ecobuild
2018 kicked off with a bang and a demonstration that it is refusing to shy away
from tackling the biggest global issues facing the built environment.
The
central conference programme certainly delivered with its opening session on
day one (6th March 2018) focusing on
delivering the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the New Urban Agenda and the
Paris Agreement.
Speaker
Paula Caballero, Global Director of the Climate Programme at the World
Resources Institute, talked frankly about the challenges that lie ahead and
stressed the need for an alignment of currently disparate agendas around
climate action and development in order to succeed. Lord McConnell, co-chair of
the All Party Parliamentary Group on the SDGs, called for everyone in
ecobuild’s Canary Wharf Conference Arena to take responsibility for delivering
the goals.
Housebuilding
and placemaking were also a big focus of the first day of the conference with
James Lidgate, CEO of Legal & General Homes, asking for urgent action to
tackle the “unsustainable intergenerational inequality” that we see today.
Beyond
the arena, there was standing room only at many seminar sessions, with the
Offsite, Energy & HVAC and Timber districts proving particularly popular
with show attendees wanting to find out more about new ideas and emerging
technologies.
The
sustainability showcases were a huge attraction for visitors on day one, with
people literally queueing out of the door to explore the space standard
compliant ZEDpod. The zero carbon home is just one of a series of full scale
builds at the event. Many visitors also took the chance to take a break and
relax in The Hive Pocket Park, a brilliantly diverse green space created by The
Edible Bus Stop Studio.
Day
one of the event was also packed full of launches including the Structural
Timber Association’s Site Check pocket guide and the guide to Multifunctional
Solar Carparks from the BRE National Solar Centre and FlexiSolar. New
top-of-the-range doors were also displayed for the first time at the Smart
Architectural Aluminium Stand.
Day
two of ecobuild 2018 (7th March 2018)
will continue with discussions and sessions looking at the key issues that
matter to professionals from across the built environment. This includes a
conference session examining construction quality in a post-Grenfell world; New
London Architecture will also lead a discussion around creating a carbon
neutral capital.
The
second day of the show is also a perfect time to visit the BREEAM gallery to
find out more about the winners of the BREEAM Awards which are being hosted at
ecobuild tonight.
Martin
Hurn, Managing Director of Futurebuild Events Ltd, opened ecobuild 2018
alongside Edward Hardy, Chief Executive of the Considerate Constructors Scheme
and John Garwood, Managing Director of the Canary Wharf Group. He commented:
“The first day of ecobuild 2018 has been a huge success. By partnering with the
Considerate Constructors Scheme we have also been able to create an inclusive
and respectful event like no other in this sector.
“Starting
the event with a high-level discussion on the SDGs proves that this is the
event for forward thinking professionals who want to make a real difference to
the world we live in. Tomorrow promises to deliver more thought provoking
discussions, hands-on workshops and brilliant product launches.”
