Professor Sean Smith, Director of the Centre for Future Infrastructure at The University of Edinburgh and Principal Investigator for the Centre for Net Zero High Density Buildings (CeNZ-HighDB) based at Edinburgh Futures Institute, has been appointed as chair of a new Mission Board convened to help drive circular change across Scotland’s built environment.
The sector-led Mission Board is a key intervention set out in the Built Environment Roadmap to Circularity developed by Zero Waste Scotland to support the delivery of the Scottish Government’s Circular Economy Strategy.
The roadmap sets out a long-term vision for a highly efficient sector addressing carbon emissions, improving material reuse, and reducing waste and environmental impacts, while maintaining its role as a significant employer and contributor to the Scottish economy.
Providing the platform for sector-led co-ordinated action, the Mission Board will drive the built environment Roadmap forward, bringing together expertise from across the industry to help embed circular economy practices in the way Scotland designs, constructs, and manages our buildings and infrastructure.
Chaired by Professor Sean Smith, representatives also include the Association of British Insurers (ABI), British Standards Institution (BSI), Built Environment Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Scottish Building Federation (SBF), Scotland Excel, Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA), Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE), Skills Development Scotland (SDS), Supply Chain Sustainability School, and The Royal Incorporation of Architects Scotland (RIAS).
Centre for Net Zero High Density Buildings (CeNZ-HighDB)
Professor Smith’s role as Chair of the new Mission Board is strengthened by his position as Principal Investigator of the Centre for Future Infrastructure’s UKRI CeNZ-HighDB programme, which is based at Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), CeNZ-HighDB is a collaborative research partnership focused on testing innovative low-carbon technologies through both new build prototypes and retrofitting of existing buildings. The Centre is exploring the use of sustainable construction materials, advanced heating and cooling systems, and energy storage technologies to improve the energy performance of high-density urban environments. The Centre aims to reduce carbon emissions, lower household energy costs and help address health issues associated with cold and damp housing.
“I am delighted to see the formation of the built environment Mission Board. This is a sector which continuously underpins much of our economy, communities and society and can play a pivotal role in the acceleration of circular economy practices and outcomes, providing a positive legacy for our current and future generations.” – Professor Sean Smith
Related links
Roadmap and Mission Board set direction for Scotland’s circular built environment
Find out more about the Centre for Net Zero High Density Buildings (CeNZ-HighDB)
