The construction industry relies heavily on collaboration to produce exemplary projects and on-time delivery. With systems such as BIM, cooperation is more so being tested and challenged. However it’s not just project delivery that requires the industry to join forces. Sustainability and environmental concerns are increasingly taking precedence among the built community. This is seeing a wealth of organisations unite to promote and raise awareness of how new and existing builds can enhance their eco-credentials.

Last month, members of the built environment community across the globe came together to celebrate World Green Building Week and this year’s theme ‘Green buildings for great communities’. All across the country, UK Green Building Council members hosted tours, seminars and pop-up showrooms demonstrating their sustainable efforts. Among these was Interface, which invited visitors to challenge environmental claims, as well as Nicholas Hare Architects, which hosted a series of discussion evenings based on making effective choices for sustainable refurbishments.

World Green Building Week has been celebrated annually since 2010 and continues to receive wide media acclaim for its commitment to sustainability-focused events. For those who didn’t make it this time, it is certainly worth a visit in 2013 – in the meantime, readers can visit the UK-GBC website for this year’s highlights.

On a final note, it seems preparations are already underway for the annual Ashden Awards – a leading green energy scheme which honours excellence in sustainable retrofit. The scheme is looking to hear from businesses, housing associations and public sector organisations that are helping to design, retrofit or educate with eco-technologies in mind. The deadline for entries is 30th October, so get those nominations in quick!