Arup: Engineering the Net-Zero Cities of Tomorrow and Their Sustainable Business

Miami, Fl

A solar panel farm that can power hundreds of homes.

Arup, a company that has become a leader in creating and implementing sustainable designs and urban innovation, and aiming to beat climate change through what they build. So far, this sustainable business has launched several projects in over 140 countries, blending architecture, engineering, and strategic planning to help cities and governments reach net-zero targets.

But what is net-zero? Well, it is when a city or local government optimizes renewable resources over their entire planning zone to meet the demands and maintain the overall stability of multiple buildings. This also means developing vehicles that are designed to make it easier for people to get from one place to another. Now this can take the form of either walking or public transport, to reduce emissions.

Arup’s mission and commitment is to create low-carbon emission ecosystems for urban cities. They work with everything from district scaling (how easy it is to implement an idea in several places)to renewable energy, carbon-neutral transport, and its planning, plus green infrastructure. Arup also works with both public and private partners to make sure that sustainability is integrated, starting from the initial concept to its eventual construction.

So far, they have worked with places in Europe, Asia, North America, and Oceania. For example, in London, Britain, they used a photovoltaic array, a system of solar panels, and energy-efficient district heating, which now serves over two thousand homes, offices, and public spaces. In China, by designing and implementing a cooling system, they have cut and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by one hundred thousand tonnes every year. In addition, Arup has also established a rail system that connects Kai Tak Airport to the rest of Hong Kong. 

Similarly, in Texas, Arup is implementing a railway between two of its largest cities, Dallas and Houston. By car, it usually takes four or five hours to make this trip; thousands of Texans have to take this route every month, week, or even day. Arup is helping to make this commute more efficient, not just time-wise but also when it comes to carbon emissions, as with a reduced commute time of only 90 minutes, less carbon fuel is burned as well.. Currently, they are working around existing constructions like highways, other railroads, and cities to develop this. The train will also run on electric power and is in collaboration with Japan's railway company to incorporate technology that works to move passengers in a safe and sustainable way.

Arup is not only just engineering the best ways to create a “good city,” but also planning for the long-term and reducing the impacts humans have on the environment through city development and construction. Some things that are consistent in all their projects are renewable energy and figuring out the best way to implement it, and doing so in the cheapest way possible. This they do by using grids, incorporating renewable technologies based on current energy needs, and also considering the sourcing of their materials by taking into account the impact they will have over time, and whether they can be recycled

Arup’s work reflects a forward approach to the transformation of urban cities where equity, sustainability, and innovation drive and make every decision. For cities wanting to go and open the path to net-zero, Arup is not only a consultant but a hard-working collaborator they should all consider.