TSB seeks to develop climate strategy for buildings

The TSB is to award contracts to 26 companies as part of its work supporting innovations that will help mitigate sustainability challenges.

The adaptation strategies to be developed will cover buildings that are at the design stage and large non-domestic buildings that are about to be refurbished.

Iain Gray, chief executive of the Technology Strategy Board, said: ‘Innovation is crucial to British businesses and through investments such as this we are working to help businesses take advantage of future market opportunities.

‘We are already designing and constructing buildings that use less energy and reduce CO₂ emissions. The challenge now is to make sure our buildings are resilient and adaptable to the climate change that we will see over the coming decades.’

According to the TSB, the construction industry is already working to make buildings more energy-efficient but the climate is expected to continue changing to 2100 and beyond.

Long-term climate change will require existing and new buildings to be adaptable and resilient.

The TSB further claims that there is a significant market opportunity for design teams to develop climate-adaptation services to help meet this need and to respond to forthcoming significant changes in standards and regulations.

The 26 successful applicants will each be awarded a contract for up to £100,000.

The TSB plans to invest additional funding, of up to £2.4m, in further projects next year through a second competition.