Sustainability Panel

Sustainability Panel

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Our Sustainability Panel promotes best practice in sustainable construction.

The Panel promotes effective industry-wide initiatives on sustainable construction in conjunction with other construction sector bodies. The Panel works with the Climate Emergency Task Group to support the Institution's sustainability agenda, through the development of tools and guidance on relevant topics. Topics may include:

  • Reducing embodied carbon
  • Use of materials in a sustainable context
  • Reuse and repurposing of structures
  • Sustainability case studies
Panel structure:

The constitution of the Panel aims to reflect the diversity of the Institution's membership and to provide different perspectives.

  • Chair
  • Vice Chair
  • Up to 24 other members (including members of various grades and based in different locations)
 
Get involved:
We invite expressions of interest in Panel membership each September, contacting all members except Student Members.

Members of the Panel are expected to fully participate in supporting and driving the Panel's activities forward.

There are many ways that you can contribute to the activities of the group, and you will be expected to do some work outside the meetings, for example drafting or reviewing guidance and keeping up to date on the latest developments around the topic of sustainability.

All meetings are held on-line.

Contact the Panel if you have questions about their work.

  Contact the panel

Looking for an event or training?

Explore our range of online training, recorded lectures and up and coming events.

Read more

Featured resources and events

Guidance
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International drivers of low carbon structural design

Tom Harley-Tuffs and Jonathan Russell from the Sustainability Panel explore how government legislation and investor commitments are causing clients globally to put carbon first.

Date – 3 April 2023
Author – Tom Harley-Tuffs and Jonathan Russell
Price – £0
Training
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Circular economy panel debate

A technical debate around practical approaches towards implementing the circular economy within structural engineering and the construction industry.

Date – 7 January 2022
Author – Laura Batty, Andrea Charlson, Penny Gowler and Charlie Wedgwood
Price – 0
Blog
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Mass timber embodied carbon factors

Arup has conducted a review of European manufacturers’ CLT and glulam Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). The review demonstrates that the currently adopted industry average carbon factors for CLT and glulam have reduced when compared with factors from the Inventory of Carbon and Energy database (ICE database).

Date – 1 December 2021
Author – Tom Place, Clare Perkins and Lucy Caine
Price – 0
Report
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Low carbon sprayed concrete

The executive summary from a 2020 Research Award winning project.

Date – 7 February 2022
Author – Professor Chris Goodier, Professor Sergio Cavalaro, Zhi Hu, Michael Sataya, Dr Chris Peaston, Stuart Manning
Price – Free
Blog
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COP26 and structural engineering

Date – 15 November 2021
Author – Will Arnold, Head of Climate Action, IStructE
Training
<h4>Minimal intervention: less is more</h4>

Minimal intervention: less is more

Hear from the engineer behind the Structural Award-winning Newquay Harper Footbridge project - and get into the mindset of only doing what is necessary.

Date – 27 April 2020
Author – Tony Parasram
Price – Free
Blue abstract blocks

The ACORN, the SQUIRREL and the OAK

The poster of the 2021 Coolest Concrete Award winner, Robin Oval, Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Cambridge.

Date – 7 February 2022
Author – Robin Oval
Price – Free
Guidance
<h4>Design for zero</h4>

Design for zero

This guide explains why overdesign is so prevalent, its impact on material consumption and CO2 emissions, and provides five key actions you can take now, to reduce the carbon your projects produce. 

Date – 29 October 2021
Author – J J Orr, M Cooke, T J Ibell, C Smith & N Watson
Price – £24.95
Training
brick factory

Masonry solutions for low energy buildings

Learn how to avoid unintended consequences to buildings in accordance with the 2022 changes to the Building Regulations.

Date – 26 April 2022
Author – David Boyd, Tony Hopkin and Mike Leonard
Price – £26 - £40 + VAT

Related resources and events

Lecture
<h4>Sustainable construction - a case study of the Monet bridge</h4>

Sustainable construction - a case study of the Monet bridge

Sustainable construction, the reuse potential of building materials, designing for deconstruction, bridge engineering, recycling industry, planning in construction, minimisation of waste.

Date – 9 December 2024
Location – University of Surrey
Course
<h4>Timber workshop: design through worked examples</h4>

Timber workshop: design through worked examples

This one-day, online advanced practical workshop will teach complex timber engineering through worked examples. It encourages problem-solving through teaching tools and group discussion.

Date – 19 November 2024
Location – Online
Price – £295 - £445 + VAT
Course
Amesbury School detail

Eurocode 5: the essentials of timber design

This one-day, online course offers an introduction to timber design to Eurocode 5.

Date – 18 November 2024
Location – Online
Price – £295 - £445 + VAT
Conference
Group of people sat around board room table

SME business practice conference 2024

A hands-on conference, tailored to SME owners, equipping SME practitioners with a comprehensive toolkit to capitalise on emerging industry priorities and maximise business potential.

Date – 10 October 2024
Location – Institution of Structural Engineers international HQ
Price – £55 - £325 + VAT
Course
<h4>Structural engineering with bamboo</h4>

Structural engineering with bamboo

This course equips attendees with practical knowledge about structural design with bamboo stems (culms). The course considers aspects of concept design, detailed design and durability by design.

Date – 11 September 2024
Location – Online
Price – £295 - £445 + VAT
Conference
People are sitting in an auditorium. Copyright: Stop Talking Photography, 2017

Young engineers conference 2024

This popular annual conference brings together the next generation of construction leaders. This year’s conference focuses on resilient structural engineering and making a positive impact.

Date – 19 July 2024
Location – Hybrid
Price – £15 - £65
Course
A person measuring the ground.

Ground investigations and outline foundation design

This half-day in-person course provides guidance to early-career structural engineers to develop a better understanding of geotechnical engineering and use that knowledge to enhance and promote sustainable design.

Date – 25 June 2024
Location – 47-58 Bastwick St, London, EC1V 3PS
Price – £215 - £325 + VAT
Webinar
Stairs and corridors under a timber roof.

Low carbon construction

Jointly presented by RIBA and The Institution of Structural Engineers, this webinar discusses integrative computational design, testing and construction within low carbon materials, including timber, bio-fibres and natural stone.

Date – 19 June 2024
Location – Online
Price – 0
Webinar
<h4>Demystifying structural strengthening with CFRP: applications, advantages and insights</h4>

Demystifying structural strengthening with CFRP: applications, advantages and insights

This breakfast webinar, sponsored by Sika, aims to demystify structural strengthening with CFRP and demonstrate what these remarkable and versatile materials can offer to your refurbishment projects.

Date – 19 June 2024
Location – Online
Price – Free

Explore our training, events and resources to support you throughout your career and membership journey.