Welcome to the Buildpass Sustainable Construction Blog

In order to reach our zero carbon target by 2050,
we need a massive change in how we heat our buildings in the UK. There is a great debate in the heating industry about the best way forward; one option attracting a lot of interest is district heating.Read the full article…

When it comes to building a more sustainable community, the time has truly come for everyone to play their part. The latest topic on the agenda? Embodied carbon. The industry is working hard to deliver more energy efficient buildings; there’s no denying it. And it really is music to our ears. We’ve already seen aRead the full article…

Air tightness is a core factor when it comes to producing an energy efficient design strategy; it’s a topic we’ve covered in varied ways. We thought we’d drill it down further still by looking at those key areas that can be addressed to boost your airtight score and, as a result, play an important role in the journey towards low energy sustainable housing.

Take a look at our latest blog to discover our 5 key areas for air tightness.
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At Buildpass, keeping up to date with industry trends, announcements and events is a key part of our business. We’re part of an industry that is constantly evolving… and rightly so. Energy efficiency tools and systems are on the rise, making it an exciting time not only for the sector but for the entire world.

One of the latest updates? The new battery storage scheme from MCS. Read our latest blog to find out how the new standard for the installation of battery energy storage systems could impact you or your business.Read the full article…

Here at Buildpass we believe that, together, we can build a more sustainable and environmentally aware society.

Today we’re exploring the concept of thermal mass; a simple way to have a huge impact on the energy storage of a property. Alongside keeping your home at a steady, comfortable temperature all year round, thermal mass materials can save you major costs in your energy bills and will slice your CO2 emissions.

Find out more about the benefits of thermal mass and some handy tips in our latest blog
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As the standards for buildings’ thermal performance have increased over the years, an understanding of the amount of energy lost through air leakage has grown. It’s become a big talking point, and one that is constantly adapting and developing.

We spoke to the team at the A. Proctor Group about the role contractors play in airtightness for our latest article in the “Guest Post Series”. We hope you enjoy!
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Air Leakage Testing measures the total air lost due to gaps and leaps in the fabric of a building. But, with upcoming changes to building regulations, could we see Pulse Testing take the place of the current air leakage test procedure?

Find out more about the two methods and our predictions for the year ahead in our latest blog.
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The world of energy and sustainability is constantly evolving, and 2020 looks set to be an exciting time of growth and discovery when it comes to building a more environmental society. This period will bring with it some major changes, and so we thought it was the opportune time to look ahead at 2020 and layout a few of our predictions.

Read our top 6 predictions for 2020 in our latest blog.Read the full article…

Thermal bridging is a term frequently used in the building and development sector; but what does it actually mean for you and your property? Thermal bridging is a term that refers to areas of a property or development where heat flow is different, resulting in a path of least resistance when it comes to heatRead the full article…

Opting for solar panels on your property – particularly your roof – is one of the best things you can do for the climate, your energy bills and your energy efficiency rating. But which types of roof are suitable for solar panels?

We’re excited to launch the first article of our ‘Guest Post Series’ where we spoke to George from Energy Spirit. Here tells us about the roofs that are (and aren’t) suitable for solar panels.Read the full article…

When it comes to energy efficiency, the “buzz words” and technical jargon are endless. And when it isn’t your area of expertise, it can sometimes feel easier to turn a blind eye to them entirely.

We’re debunking the confusion that lies around sustainability and building compliance. We want to show you how simple it is to improve your energy use, save money and, ultimately, do your part for the planet.

Starting with U Value – your thermal performance rating. Head over to our blog to find out more about what this is and why it matters.Read the full article…

With the decade drawing to a close, it seems fitting to take a moment and look back at 2019 and everything Buildpass has achieved.

We have transformed in ways we could never have imagined. What started as a passion project has now become a fully fledged, evolving business.

And so in-keeping with the festive spirit, we wanted to pay homage to a few of our favourite achievements from the past 12 months and raise a glass to a year well spent. Take a look at our blog and join us in our celebration!
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When it comes to sourcing your home energy in the most efficient, cost effective and natural way, the options can feel never ending. Deciding on the system that best suits you holds many layers; but we’re here to unpick some of them.

One of these options is passive stack ventilation (PSV): a totally natural ventilation system. Visit our blog to read our easy guide to PSV and find out whether it’s the energy solution for you!
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There are so many reasons to improve the energy efficiency of a building. Aside from the drop in fuel consumption and costs and increase in comfort, it takes us a step closer to a more sustainable environment. Historic buildings shouldn’t be exempt from that. It’s a well known fact that historic buildings are far fromRead the full article…

Octopus are one of the few suppliers in the UK of 100% renewable energy. And now they’ve teamed up with Tesla to start a renewable home revolution: the Tesla Energy Plan.

The idea is that energy usage will become automated, lowering your bills and minimising your carbon footprint. It balances supply and demand, optimising your energy usage costs and transitioning homes to sustainable power.

We’re looking forward to seeing the response from other energy suppliers in the coming months; could this be the start of a new mindset in energy efficiency?
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We pride ourselves on our highly personalised service, finding individual solutions for every single one of our clients. This means we are always passionate about helping those who may have been steered in the wrong direction.

Take a look at the recent way we supported a client who had been fed contradictory advice on the design of their roof.Read the full article…

A Waste Water Heat Recovery System can save you money year round while giving you the seal of approval. But how do they actually work and are they worth the money? When it comes to making your home or development as environmentally-conscious as possible, the options really are limitless. We’ve come a long way inRead the full article…

If you’re designing a dwelling which is grouped together and shares party walls or party floors – such as flats and terrace houses – you can pass building compliance as an overall block.

Block compliance allows you to use average TER
and DER values for apartments and terraced houses so that the higher performing units – such as those at the end of the terrace or ground and top floor flats) can make up for the dwellings with a lower performance.

Basically?
Everyone’s a winner.Read the full article…

The primary purpose of an energy assessment is to demonstrate that climate change mitigation measures have been fully integrated into a scheme’s design and evolution, and that they are appropriately designed based on the context of the development.

Essentially, you need to be able to prove that you are adhering to the London Plan energy policies and that your development is conscious of its environmental impact and is designed in a way to minimise this as much as possible.

Find out more about Policy 5.2 and energy assessments over on our blog.
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There’s no doubt that business giants have the upper hand when it comes to implementing sustainable excellence. Cutting edge technology costs money and, let’s face it, they’ve got a lot of it.

But you don’t need to be a billionaire to achieve green excellence. You just need knowledge and drive, with a passion to minimise your carbon footprint and boost the longevity of your building.Read the full article…

Our client designs and builds beautiful, modern conservatories for a huge range of homes. Their conservatories are fantastic; some of the best. But they need a helping hand to ensure every single development is energy efficient to the highest degree.

We come in and help the client throughout the entire installation: specification of floors, walls, roof and glazing, as well as varied levels of insulation, providing all calculations ready for building compliance.

We do it all, so they can get back to doing what they do best; building the conservatory of their client’s dreams.
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Global climate strikes, the Extinction Rebellion and big, bold Government promises on sustainability. You’d be hard pressed to avoid the topic of our environmental impact. It’s becoming paramount for us to sit up and take notice. Changing our own behaviours when it comes to our ecological footprint is no longer a fleeting thought; it’s aRead the full article…

This week, the Government unveiled a new green standard for all new build homes with the ultimate aim of tackling climate change head on and cutting down utility bills. It says that by 2025, all fossil fuel heating systems – such as gas boilers – will be banned from new homes.

As a Sustainability Consultant, this is (unsurprisingly!) music to my ears. We’re getting closer and closer to crisis point, and now’s the time to get all hands on deck and face the climate emergency together: one build at a time.
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A carbon neutral city is one that runs entirely on renewable energy. Although this is a major task (and one that will be no easy feat), to date the UK has already reduced carbon emissions by 43% from levels recorded in 1990.

We’re on the way. We’re trying. But there’s still a long way to go.
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Last month we launched The Case Study Series; a behind the scenes look into the world of Buildpass and the brilliant clients we are able to support. Because we’re so much more than just a one trick pony. Our business is built on finding solutions and giving people the tools and confidence to create theirRead the full article…