Welcome to the Buildpass Sustainable Construction Blog

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.
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Amongst the chaos of lockdown, we have tried to use this quieter time to create something new for Buildpass.
Because our mission is simple: we want to help builders, designers and homeowners reach their green goals.
However, the path to get there is far from simple!
Which is why we are excited to expand our range of services so that we can help more and more people create better spaces to live; ones that leave a positive mark on our planet. We’re sharing these brilliant changes for Buildpass over on our blog.
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Building Regulations Part E1 is your minimum standard of sound insulation between adjoining buildings. It’s aim is to reduce unwanted noise and sound transmission between dwellings… and it’s extremely important to adhere to.
However, it can be tricky to navigate. That’s why we’re created a guide that unpicks Part E requirements and shows you how to improve your chances of passing it – first time!
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Whether you’re a sun worshipper or more of an English rose, a hot and stuffy house can be a bit of a nightmare. And as we officially move into the summer (coupled with some seriously hot days) the need to keep your house cool is becoming a bigger priority. We’re exploring the many ways to design a home that stays cool in the summer (without the need for air conditioning). Read the full article…

We are thrilled to launch a new Buildpass series: Buildpass Investigates…
We will be tapping into the huge variety of planning requirements across the region, and how these differ from location to location. Because the scope is vast, with some areas having incredibly ambitious targets to other local authorities have no sustainable targets at all.

First up? We’re unravelling the Winchester Local Plan.
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A Passive House is designed to consume up to 90% less heating and cooling energy than conventional buildings, keeping its habitants comfortably warm all winter and cool throughout the summer: it’s the mecca of all energy and sustainability consultants. The benefits are major, but there are a fair few boxes to tick.Read the full article…

World Green Roof Day is on Saturday 6 June, and the campaign showcases the abundance of benefits of green roofs – or living roofs – for our planet.

Using the hashtag #WGRD2020, participants are asked to take photos of their favourite green roofs and share them with the community. Whether it’s the roof of a garden shed or a huge industrial unit, the more photos, the better!

We’re talking about living roofs over on the blog, and why they are a major ally to the green agenda!
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The Energy Performance of Buildings Register has announced that they are moving all services in-house. This is part of a huge drive to create and run exceptional public services, as well as maximise the digital capabilities and purpose of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

It’s a big, exciting change – and we’re talking more about it over on the blog.Read the full article…

If you’re working on a new residential development or conversion, Building Regulations require you to have a SAP calculation on your property. It’s an accepted, expected part of construction and design and is your way of proving the energy and environmental performance of a build.

But, when you’re building an extension, things get a little more complicated. We’ve created a simple guide on the WHAT and WHEN of SAP calculations for extensions.Read the full article…

Like many of you, here at Buildpass we are spending more time than ever within the four walls of our home. This could easily lead to a spike in our energy use and, as a result, a big increase in bills.

We are by no means alone in this. With the majority of households still experiencing a degree of lockdown, the potential for a surge in home-based energy usage is huge.

Now is the time to mitigate any further damage and save energy, water and cash. Read out top ten hacks to find out how.
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More efficient homes mean a reduction in energy emissions and a big old cut in bills. A double win, really.

But, you can take it a step further. As a home-owner, a builder, a project manager or a designer, you can choose to utilise an eco-friendly insulation solution.

One of those solutions is wood fibre insulation boards.

Find out more in our latest blog.
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They say “if you don’t like it, fix it.” And that’s exactly what I decided to do with Buildpass.

today we’re celebrating a fantastic two years of business for our sustainability and energy efficiency consultancy.

And since Buildpass is the brainchild of our self-confessed eco-geek Director, Andrew, we thought we’d give him the floor to tell you all about his journey so far and his ultimate vision for Buildpass. Have a read of our latest blog to see the full story.
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There’s an absolute wealth of industry specific literature out there – much of it with really unique, interesting messages and viewpoints – and we want to shine a light on it.

Because with many of us currently staying in our homes due to lockdown, this could be a valuable opportunity to find out more about how the space we live and work in impacts our mental health and wellbeing.

That’s why, this week, we’re making the most of the “quiet time” by reviewing three books all about sustainable design and wellbeing. You can read the full review through the link in our bio.Read the full article…

International Dark-Sky Week runs from Sunday 19 April to Sunday 26 April 2020. The idea behind it is to show the world the beauty and power of the night sky without the effects of light pollution. In doing this, it strives to get the world taking notice of the major problems brought about by light pollution, and the simple ways in which we can all help to mitigate them.

And as a business pretty much obsessed with paving the way for a more sustainable, eco-conscious world, we’re entirely on board with it.

Read our latest blog to find out more about light pollution and what we can to do combat it.Read the full article…

“The UK has been facing a housing crisis for some time, currently needing around 340,000 new homes per year just to meet demand. But simply building more homes isn’t going to single handedly solve it. New homes need to be sustainable, affordable and fit for purpose, and be built quickly – this is where offsite construction could have a huge role to play.”

Next up in the Buildpass “Guest Post Series”, we’re speaking to Ideal Modular Homes about the role of offsite construction in solving the housing crisis
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Make the most of your time off-site by reviewing your construction methods and making your development as ‘green’ as it can possibly be. As much as we are determined not to add to the deafening noise around our current pandemic, there’s no avoiding the fact that COVID-19 is having – and will continue to haveRead the full article…

As an industry, we are continuously searching for ways to make buildings as energy efficient as possible. Why? To boost the value of a development, to minimise energy costs and, ultimately, to pave the way for a more sustainable, environmentally conscious society.

One way to measure and, as a result, tackle the energy efficiency of a build is looking at its form heat loss factor.

Read our latest blog to find out more about calculating building form factor and why it matters.
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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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