Bechtel has joined the Atlantic Council’s Extreme Heat Resilience Alliance as the sole engineering and construction partner.
The group aims to help fight the impacts of rising temperatures and support urban preparedness against heat waves around the world. Bechtel will use its experience designing resilience standards and developing guidelines for climate-proof construction to make existing infrastructure more able to protect communities from extreme heat.
Bechtel’s contributions will also include cost-benefit analysis of resiliency innovations and collaborating with regional institutions to make infrastructure more robust and efficient. The alliance is composed of 30 global cities impacted by extreme heat, and disaster relief charities and experts in the fields of public health, climate change risk, and disaster management.
Other major contractors have recently launched environmental-focused initiatives. Balfour Beatty said it has developed technology to manage power usage on its jobsites and reduce carbon emissions across its construction sites by up to 80%. Lendlease Europe released it’s “Roadmap to Absolute Zero Carbon,” a 20-year plan to reduce emissions on construction projects.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Mar 20, 2019
Codes organizations to develop new guidelines on shipping containers as building components
Intl. Code Council and Modular Building Institute combine forces.
Codes and Standards | Mar 19, 2019
Plan for transformation of Lower Manhattan streetscapes unveiled
Pedestrian-friendly “Slow Streets” pilot starts on Earth Day 2019.
Codes and Standards | Mar 15, 2019
Newly developed building materials could have big impact on sustainability
Transparent wood, self-cooling walls, bricks that filter air pollutants among the technological breakthroughs.
Codes and Standards | Mar 14, 2019
U.S. and Canada differ on how to evaluate field performance of windows, curtain walls
Variations include laboratory test method for determining rate of air leakage.
Codes and Standards | Mar 13, 2019
Climate change can’t be stabilized without addressing urban sprawl
Even if power goes green, transportation will still be a major emissions source.
Codes and Standards | Mar 12, 2019
Virginia county hones new rainwater harvesting standard
Developer prompts new rules to use rainwater for heating and air conditioning.
Codes and Standards | Mar 8, 2019
Portland delays requirement for posted warnings on unreinforced brick and stone buildings
Regulation would mandate signs warning that buildings could be unsafe during earthquakes.
Codes and Standards | Mar 7, 2019
California will allow flame retardant-free building insulation
State also repeals business furniture flammability standard.
Codes and Standards | Mar 6, 2019
Sixty six construction companies cited for wage theft violations in Massachusetts
Penalties total $2.7 million.
Codes and Standards | Mar 5, 2019
Persistent flooding having economic impact on coastal cities
Atlantic City, Annapolis among communities affected.