deconstruction and circularity. This session sets out that analysis, provides practical “how-to” case studies and time for Q&A.

• Sue Riddlestone OBE (chair), CEO, Bioregional & NED, Future Homes Hub The global imperative and case studies of reclaimed material choices
• Dave Lomax, Associate Director, Waugh Thistleton architects Case study: Black & White Building, building a mid-rise office with wood & design for deconstruction
• Ian Pritchett, Growth & Innovation Director, Greencore Homes Case study: Homes built from closed timber frame panels insulated with wood fibre, hemp and lime in a timber frame superstructure