Regenerative Design

"We could have buildings that are generating more energy than they use, capturing every drop of rainwater."

"Can we make the built environment actually help restore and regenerate the planet?"

When you think of the components of an ecosystem, buildings may not automatically come to mind, but they play a key role in the urban habitats of plants and insects, have a major impact on drainage and waterways, increase temperatures and affect air quality, as well as contributing up to 37% of GHGs. Much is already being done to decarbonise the built environment sector, but what if we could take it one step further and make buildings climate positive?

David Cheshire strives to create buildings that don't just minimise harm, but instead, positively contribute to the planet. His vision includes buildings that are carbon stores rather than carbon emitters, generating more energy than they use and capturing rainwater instead of flushing it away.

As Sustainability Director at AECOM, David Cheshire works with developers and designers to make buildings more regenerative. With a focus on the circular economy, ecosystem services and technological innovation, he is redesigning our concrete jungles so that they too can flourish.

"We have to look at ways to protect and restore the ecosystems that are basically our life support system."

To find out more about AECOM, visit their website.