Welcome to the Buildpass Sustainable Construction Blog

What is the performance gap? The performance hap is the difference between the predicted energy performance of a dwelling and the actual performance. It’s a concept that is growing in interest, and now forms a key part of the Future Homes Standard. Find out more about the performance gap in our latest blog.Read the full article…

We’re pleased as punch to kick-off 2021 with another article in the Buildpass Guest Post Series! Today, we’re talking to Chris from Continal Underfloor Heating about the government’s 10-point plan and how underfloor heating fits into it. Visit our blog to find out more.Read the full article…

There is no escaping the fact that 2020 has been a challenging, difficult year. However… We want to celebrate the things that, here at Buildpass, we have achieved, despite the setbacks. Because – actually – there is a lot to be proud of. We hope you will join us in our reflections.

Take a look at our latest blog for our ‘look back at 2020’.Read the full article…

The London Local Plan is a strategic policy set out by the Mayor of London for the whole of the capital. It differs from ‘normal’ local plans, and so can be a bit more confusing to get to grips with. That’s why we’ve dug into it in our latest ‘Buildpass investigates… ‘ article.Read the full article…

Choosing the right glazing is an important investment when building a sustainable home. But what is the right choice for you? We’re exploring the differences between double and triple glazing in our latest blog, and whether or not triple is the best way forward for your next project.Read the full article…

When it comes to planning your new build or refurbishment, there are a lot of hoops to jump through; especially if you are dedicated to creating a low energy, zero carbon project. And honestly? It can be a minefield to navigate! That’s why we’ve pulled together our top tips for planning advice over on the blog. We hope they help you focus your planning and clear up any confusion.Read the full article…

BREEAM is the world’s largest sustainability method for assessing, rating and certifying the efficiency of a building. But what is a BREEAM AP (Accredited Professional) and what do they actually do? We’re discussing this and more in our latest blog post.Read the full article…

Here at Buildpass, we are often asked what the difference is between SAP and EPC. On first glance, they may seem too similar to differentiate – but their roles are actually very unique. In our latest blog, we’re talking about the importance of both SAP and EPC and how they work together.Read the full article…

‘Heat in Buildings’ is a government policy focused on saving carbon and transforming the way we heat our buildings. Read our latest blog to find out about the huge steps already taken on this mission and how it ties into the government’s bigger goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions.Read the full article…

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) have been dubbed as the building material of the future; an intelligent solution to a more sustainable existence. But, what actually are they? And are they as brilliant as they sound? We’re digging into the finer details of SIPs in our latest blog.Read the full article…

The Buildpass ‘Guest Post Series’ is back – and today we’re hearing from Darren McMahon at Viessmann, who it talking about the increasing reasons to install heat pump retrofits.Read the full article…

This Sunday sees many of us switch our clocks to ‘fall back’ for daylight savings. But, what is the environmental impact of daylight savings and could this be the last time we experience it?Read the full article…

One of the most common questions we are asked here at Buildpass is how a home can tick and pass Paragraph 79 criterion. It doesn’t come as a surprise; having the chance to build a beautiful, idyllic and innovative home in the middle of nowhere is a HUGE dream for many (including us). Read our latest blog for a special Q&A article all about this NPPF policy.Read the full article…

Clean Air Day is the UK’s largest air pollution campaign. But what can you do every single day to improve both air quality and your own health? We’ve outlined our top tips in our latest blog.Read the full article…

The new Green Homes Grant has officially launched! As of Wednesday 30 September, homeowners and landlords can apply for up to £5,000 of vouchers to improve the energy efficiency of their home. In our latest article we’re talking about what this exciting new scheme covers, who is (and isn’t) applicable and how it will contribute to the UK’s net zero target.Read the full article…

Today is FSC Friday – The Forest Stewardship Council’s annual event to raise awareness of responsible forest management. This theme for 2020 is ‘Forests for All Together’. Find out more about this year’s campaign and what you can do to support it and join the fight against deforestation. Read the full article…

World Green Building Week runs from 21 – 25 September 2020. This annual campaign encourages people around the world to create greener buildings; one of the most impactful ways we can, together, achieve the global sustainability goals. This year the campaign is asking us to #ActOnClimate. Read our latest article to find out more about this important, worldwide campaign.Read the full article…

Degree days are a specialist type of weather data that combines both the time and temperature components. They are a valuable way to predict and report on the annual heating energy requirements. Read our latest article where we dig a little deeper into what they are and how we can use them.Read the full article…

Zero Waste Week will run from 7 – 11 September. In celebration of this fantastic campaign, we’re digging into the BREEAM credit system and why BREEAM waste credits are so important.Read the full article…

2020 has been a major year for climate change movements; not least with the commitment to Net Zero carbon in new buildings by 2030. While this may feel a long way off, the time to start making positive changes is now. We’re discussing the key requirements for achieving Net Zero (with reference to the LETI summary plan) over on our blog.Read the full article…

Part G Water Calculations are a legal requirement to prove that a new build, extension or conversion is water efficient. These calculations ensure that a home uses as little water as possible: they play a huge role in our fight to create a more sustainable and eco-conscious society. We’re digging into the calculations and what they mean on our blog.Read the full article…

Got a dwelling build on the cards? First things first; you need to pass your SAP assessment. Here we’re laying out our top tips to pass your SAP calculation first time.Read the full article…

Solar hot water systems are a sustainable way to harness the free energy from the sun to heat your home, all year round.  It won’t come as a surprise that, here at Buildpass, we love digging deeper into the many different sustainable energy sources. And we love sharing our discoveries with you. Our hope isRead the full article…

Permitted Developments Rights
are the rules under which someone can make changes to a building without the need to apply for planning permission. They’re set according to Parliamentary general planning permission, rather than from local planning authorities; aka, they’re firmly set in stone.

Last week, the Government published updates expanding these rights: these updates are a pretty exciting move for homeowners. We’re chatting more about it in our latest blogRead the full article…

Here at Buildpass, we have been enjoying getting to know the different policies, local plans and proposals in Hampshire. This week, we have been digging deeper into The Joint East Hampshire District Council and South Downs National Park Authority Core Policy. We’re unpicking its many layers over on our blog.
Read the full article…