Building better environments

We keep an eye on issues around the world that affect people and property in the built environment.

Pandemic impact on Smart cities movement

How have the changes brought about by the pandemic impacted on government projects for Smart Cities? According to the resource website for Public Sector IT professionals, www.gcn.com, the ongoing pandemic has accelerated the rise of smart cities across the US and furthered this State-sponsored smart …

Wind Turbines

Balancing climate change action with noise management Last week the Irish Government published its long anticipated Climate Action Bill and Low Development Bill to guide Ireland on its journey to a “climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy”. The draft Bill, which …

Dublin Traffic

Still some distance to travel to tackle the effects of noise pollution. In the past, noise pollution was often referred to as an invisible threat. However, this is increasingly no longer the case. There is now a growing awareness of the ill-health effects of noise …

Smoky coal Ban Spring 2021 Poster

Positive moves by Irish government to tackle air pollution In recent days, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, said that there will be tougher restrictions needed if Ireland intends to reduce emissions across the country. Therefore, a process of public consultation is …

Cartoon houses Noise Polution

Noise reduction is one of the few benefits of the global pandemic, but there is also a downside. Over the past 11 months, we have been writing about how noise pollution has reduced in cities all around the world as a result of the pandemic. …

Global Actions to Control Noise Sonitus

Last month, Noise News International published the first in a series of articles by Walter Montano documenting the history of global actions seeking to control noise. Last month, Noise News International published the first in a series of articles by Walter Montano documenting the history …

Dhaka Skyline Picture

A stark headline in the UK publication The Guardian earlier this month cautioned that ‘Air pollution will lead to mass migration’. A stark headline in the UK publication The Guardian earlier this month cautioned that ‘Air pollution will lead to mass migration’. This worrying commentary …

Importance of indoor air quality monitoring

There has been an increased awareness of – and emphasis on – the monitoring of indoor air quality over recent years and this awareness heightened over the past 10 months, in the context of Covid-19. There has been an increased awareness of – and emphasis …

Workplace acoustics Sonitus Poster

Tackling noise in the workplace comes down to understanding the basic principles of effective acoustics and incorporating these into interior design and fitout materials. Last month we wrote about The Evolving Role of Buildings in Supporting Health & Wellbeing, and it is indeed an evolving …

Clean air week 2020 poster

Clean Air Week is an annual, global, awareness-raising campaign designed to inform and educate members of the public about the quality of air in their region and the importance of protecting and, indeed improving that. Clean Air Week is an annual, global, awareness-raising campaign designed …