Welcome to the Buildpass Sustainable Construction Blog

In our latest addition to the Buildpass Guest Post Series, Andrew Carpenter – Chief Executive at the Structural Timber Association (STA) – looks at the recent focus on embodied carbon in the built environment and explains why a more positive approach to communication about different building materials is essential. Reducing the embodied carbon of buildingsRead the full article…

As the people around the world start to recognise the importance of their water footprint, the Environment Agency and many other companies have begun to explore Water Neutrality with the goal to reduce water usage and promote positive actions within the construction industry. Due to the accelerated rate of housing growth, new builds and theRead the full article…

Across the world, countries are creating magnificent green buildings to help reduce environmental impact and inspire other developers. Here’s our top 5 green buildings from across the world that you need to take note of. Sustainability throughout the construction industry is at a really exciting point, with countries from around the world beginning to buildRead the full article…

Water is a vital part of our daily lives. However the more we build, the more our water resources are stretched. It’s now more important than ever to make your home more water efficient. Often, we focus purely on energy efficiency, gas and electricity when it comes to our homes; but what about water? WaterRead the full article…

As many developers are looking to reduce their environmental impact, they are choosing to retrofit traditional builds across the UK. However, retrofits are not one size fits all and there are many avenues to consider before planning a retrofit approach.Read the full article…

You know you want to reduce your energy usage and would like help from a professional energy consultant, but where do you start? Our latest blog (and handy checklist) will ease the stress and help you find the perfect consultant for you and your project.Read the full article…

2021 has once again been a year of highs and lows. Here at Buildpass, we want to celebrate the successes of the past 12 months. As the year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to look back and reflect on what has been a busy and exciting year for Buildpass. WeRead the full article…

New government rules say new homes and buildings across England are being asked to produce significantly less CO2 to help the country move closer to their net zero targets.Read the full article…

In this blog, we will be exploring the pros and cons of both new builds and re-use to help find the best route for you, your project and the environment.Read the full article…

In this case study, we are going to look at a low-energy self-build in Glasgow, Scotland. This recently finished property boasts both a striking and contemporary aesthetic, teamed with extremely innovative design considerations. So much so, the home has been shortlisted for the ‘Best ICF Home’ category in the 2021 Build It Awards.Read the full article…

As the sun begins to set at 4pm and jack frost makes a brisk entrance, it’s clear that the cold wintery nights are upon us. But, how do we stay warm without electricity? As we begin to head into the colder months of the year, keeping warm in our home is essential. But, as theRead the full article…

Whether you are building a new home or renovating, it’s probably crossed your mind about what windows you would like to integrate into the property. This is especially important if you are aiming to design an energy conscious dwelling, as your windows are a core way to make your dwelling more efficient.

There are many avenues to consider to make your home more energy efficient, such as triple glazing, but is it actually worth the money and time?Read the full article…

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a simple way for the industry to understand the energy efficiency and carbon emission of your home. The certificate is used for buildings which are being sold, let or constructed in the UK. Read our latest blog for the full lowdown on EPCs, who needs them and how they are calculated. Read the full article…

The Building with Nature standard is working to develop a new generation of development, raising the bar in the construction industry and showing us how to build for people and wildlife. Without a shadow of a doubt, the construction industry can have a detrimental effect on humans and wildlife across the world, damaging habitats andRead the full article…

The government has announced that they will offer households across England and Wales grants of £5,000 to help them replace old gas builders with low carbon heat pumps. This new scheme is a part of the government’s Heat and Building Strategy and has received £450m to run over three years and serve 90,000 homes. Find out more in our latest blog.Read the full article…

To make sure you secure your BREEAM Outstanding rating, it’s essential for you to consider the responsible sourcing of materials for the development of your build. In our latest article, we talk about what responsible sourcing actually means and how it could impact your future development.Read the full article…

As we move into autumn, it’s inevitable that our energy bills will increase. However, there’s a few things we can do to reduce our energy bills. Read our latest blog on the top 10 ways to save money on your autumn energy billsRead the full article…

The passivhaus retrofit involves the renovation of older homes, helping to reach the passivHaus standards. When achieved, this will allow even the oldest of homes to successfully achieve energy-efficiency and reduced energy usage. It’s a trickier process than it is for new builds, but 100% worth the time and investment. Find out more in our latest blog post.Read the full article…

by architect Apt, Tower Hamlets council has been given the green light for the Urbanest student accommodation complex which will consist of three towers of 28, 36 and 48 storeys rising from a four storey podium. Read the full article…

We love exploring new, exciting opportunities for operational efficiency. If it helps provide our clients with the best energy usage possible, we are ready to jump straight in and learn more. The TM54 OEG is no exception. Read our latest blog to find out more about TM54 OEG and what it could mean for your next project.Read the full article…

The IPCC report has announced a ‘Code Red’ for human driven global heating. While this is undoubtedly worrying, it does pose the opportunity to limit climate change through strong and sustained reductions in emissions of CO2. In our latest blog, we’re talking about the IPCC Report and how the Green Building Council is working towards limiting impact.Read the full article…

Air tightness is an important aspect of any energy efficient building development. But, there’s a lot of uncertainty to what an air tightness test is. In our latest blog, we unpick all of the finer details about air tightness tests, including what they are, why we need them and who has to take them.Read the full article…

The Living Building Challenge is the ultimate green building programme working towards creating buildings across the world that reduce harm and have a positive impact on our planet. Read our latest blog to find out more about this ethical movement for the construction industry.
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The frightening side effects that our decisions on earth are having on the planet are becoming more and more prominent. It’s time for us to look at our actions and see what we can do to stop these repercussions once and for all. Here, we will discuss whether it is enough to simply reduce our environmental impact. Read the full article…

The Protected Landscape programme has been created in line with the Government’s commitment to protect 30% of our land by 2030 and plans to boost biodiversity. But what does this mean for the beautiful landscapes across the UK? Read our latest blog to find out more about this exciting move for our natural landscapes.Read the full article…