Welcome to the Buildpass Sustainable Construction Blog

In the ever-evolving landscape of building regulations and energy efficiency standards, at Buildpass we keep a close eye on the guidelines that shape how the construction industry works. A crucial turning point occurred when SAP 10 was introduced, representing a substantial revision that fundamentally altered our approach to addressing thermal bridging in building design. InRead the full article…

Do you want to play your part in the green agenda and enjoy a more comfortable, financially viable home? Maybe you need a more energy efficient home. Residential properties contribute to almost a sixth of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. This figure is substantial, and a reminder that we all have a part to playRead the full article…

Building, renovating or refurbishing a home is an opportunity many property owners relish. Undertaking this type of home improvement project presents a prime opportunity to revitalise a space. It is a great time to make a home feel more inviting and improve its value with new designs and features that can make it more sustainable.Read the full article…

Baffled by Part O of the Building Regulations? You aren’t alone. Here we explain what we really think about Building Regulations Part O (Overheating). There’s a lot of talk about Part O of the Building Regulations – talk that’s been going on for some time since it was first mentioned in December 2021. The apparentRead the full article…

We look back at the core themes, challenges and opportunities that have influenced the energy sector in the past year. Every year, we like to take a look back at what’s happened within the world of sustainable energy – the shake ups, the plateaus and everything in between. And this year has certainly been aRead the full article…

With a frosty drop in temperature and still soaring energy costs, you’re probably wondering how you can cut back on the bills (while still staying toasty). Here we explore winter energy saving myths. While the winter season – and the countdown to Christmas – brings with it plenty of joy, festivities and copious opportunities toRead the full article…

Here at Buildpass, we try to stay at the forefront of sustainable construction and the latest updates in the industry. A topic of significant attention at the moment is the elusive net-zero goals for 2050: specifically, that recent findings from the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) suggest that it may be falling short of its government-backedRead the full article…

Exciting news for the sustainable construction industry as Nottingham Trent University (NTU) invests £1.5 million into a brand new Centre for Sustainable Construction and Retrofit. After recent knocks to the sustainable construction industry following Rishi Sunak’s back pedal on the green agenda, some good news on the future of eco-friendly builds was much needed. WeRead the full article…

Modular construction techniques, where parts of a building are prefabricated offsite before being transported and assembled on location, have proven to be popular with building companies and renovation experts over the years.  Modular construction: A greener and efficient alternative to traditional building methods This construction method often promises faster project completion times, greater quality control,Read the full article…

Rishi Sunak’s recent policy shift weakens the government’s green policy commitments – and the impact cannot be underestimated. Here, Buildpass investigates.  Last month, Rishi Sunak announced that the Conservative government would be rolling back on some of their key green policies as part of a major policy shift. A new think-tank report noted that thisRead the full article…

Is building to net zero on your agenda, but you aren’t really sure where to start? Read on to learn how a CPD in Net Zero Construction could be the perfect route for you. In the world of construction and architecture, the concept of Net Zero has taken centre stage, captivating the attention of professionalsRead the full article…

What is the whole life-cycle carbon assessment guidance? Read on to find out. In an era where more and more of us are embracing environmental consciousness, it has never been more important to prioritise sustainability in the construction industry. The built environment is responsible for about 40% of the UK’s carbon emissions, and is thereforeRead the full article…

A new proposed update to the BREEAM standards suggests that buildings designed to use less energy during peak periods could be incentivised. Read on to find out more. On the 24th of May, BRE launched a public consultation, highlighting changes to its widely-used sustainability assessment method. The method will be Version 7 of the BREEAMRead the full article…

Working on a non domestic building project? You may need SBEM calculations. Read on to find out more. SBEM, which stands for Simplified Building Energy Model, is a set of calculations that are used by the government to measure the energy performance of both existing and new non-dwellings/commercial properties. By taking into account the size,Read the full article…

Are you working on a retrofit or refurbishment of a commercial building? Then PAS 2038 is an absolute must! Read on for our guide on PAS 2038, what it is and why you need it. In the sustainable construction industry, we like to talk about retrofits. It’s become a buzzword in the energy world becauseRead the full article…

Re-roofing your home? Here are 5 ways to make your roof more energy efficient. Replacing an existing roof with a brand new, greener roof is a great way to work on your overall energy efficiency and costs. And especially since 25% of a home’s heat is lost through a roof, it really does present anRead the full article…

When we think about the climate crisis, we typically think of plastic waste, pollution from factories and the number of cars on the road. But how often do we consider the buildings we live and work in every day?  Climate change is a major design problem for the architectural and construction industries right now. TheRead the full article…

Learn all you need to know about the intricate and popular world of Passivhaus in our latest blog. Described as the mecca for all energy and sustainability consultants, Passivhaus, (otherwise known as Passive House) is one of the world’s leading energy efficiency standards and construction concepts. It’s been made to advise the industry on howRead the full article…

In the latest of our guest post series, we heard from renewable energy expert, Robert Cathcart, of SOLAR FAST about how (and why) solar panels can increase the value of your home. Can a Solar Energy System Improve the Value of Your Home? This question can be asked about any kind of home improvement andRead the full article…

What is thermal modelling and how important is it to you and your construction project? Find out more in our latest blog. Thanks to the new Approved Document O in the Building regulations, the construction industry has now dedicated its time to protecting the health and welfare of occupants within a building by reducing overheating.Read the full article…

Buildpass investigates a new survey outlining a staggering lack of awareness around energy efficiency and business buildings. To encourage workers back into the office, Irwin Mitchell recently conducted a survey ‘Redefining the Office – A report on office occupier trends in 2023’ to identify how office purposes need to be re-evaluated to reflect current andRead the full article…

SBEM stands for Simplified Building Energy Model. But what are SBEM calculations and what do they mean for you and your construction project? The building and construction industry is continuously searching for ways to build ‘greener’ for a more sustainable future. The goalposts are higher – if we want to hit net zero by 2050,Read the full article…

Moisture risk is a common problem in dwellings and can lead to a whole host of problems. Here we outline how to assess your moisture accumulation and how much is too much. It’s crucial that people are aware of ideal room temperatures and moisture levels in their home – something that is often overlooked canRead the full article…

Thermal bridging can feel like a bit of a dark art. Read our latest blog to find out what thermal bridging is, what schemes are available and how you can avoid it. SAP conventions mean that there are a lot of (necessary!) hoops to jump through if you want to be considered environmentally and energyRead the full article…

SAP calculations are necessary for residential new build projects, in order to demonstrate compliance with Part L1a of Building Regulations.  The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) is the means by which the Government assesses and compares the energy and environmental performance of different dwellings. This SAP rating is necessary for anyone working on new residential developments,Read the full article…