Read it here! An important infrastructure project that intends to alleviate traffic around Dartford and the M25 has been acclaimed as the first of its type to employ cutting-edge methods in the reduction of carbon emissions. This project’s goal is to reduce the amount of pollution that is released into the atmosphere. Furthermore, despite the fact that the High Speed 2 (HS2) project has already suffered difficulties in certain locations, the question still remains: Does the project itself represent the future of transportation in Britain or is it time to abandon it entirely? In addition to this, the plans for the construction of a cancer hospital with a budget of 300 million pounds have advanced to a new stage. Also, we will investigate the use of hemp, which is a material that is both environmentally friendly and low in carbon emissions, as a building material for the construction of new homes.

Lower Thames Crossing: carbon-reduction strategies praised

Original Source: Lower Thames Crossing: Company working on project praises carbon reduction methods

The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) will establish a passage beneath the River Thames.

The Thames Crossing Action Group (TCAG) has voiced concerns about the scheme’s suitability, particularly its climatic impact and traffic reduction.

Ambisense, a business hired by National Highways to utilise analytics to manage environmental hazards, has commended its employer as the “first large UK infrastructure project to target low-carbon construction with incentives that promote further continuing carbon reduction across projects of this sort.”

Ambisense said its LTC work delivered 97% more data than standard monitoring, resulting in 90% fewer site visits and reduced over-engineered designs.

Ambisense CEO Stephen McNulty: “It’s been great to work on the Lower Thames Crossing.”

“This ‘pathfinder’ project used carbon neutral construction to make the new bridge the greenest in the UK.”

“The project will assist the UK to achieve net zero by 2050, which is exciting.”

This sets a precedent for future low-carbon infrastructure initiatives.

The Lower Thames Crossing would virtually increase road capacity east of London, reducing congestion and offering new opportunities for residents and workers.

“We want to leave a green legacy in the region with this project.”

As a ‘pathfinder’ project, we’re studying carbon neutral construction and working with local businesses and professionals, like Ambisense, to make the Lower Thames Crossing the greenest road ever built in the UK.

Recent consultations on LTC plans included a new footbridge over the A127.

Britain’s biggest infrastructure project HS2: Pros and cons

Original Source: HS2: The case for and against Britain’s biggest infrastructure project

HS2 or not HS2? That’s the question regarding Britain’s biggest infrastructure project to connect London and the north (though not as far north as originally planned). Susan Ryall of High-Speed Rail Group wants the project to get on, while Penny Gaines of Stop HS2 wants it stopped.

High-Speed Rail Group Director Susan Ryall

HS2 will alter the UK by reducing journey times, carbon emissions, and expanding economic advantages, wealth, and opportunity.

With the first leg of HS2 from London to Birmingham under construction, the next part of the line from the West Midlands to Crewe approved, and legislation for extending the route from Crewe to Manchester pending, we’re getting closer to creating a new rail spine to connect communities across Britain. Now we must promote understanding of high-speed rail’s revolutionary benefits so we can leave future generations a world-class train network.

HS2 trains will use zero-carbon electricity, delivering a cleaner alternative to driving and flying. This promise will help make the project carbon-neutral by 2035. HS2 uses low-carbon concrete solutions and electrically driven cranes and diggers for every mile of additional track. People focus on the environmental repercussions of construction but fail to see the wider picture, such as the move from plane to train, vehicles off the roads, and improved rail freight capacity, reducing the demand for lorries. HS1’s modest environmental impacts have led six million UK customers to choose low-carbon trains over short-haul flights. HS2 wants to redefine the term “green infrastructure project.”

High-speed rail may increase the economy and protect the environment. Investing in transport infrastructure can unify labour markets, increase access to local services, boost firm-to-firm connectivity, and expand access to new and existing markets. HS2 is a transit and economic program.

High-speed rail and its providers aim to benefit communities along the route. HS2 Ltd established a social legacy program in July to create jobs for unemployed and homeless people, help young people acquire STEM skills and access apprenticeships, and support community projects.

Rail is climate infrastructure. HS2 is a massive upgrade to the national rail network and the closest thing to zero-carbon travel.

Stop HS2’s Penny Gaines

Stop HS2 was established because its proposals made no sense. Plans make less sense with Covid-19, the climate catastrophe, and the cost-of-living dilemma. Climate change involves reducing travel and preserving nature. Not HS2.

Stop HS2 argued that videoconferencing and digital technologies would minimise travel. Many who wanted HS2, from ministers down, rejected this concept. We knew students videoconferenced with foreign schools. We imagined they’d bring these behaviours to work when they grew up. They’d simply zoom.

A pandemic delayed these changes. Some have returned to work. Many people work from home once a week or more. Long-distance rail travel is low.

HS1 never met passenger expectations, and HS2 won’t either. HS2 destroys wildlife habitats. HS2 Ltd and their contractors ignored guidelines and cut down woodlands in April when trees were dormant. HS2 Ltd and their contractors broke agreements with The Wildlife Trusts about wildlife site work. HS2 Ltd could reduce its environmental impact. Nope.

HS2 Ltd says it will be carbon-free after opening. This ignores the railway’s impact. Due to its carbon cost, HS2 Ltd estimates it won’t be carbon neutral for 120 years after operation. Electric cars, bikes, and planes are improving.

People demand local and regional mobility. Regional travel is slow. HS2 is consuming money for improvements. The Integrated Rail Plan was released last year. Three-quarters (£72.3bn out of £96.4bn) is for HS2’s development phases.

Some of the money may go to electrifying the rail network. Some of it could benefit local and regional travel.

HS2 plans raise questions. HS2 Ltd hasn’t designed Euston. Manchester Airport’s station is unfunded. The government cancelled the Leeds leg. They’ve removed the Manchester-Goldborne link.

The new PM can still cancel HS2.

Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital plans progress

Original Source: Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital plans move forward

On Cambridge’s BioMedical Campus, there will be a cancer hospital.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust said the government approved finding a builder.

The trust stated the facility would mix NHS clinical space with three research centres.

The government’s New Hospital Programme started, a construction partner might be recruited, and the hospital trust plans to present its next business case by autumn.

The seven-story, 279,862-sq-ft (26,000-m) structure could be built in late 2023 at the centre of “Europe’s leading life science campus.”

Fiona Carey, a cancer sufferer, helped create the “unique hospital” that she thinks will “find new techniques to identify cancer early, treat cancer with more accuracy, and generate more discoveries in less time.”

She had renal cancer and never expected to see her son grow up.

“I hope early diagnosis and better treatments will help others,” she said.

Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre director Prof. Richard Gilbertson remarked, “We’re establishing a hospital with university infrastructure and research at its centre.”

He believed it would transform “the tale of cancer for people across the region and the world.”

Next year’s business case will be presented.

“The centre will speed up diagnosis across the East of England and change patient care by teaming world-class NHS clinicians with innovative university and industry-led research,” said Health Minister Maria Caulfield.

“I’m glad we’re looking for a construction partner for this project.”

Hemp-based low-carbon homes

Original Source: Building Low-Carbon Hemp Homes

Construction contributes heavily to climate change.

The global building industry provides 38% of global carbon emissions, per the WEF. The number of buildings being built per week could fit in Paris.

About half of a building’s carbon emissions are produced during construction before it’s used. This is called “embedded carbon” because concrete and cement are responsible for 8% of worldwide carbon emissions.

During building and demolition, the construction industry uses massive amounts of virgin, nonrenewable resources, energy, and garbage. Almost all of a building’s trash is disposed of in the environment, usually in landfills, wasting valuable resources that could be utilised to increase sustainability and circularity.

Green Building

Recognizing the severity of the issue, the construction sector has concentrated on reducing new buildings’ carbon footprint.

In the construction sector, renewable energy is used to reduce carbon emissions from sites and to make raw materials. In the UK, three out of five construction enterprises are interested in adopting solar or wind energy.

Equipment is going green. Hyundai is developing a hydrogen-powered excavator that will be introduced in 2023.

Use of alternative construction materials can minimise the quantity of carbon in new buildings and infrastructure. Numerous sustainable materials have been studied in recent decades, with varying results.

In recent years, sustainable building materials have replaced carbon-intensive ones like concrete. Geopolymer composites, recycled plastic, recycled wood, rammed earth, bamboo, wool insulation, living roofs, straw bales, and hemp are examples.

Hemp in green building

Hemp is an ancient building material. Hemp’s use has been overshadowed by cannabis in recent years. Recently, there has been increasing interest in using hemp for commercial products, particularly as a low-carbon building material.

In recent decades, scientists have produced hemp-based building materials with economic potential. Hemp particleboards and chipboards employ this eco-friendly plant-derived substance and flax to provide a stronger, lighter, and more moisture-resistant alternative to traditional chipboard.

Hempcrete combines hemp hurds, water, and lime-based binders to make a concrete-like substance. Once coated and dried, hempcrete can be utilised in new dwellings.

Hempcrete offers good insulation, low flammability, mould and insect resistance, CO2 absorption during curing, increasing strength with time, moisture resistance, non-toxicity, and full recyclability.

Hemp provides various benefits for the building industry and is playing an increasing role in meeting net zero carbon goals by 2050.

Building Tiny Homes with Hemp

Hemp’s potential as an eco-friendly and low-carbon construction alternative is huge, but one Irish social entrepreneur champions its minor benefits. Together with Margent Farm, Common Knowledge built a low-carbon hemp tiny home.

They say their tiny dwellings could help with the cost-of-living and housing crises. Tigin Tiny Homes are large caravans. In addition to hemp cladding, these residences use cork for insulation and natural rubber for flooring. You can buy them already or make your own.

The hemp panels were initially utilised in Flat House, a pioneering zero-carbon project. They’re made from plant fibres and agricultural waste sugar-based resins. Both are lightweight and sustainable, and while UK planning restrictions limit their use in architectural items, this is less so in mobile construction.

Common Knowledge hopes to make their Tigin Tiny Homes open source, making them free for anybody to use. These plans include architectural drawings, material lists, recommended suppliers, and pricing info.

Summary of today’s construction news

You have made it this far. Assumingly, you have read the article and gained knowledge about the Lower Thames Crossing, which will effectively expand road capacity east of London, thereby relieving congestion and providing residents and employees with new opportunities.

In addition, Susan Ryall believes that, in addition to its positive effects on the environment, high-speed rail has the potential to give the economy the much-needed boost it currently requires. Penny Gaines claims that delicate wildlife locations are being destroyed as a result of HS2.

Furthermore, the New Hospital Programme was initiated by the government, a construction partner may be brought on board, and the hospital trust intends to deliver its next business case by the fall. The seven-story building with a floor area of 279,862 square feet (26,000 square metres) could be constructed in the middle of “Europe’s leading life science campus” as early as the year 2023.

Moreover, one Irish social entrepreneur is a strong supporter of hemp despite its relatively limited benefits. Hemp has significant potential as an environmentally benign and low-carbon alternative to the construction industry. Common Knowledge and Margent Farm collaborated to construct a tiny house made of hemp with a low carbon footprint.