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Navigating an Evolving Sustainable Built Environment provides a comprehensive, accessible, and practice‑oriented guide for anyone seeking to understand or influence the future of sustainability in the built environment. It traces the journey from the early foundations of sustainable development to today’s rapidly evolving landscape shaped by climate science, policy, technological disruption, and societal change.
The book aims to empower readers to begin or strengthen their integration of purposeful sustainability — in buildings, landscapes, and cities that are regenerative, future‑ready, and genuinely aligned with the needs of people and planet.
Unpacking key frameworks such as the triple bottom line, the five capitals model, and ESG reporting, this book provides the conceptual tools needed to make informed, value‑driven decisions. It helps readers navigate the interrelated strands of sustainability subjects and complex policy landscapes, offering assessment of emerging standards and trends including net zero buildings, climate adaptation, health and wellbeing and circular economy. International case studies illustrate transformative impact from the viewpoints of developers, designers and end users, showcasing their focus on vision and technology, action and governance, clearly illustrating real progress being made across the world.
Navigating an Evolving Sustainable Built Environment provides forward‑looking insight into the twin major forces shaping the future of the built environment: the accelerating climate crisis and the rise of technologies such as AI. In this emerging new agenda that demands both technical competence and creative leadership, this book aims to offer practical strategies for practitioners and decision-makers to take the next steps with optimism and a sense of shared purpose.
As Governments struggle with the cost of carbon reduction and climate resilience, this guide to how such work can be done most cost-effectively and with greatest chance of success could not be more timely.
— Sir Tim Laurence GCVO, CB (Chair of the Science Museum Group Board)
Dr. Mei Ren has a wide range of design, research and sustainability management experience from over 25 years of working with all stakeholders of built environment and construction industry. She is particularly interested in developing practical solutions of sustainability and climate resilience strategies. She started her career at the UK’s Building Research Establishment before earning a PhD in building physics. She is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). She was awarded the inaugural NCE/ICE’s Sustainability Champion of the Year in 2014 and was appointed a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor in Environmental Sustainability at the University of Manchester in 2015–2018. She is currently a Partner at Buro Happold. She is also a member of Science Museum Group’s Masterplan and Estate Committee.
Rachel Waggett is a Chartered Environmentalist and sustainability leader with a career spanning research, consultancy and the public sector. Beginning in environmental building services research, she moved into consultancy, working with both small and major firms to deliver innovative, practical sustainability solutions across diverse project scales, before moving into the public sector. Her expertise bridges strategic policy making and hands-on implementation, with a portfolio including advisory roles on both design and client sides. As Lead Officer for Environment at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Rachel works with stakeholders, partners and peer authorities to accelerate sustainability action across the region. She is also closely involved in community energy initiatives in her local area, reflecting her commitment tto grassroots climate action.
Preface
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1. Background and definition of sustainability
Chapter 2. Sustainability policy foundation
Chapter 3. Climate change initiatives
Chapter 4. The sustainable built environment: responses to the challenge
Chapter 5. Sustainable processes and design tools
Chapter 6. Near term new thinking
Chapter 7. International case studies of net zero and climate resilience
Chapter 8. What will the future hold for the built environment?