Welcome to the Buildpass Sustainable Construction Blog

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…

As society endeavours to move closer to net-zero buildings, could transparent solar panels replace windows for good? Transparent solar panels – they sound pretty incredible, right? What may seem like a concept from science fiction is very much on track to change the landscape of sustainable construction: so much so that scientists in the USRead the full article…

Winter always brings with it dark mornings and cold nights – but this year, the pressure to save money whilst staying warm is higher than ever. Read on for our 10 cost-effective tips for keeping the chill out this winter. December has officially landed with a bang – a drastic drop in temperature and aRead the full article…

A consortium of housing associations is looking for contractors and consultants for a retrofit framework worth £1.48bn. Here at Buildpass, we are committed to staying at the forefront of the sustainable construction agenda – as part of this, we are dedicated to bringing you all the latest updates from the world of energy performance andRead the full article…

Proposed Part Z building regulations could provide mandatory assessments and reporting of whole life carbon. What does this mean for self builders? Embodied carbon is a hot topic in the world of sustainable construction. With the net zero drive on the horizon, making a conscious and deliberate effort to cut your carbon emissions from theRead the full article…

Follow these steps to build low carbon buildings, produce more sustainable homes and reduce your carbon footprint. There is no avoiding the fact that those in the construction landscape need to prioritise sustainability in the design, construction and ongoing maintenance of buildings. Construction industry emissions are at a frightening high, with reports suggesting that theRead the full article…

With the burden of energy costs only rising, what can community building owners do to keep their bills as low as possible and save themselves the headache? There is no escaping the ever rising concerns around energy bills and their impact on day-to-day living. And while there are many ways that as an individual youRead the full article…

Infrared Heating Panels are the one of the most eco-conscious choices you could make for your home, and we’re here to prove it! Infrared heating is not a new concept: these clever panels have been used for a long time in Scandinavia and Germany, so why are we just catching up now? As with anyRead the full article…

Earlier this year, the government introduced Part O of the Building Regulations to minimise overheating risk in homes. But why is overheating an issue and how can TM59 assessments help you navigate it? There’s no avoiding the fact that weather patterns here in the UK are not only changing, but they’re becoming more and moreRead the full article…

From topping up your insulation to draught proofing your home, our top energy efficiency tips will help you save money and cut down on those bills. The ‘cost of living’ is probably a phrase that you’re tired of hearing. It’s everywhere, and it’s frightening. However, the reality is that this is something we are allRead the full article…

BRE has published new advice on Site Layout for Daylight and Sunlight. Read on for our summary. Replacing the previous edition of ‘Site layout planning for daylight and sunlight: a guide to good practice’ (BR209 2022), the new advice is the 3rd revision published by BRE. The new advice on Site Layout for Daylight andRead the full article…

Building to Net Zero: costing carbon in construction is a report set out by the Environmental Audit Committee. Today we’re looking back on the report and unpicking what it all means. Back in May, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) published their ‘Building to net zero: costing carbon in construction‘ report, which explores the role ofRead the full article…

Read our latest guest post with James from Mixergy, market leader in hot water tank innovation. Created back in 2015, Mixergy are the makers of The Mixology Tank – an exciting, modern and innovative product which is re-thinking how hot water is done, using technology to find cost-effective and convenient solutions which help people liveRead the full article…

What is the Target Primary Energy Rate? Find out in our latest blog. Target Primary Energy rate is a requirement of the Part L regulation. Part L is a building regulation that regulates construction projects that are new or in the process of changing the use of a dwelling within the UK. It sets theRead the full article…

Confused about Approved Document O and overheating? We’ve got you covered. Read Buildpass’ latest blog for our overheating Q & A. First mentioned in December 2021, the new Part O building regulation deals with overheating in domestic dwellings and residential like properties such as care homes and student accommodation. Guidance on this new building regulationRead the full article…

The government proposed street vote is part of a new plan from the government whereby  neighbours could be given a vote on whether planning permission is granted for developments on their street. Neighbourhoods across the UK are going to be given the right to allow building developments on their street if they comply with certainRead the full article…

Looking to hire an energy consultant? You’d best make sure it’s an excellent one. Read on for our lowdown on what makes a good energy consultant. If you are looking to make your home more energy efficient or looking to reduce your energy bills, you could benefit from a good energy consultant. Energy consultants areRead the full article…

Confused by PAS 2035 and how it impacts your 2030:2019 certification? Read our blog for the full lowdown. Did you know, homes in the UK are among the least environmentally friendly in Europe? A lot of this comes down to the age of our buildings; most were built pre 90s when energy efficiency had noRead the full article…

Building Performance Evaluation is a means of using different monitoring techniques to evaluate a building’s performance. Read our blog to find out more.Read the full article…