Welcome to the Buildpass Sustainable Construction Blog

You can save yourself the stress of a failed air test score by putting the systems and procedures in place to guarantee you pass your air test first time. And if you don’t pass, there are simple tweaks you can make. Read our latest article where we share our 10 top tips for improving your air test score.Read the full article…

Back in 2018, the UK Government announced that SAP 10 would be launching in 2019-2020. And while (unsurprisingly!) we’ve seen this take a back seat for the time being. However, now is the time to familiarise and prepare yourself for the changes on the horizon. Read our latest article to find out more about the changes to SAP 10 (and what it could mean for you).Read the full article…

The RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge has been designed to help architects meet net zero whole life carbon for new and retrofitted buildings by 2030. But, what core areas is the Climate Challenge focusing on, and what are its specific targets? We dig deeper in our latest article.Read the full article…

On January 30, 2020, the “Building Better, Building Beautiful” Commission published their final report. Now, one year later, we are starting to see the seeds of that report come into fruition. Read our latest article on how the new rules, frameworks and funding opportunities created by the Government to help local communities “live in beauty”.Read the full article…

Heard of blow-in cellulose insulation and wondering whether it’s the right option for your home? There are a few things you need to consider before settling on an answer. Read our latest blog, where we outline the pros and cons of this popular attic and closed wall insulation type.Read the full article…

Your air tightness test is a core part of any energy efficient dwelling strategy. But when is the right time to take your air test, how long does it take, what will it cost and what happens if you fail? We’re answering this – and more – in our latest blog.Read the full article…

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…