How are engineers creating a greener future?

When it comes to transport, London has a long history of innovation. It boasted the world’s first steam-powered Underground and deep-level electric Tube. It was also the first city to mass produce motorbuses.

Today, engineers are helping to protect our planet by making our cities more sustainable. They’re tackling air-pollution, waste heat and sustainable design. Below are seven of these green solutions. How many did you know about?

1. Powering London’s homes with waste heat from the Tube

The world’s first underground railway opened in London in 1863. Its arrival heralded a new era for public transport. Today, waste heat from the Tube is replacing gas heating in nearby buildings. This is helping to save more than 1,000 tonnes of carbon at each site every year.

Transport for London (TfL) provides heating and hot water to more than 1,350 homes. They heat a school and two leisure centres too. This is thanks to the pioneering technology at Bunhill 2 Energy Centre.

2. Recycled railway sleepers

TfL is using plastic railway sleepers made from 99 per cent recycled materials. These have replaced timber sleepers in above-ground sections of the Underground. They have maintenance advantages and are lighter and easier to handle.

3. Halving pollution with the Ultra Low Emission Zone

London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is helping to reduce emissions. Since 2019, it has halved concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in central London. The ULEZ actively discourages the use of polluting vehicles that don’t comply with emission standards. Following expansion in 2021, it covers an area 18 times larger than the central zone.

4. Contactless payments to reduce car usage

To cut car usage, people need reliable alternatives to get around. To help, Cubic Transportation Systems transformed how we pay for public transport in London. In 2003, they worked with TfL to introduce Oyster smart cards. Contactless payments then followed in 2012.

This technology was game-changing. It made travelling by bus, Tube, train and tram more convenient than ever before. Using an Oyster card, smartphone, or contactless card to pay for travel means there is no need to queue at ticket offices. It has helped simplify fare options and made changing between public transport services more seamless too.

The system also provides transport operators with helpful data to understand how and when people tend to travel. Services can then be aligned to meet demand, helping to make public transport a competitive choice compared to private car use.

5. A new electric bus

Incredibly, London first experimented with operating electric buses in the early 20th century. Fast forward to the 21st century and today, there are more than 550 electric buses in service.

Electric buses tackle the climate emergency by reducing emissions which helps to improve air quality.

London was the world’s first city to have modern electric double-decker buses in 2016. TfL aims for all buses in its 9,000-strong fleet to be zero emission by 2034 at the latest.

6. England’s first hydrogen buses

Electric buses are not the only zero emission vehicles on London’s roads. In June 2021, London became England’s first city to use double-decker hydrogen buses.

These are serving passengers between East Acton and Oxford Circus. Their only by-product is water from the chemical reaction that powers them.

7. Building with ‘healthy’ materials

Many efforts to make our city greener focus on what is happening outside. But Mott MacDonald has seized the opportunity to work with the construction industry to create healthier indoor environments too.

In London, they are testing a new way to screen the ingredients used in construction materials. This will mean businesses can choose ‘healthy materials’ for their buildings.

Reducing the use of harmful chemicals or hazards makes buildings better for the environment. It also makes them healthier for occupants.

Find out more

Our Climate Crossroads programme is exploring a greener future for London. It is supported by Mott McDonald, Cubic Transportation Systems and Sopra Steria.