As Theresa May signs into law a commitment to bring the UK’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, one city in the UK is on its way to achieving this goal 22 years sooner
Building information modelling (BIM) has disrupted the construction industry. The digital technology represents and processes all the characteristics of a building in its whole life-cycle, allowing architects, enginee...
5G networks no doubt have the technological specs necessary to power smart cities, but without careful design and planning the complexity of integrating everything from traffic to health care could prove overwhelming
The Italian city has recently become a model smart city by implementing a broad plan ranging from urban development to mobility and new tourism management
In the EU, the main use of energy by households is for heating their homes, and is therefore highly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. District heating has proven to be a convenient and sustainable way to recov...
A UK council housing estate with a high density of fuel poverty has benefited from an energy makeover which bundles technology, aesthetics and a novel approach to public procurement.
One team was chosen during the Junction hackathon event that was held from 23rd to 25th of November 2018 in Espoo (Finland) to collaborate with the STARDUST partners in Tampere
Involving citizens is the biggest challenge to finalise large-scale energy efficiency works in neighbourhoods. An emblematic story comes from Valladolid, Spain, where “no, we can’t” has become “yes, we can”
The European construction industry is working towards producing high-quality materials from recycled waste, enhancing the sector’s sustainability and reducing its environmental impact
Trial operation has begun for the latest heat towers of the storage tanks at Reick power station. The Technical University of Dresden monitors the effectiveness of the district heating system.
The building sector is the largest energy-consuming sector in Europe. As retrofitting works are often unaffordable for people who own apartments in old blocks, the EU has had to step in
Smart solutions are innovations. Therefore, by nature, they’re often new and untested - which is a scary feature for potential investors, who want safe and predictable results. So what are some attractive financing ...
Smart innovations are years in the making and require long-term vision. Changes in government and citizens’ sensibilities can halt or alter strategies. So how can they survive to create lasting change?
Due to its reliance on renewable energy sources, district heating is becoming a preferred energy saving solution. One of the biggest challenges, however, is convincing homeowners of the long-term value of retrofitting...
In recent years, the word “smart” has started rolling off the tongues and keyboards of policy makers in many areas of our global village. The building and construction sector is no stranger to this word as EU dire...
A peripheral district in Genoa, Italy, has become a smart city lab. The project has improved apartment conditions, reduced waste and lowered the energy bill, all with the help of citizens
To make new energy efficient buildings or to renovate the existing stock? That is the question. Experts from the construction sector, gathered in Rome, discussed solutions to make the second option worthwhile and cheaper
Cities in Europe are experimenting new ways to invest in energy transition and finance green measures at local level. Innovative financing models are becoming a priority because of lack of public funding
The “energy eater” European building stock is aiming for a greener future. Researchers are testing an “envelope” system combining active and passive technologies, fitted over the existing façade, to make buil...
When young people move out of supported accommodation the leap to independent living can be tough. A new project in the north west of England is converting a former sheltered housing block for elderly people into mana...
Activist, writer and policy strategist, David Bollier argues that cities can benefit from co-operatively owning and controlling resources and applying the principles of commons ownership to big data
“I’m out to prove the obvious,” says best-selling author Parag Khanna, “More connectivity is better.” “The transfer of technology and best practices” through learning networks of cities are “incredibly...
If a city is to be really intelligent, its priority needs to be on promoting equitable and affordable social infrastructure for all. And that includes people with disability
The frequency and severity of the latest extreme weather events in Europe has sent out a strong alarm signal, urging both local authorities and scientists to act.