An initiative that aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions, lower heating bills and bring eco-friendly construction products to market is to be launched. 

The new Centre for Net-Zero High Density Buildings has received £4.5 million funding boost from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is part of the partnership, led by the University of Edinburgh, alongside the Universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde, Edinburgh Napier, and BE-ST – Scotland’s construction innovation centre. The centre draws together £5.6 million investment from industry, education, the public sector and the community. 

Announcing the funding Dr Kate Hamer, UKRI Programme Director, Building a Green Future, said, “Transitioning to a sustainable green economy is a win-win for all; it creates new jobs, new partnerships and new industries.

“Through investment in collaboration between researchers and innovators, we harness our collective effort across the public and private sector, driving innovation to secure the future of our environment and deliver sustainable economic growth.”
Dr Kate Hamer, UKRI Programme Director, Building a Green Future

UWS’s input to the project focusses on green materials and technology themes relating to heating, cooling and energy storage within buildings and will be led by Professor Des Gibson and Dr Ashwini Konanahalli.

The scheme will test its approaches in Edinburgh and Glasgow, which have the UK’s highest proportion of flats. Researchers estimate that Glasgow and Edinburgh city regions combined may require around £35 billion investment for low-carbon retrofitting and construction over the next 25 years, to help achieve net zero goals.

Professor Des Gibson said, “The complexities of building types across Scotland and the UK requires a range of innovative low carbon green solutions. This is a critical net-zero challenge, not just for the UK, but for the world with 55% of the world's population living and working in urban areas, rising to 68% by 2050.

“This centre offers a significant opportunity for innovative, co-designed, UK-based manufactured solutions.
Professor Des Gibson

“At UWS we’re extremely proud to be working on globally relevant research and innovation, directly supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

The scheme’s recommendations will be shared with industry and government, to inform how buildings across the country are retrofitted to achieve net-zero targets.

Professor Sean Smith, Director of the Centre for Future Infrastructure at Edinburgh Futures Institute and the School of Engineering, who leads the new centre and research teams, said, 

“There is a critical net zero challenge for our cities and towns, where densely packed buildings make a significant contribution to annual carbon emissions. The retrofit of buildings will become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry and this new centre will help the UK lead the way on new green economy solutions, enabling business growth and preparing for the skills and jobs ahead.”

The initiative is one of several created by the Government to boost green manufacturing, jobs and skills across the country, known as Green Economy Centres. Another key focus will be to train students in low-carbon retrofitting through partnerships with colleges and academies.