This page presents data, evidence, and solutions that are provided by our partners and members and should therefore not be attributed to UKGBC. While we showcase these solutions for inspiration, to build consensus, and create momentum for climate action, UKGBC does not offer commercial endorsement of individual solutions. If you would like to quote something from this page, or more information, please contact our Communications team at media@ukgbc.org.

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Policy & Advocacy

Since 2007, we have been bringing together some of the most influential leaders in politics, business, local authorities, civil service and NGOs to accelerate action for a green built environment.

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FutureBuild brings together around 15k professionals committed to sustainability, innovation, and collaboration in the built environment – architect, engineer, contractor, policy makers – and offers insights, cutting-edge products, and networking opportunities to support sustainability goals. 

In partnership with: Mitsubishi Electric UK, Interface and Chetwoods Architects, we are returning to Futurebuild with our award winning stand, where you can learn more about our work, and our network.  As part of the 3-day event,  we are participating in two main stage events, and leading on three panel discussion as well as hosting a materials workshop on stand. See below for our full activity calendar.

Day 1 – Tuesday 4th March

12:00-12:45 How the circular economy and degrowth can avoid catastrophic tipping points

We have known about ‘limits to growth’ since at least 1972. We know that society’s use of materials for all purposes has increased from 7 billion tons in 1900 to 92 billion tons in 2017, and this is just not sustainable. We can recycle as much as we can but if we keep trying to grow GDP no matter the environmental and social costs, we risk missing our climate targets and triggering catastrophic tipping points. We then try to put a price on nature that doesn’t prohibit growth. Thinking ‘circular’ goes beyond waste and influences every decision that we make particularly for those working in the built environment. Time for an honest conversation about where we should be in 12 months? By 2030? by 2035?

Chair: Smith Mordak, UKGBC

Panel: Dr David Greenfield, SOENECS; Elwyn Grainger-Jones, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute; Teresa Domenech, University College London

Day 2 – Wednesday 5th March 

13:30-14:15 How resilient is the UK built environment to climate impacts?

A session around the UKGBC Climate Resilience Roadmap, with a sneak peek at the roadmap content looking at how resilient and vulnerable the UK built environment is to climate impacts, including results of the Roadmap research as well as key insights.  We will explore ‘where should we be in 12 months / 2030 / 2035’ as we will tease the actions and recommendations. 

Chairs: Hannah Giddings, UKGBC; Macarena Cardenas, UKGBC

Panel: Ashely Bateson, Hoare Lea; Christine Cambrook, Buro Happold; Anna Oxenham, Mace

Location: Buildings Impact Stage

14:30-15:20 Material Matters Workshop delivered by Chetwoods Architects (UKGBC Stand)

Chetwoods Architects dive into all things sustainability when it comes to materials, including embodied carbon, health and wellbeing, and the circular economy. Information and exploration of a range of exciting material samples for an interactive session where you can challenge yourself to pick out the more sustainable material options, and identify the red herrings.

16:15-17:00 The Futurebuild Conversation – Achieving our low carbon future? Why aren’t we there yet? 

As we transition to our low carbon future we find ourselves at a pivotal moment as it is only 25 years to 2050 when we need to get to the legally binding target of reducing carbon emissions to net zero. So what are the opportunities and the barriers?Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning are major consumers of energy in any building and the HVAC equipment that is designed and installed over the next 5 years is likely to still be in use in 2050. That means that the decisions we all make now on both new-build, and more importantly retrofit must align with those net zero goals if clients are to avoid ending up with stranded assets.  Yet the technology that can help on the road to net zero already exists.

Chair: Dr Anastasia Mylona, Technical Director, CIBSE

Panel: Yetunde Abdul, UKGBC; Steff Wright, Gusto Group; Chris Newman, Mitsubishi Electric

Location: Futurebuild Arena

Day 3: Thursday 6th March

10:30-11:15 What is a ‘Regenerative Place’? and how do we get there? 

The word ‘Regenerative’ is being used with increasing frequency across industry, with a growing number of perspectives on what it the concept means. There is less understanding so far, of how it translates into practice and especially how we retrofit our homes and urban spaces to bring the vision into reality for UK communities.  The session will focus on Improving biodiversity and green space; offering health and social value benefits, strengthening climate resilience 

Chaired by: Joanne Wheeler, UKGBC; Anna Hollyman, UKGBC

Panel: Miles Lewis, Clarion Housing Group; Carl Walker, Hoare Lea

Location: Placemaking Impact Stage

13:30-14:15 Towards a nature-positive built environment 

A reflection on the built environment’s role in the global transition to a nature positive future. This session will outline our current understanding of what nature positive entails and focus specifically on addressing embodied ecological impacts from materials. It will showcase best practice examples and key principles to make a difference. 

Chair: Kai Liebetanz, UKGBC

Panel: Aaron Grainger, Buro Happold; Julia Baker, Mott Macdonald; Becky Gordon, Interface 

Deep Dive into Supply Chain Decarbonisation

UKGBC will be showcasing Supply Chain Decarbonisation on our stand at Futurebuild, in a series of five sessions. We will be sharing details of our work to date including the aim, scope, plans, activity to date and our desired outcomes from this workstream. UKGBC programme leads will be heading this event, with support from Partners and Task Group members in attendance.

In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to contribute to our testing of initial ideas for action, shaping our developing plans for future work. Whilst also learning how, as stakeholders in the built environment, you can get more involved in helping to drive progress.

The Deep Dive event will take place during the following time periods:
Tuesday 4 March 11:00-12:00, 14:00-15:00
Wednesday 5 March 11:00-12:00, 14:00-15:00
Thursday 6 March 11:00-12:00

The post UKGBC at Futurebuild 2025 appeared first on UKGBC.

This report summarises a range of sustainable solution trends that UKGBC has seen over the course of 2024, provides context on their use, and comments on the relevant driving forces in the UK market. The solutions discussed range from innovative new platforms and materials to transformative business models and processes. The analysis is based on engagement with innovation-focused UKGBC members (including input from UKGBC’s Solutions & Innovation Advisory Group), interviews with UKGBC topic leads, and desktop research.

UKGBC does not formally endorse any of the solutions presented in this report. It is intended as a signpost and a source of inspiration for built environment stakeholders, who should always carry out their own due diligence before adoption. While this is a summary of some of the notable solutions of which UKGBC has become aware, there are likely to be other solutions available but not mentioned. Discover more solutions in our Solutions Library. 

Solutions and Innovation

At UKGBC we take a collaborative approach to identify sustainability challenges across the built environment and help source and implement the solutions to them.

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The post Trends in Sustainable Solutions for the Built Environment – Reflecting on 2024 appeared first on UKGBC.

This site tour will kick off with short presentations to set out key concepts and the thinking behind the project, followed by tours of the building itself to explore practical examples of deep retrofit solutions. Afterwards there will be a networking session with industry peers, with light lunch and drinks provided. 

Join UKGBC on a visit to Coal House, a deep retrofit office building in Cardiff City Centre with BREEAM Excellent and SKA Gold. 

Coal House is a four-story office building located in Cardiff city centre with 30,000sq ft of net internal area. Vacant possession of the property in 2022 presented an opportunity to retrofit the building to maximise the sustainability whilst creating a vibrant and engaging workspace that also provides improved facilities for occupants and enhances user wellbeing. 

There are growing regulatory and commercial risks associated with older, less energy-efficient buildings – particularly in the office market. As our awareness of the need to decarbonise our built environment grows, it is becoming clear that retrofitting existing buildings results in lower whole life carbon emissions than demolition and new build, whilst reducing the wider ecological impacts of construction waste and resource usage. Deep retrofit is able to achieve significant cuts in operational energy use (60-65%+), transition buildings away from fossil fuels, and meet best practice 2030-2035 energy performance targets for offices. (UKGBC Building the Case for Net Zero: Retrofitting Office Buildings). 

To minimise the embodied carbon impact, the structure at Coal House was maintained and, instead, the building underwent an exterior refurbishment with solar PV and solar shading installed. The core plant and all heating and ventilation equipment were replaced. Alongside this, technologically integrated variable air flow valves were included which enabled automated air quality management on a localised basis. The lighting was upgraded to new, highly-efficient LED systems. 

To support the ongoing running of the building, a new building management system (BMS) was installed, integrating a smart building server, sensors, access and visitor management systems. Furthermore, a building app called Coalhouse.life was introduced to facilitate interaction between the smart technology, building amenity and the building occupants. 

Coal House featured as a case study in UKGBC’s report, Building the Case for Net Zero: Retrofitting Office Buildings. Visit page 56 for information about Coal House. 

UKGBC cancellation and refund policy 
Please see our website for more details on our cancellations and refunds: https://ukgbc.org/ukgbc-cancellation-and-refund-policy/ 

Commercial Retrofit Project Partners

Our live projects on commercial retrofit are made possible thanks to our project partners

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Many UK consumers are also struggling to afford their heating bills: the percentage of households in England spending more than 10% of their income after housing costs on domestic energy rose to 36.4% in 2023.  The new Government committed in its manifesto to upgrading five million homes over five years with the £6.6bn Warm Homes Plan. This is expected to include grants and low-interest loans to support families to invest in insulation, low-carbon heating and home improvements.  Alongside this, the Government has committed to boosting minimum energy efficiency standards for private rented homes and social housing.  

Jo gave evidence across themes of the current Warm Homes Plan detail, existing retrofit support schemes and why they have undelivered, and how the Government can help consumers make informed decisions. She emphasised the need for longer timescales to build industry confidence, policies which encourage homeowners to invest their own money (such as a Warm Homes Stamp Duty) and the importance of equipping local authorities with the skills and resources to carry out retrofit programmes.  Many of these points were echoed by Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh in a later evidence session.

Watch Jo’s session (from 14:57:09 to 15:56:28) here : Parliamentlive.tv – Energy Security and Net Zero Committee

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Any retrofit schemes should be locally focused, providing long-term solutions which support local areas. We need to see policies to equip local authorities with the skills and resources to carry out retrofit programmes. The Government should give local authorities and councils the devolved powers, responsibility, and resources they need to play a major role in the delivery of a nationwide home upgrade programme. The success of national retrofit schemes requires longer timescales to those currently on offer. This means setting out a 10 year strategic programme, with an initial 5 years of funding committed. This will build industry and financier confidence to invest, previous short windows and stop-start schemes have meant there was little trust or time for supply chain development.

The full details of the Warm Homes Plan expected in spring 2025 must draw on industry experience and be coordinated at both national and local levels.

Explore our Policy work

Since 2007, we have been bringing together some of the most influential leaders in politics, business, local authorities, civil service and NGOs to accelerate action for a green built environment.

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Cost is the one of the biggest barriers to reducing operational energy and carbon in retrofit projects. Money is expensive right now. But the industry recognises the importance of retrofit first and more stretching operational energy targets are on the horizon. 

A lot of built assets are sitting in prime locations that makes the economic case for refurbishment stronger. If project financing can be secured, how can operational energy be reduced? 

Short-term gain, long-term pain 

Project teams understandably have a focus on the practical completion alongside goals such as achieving a specific EUI target. But once practical completion has been reached and the tenant is in situ, operational energy consumption challenges arise that could have been overcome had they been considered at the design stage. 

As an industry we need to look beyond practical completion to the longer term, shifting the focus onto the whole life cost benefit analysis of equipment such as lighting or HVAC – and think if we spend a little more now what will the financial gain be once the building is in use? Most likely, a higher EPC rating and lower EUI – the opportunity to invest a little more today to bank future energy targets.  

If we are to accelerate change as an industry and hit Net Zero goals, we need to be more forward-thinking. The new UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard will drive the momentum behind this. Pressure will also come from investors to align with their ESG objectives. So, it makes sense to get ahead from the off. 

Future-proofing assets to meet energy targets beyond practical completion will support income generation and asset value retention across the building’s life cycle.  

The bigger picture

So, what is the answer to getting retrofit projects right when it comes to operational energy? 

It’s critical to think holistically. To consider the end occupier – who will the building be leased to, what will their energy requirements be? This must be thought about at the refurbishment’s design stage – how the energy performance gap can be closed. Too often projects only consider how the building will be used when it’s handed over. By then it’s too late to factor in the capability to make significant reductions and to flex the building to suit tenants. 

Once the occupier is identified, you can plan for their energy needs in conjunction with what the asset has the capability to provide. All buildings are individual, so the retrofit strategy must be aligned with the asset in front of you. What can be worked with, what are the deal-breakers? 

You need to look at the cost of upgrading the energy infrastructure. What’s feasible within the project’s budget and does the grid have capacity? Consider the acoustics – will heat pumps on the roof upset the neighbours? And space – is there room for new plant? What is the trade-off with valuable amenity space?

Active and passive carbon reduction opportunities

To navigate these challenges, it helps to think about the refurbishment design from an active and passive standpoint. 

In refurbishment projects, highly efficient building services tend to be cheaper to install than upgrading the building fabric. Heat pumps and mechanical ventilation are a typical solution as they’re straightforward and cost effective. You can also invest in systems that understand the way the building and occupants work, supplying fresh air, heating and cooling only to the spaces that require them, which reduces operational costs and energy – but these will carry a higher upfront cost. 

However, if there’s a red line of grid capacity, acoustics or space it’s critical to consider the passive options. 

Passive is your building fabric. Generally, it’s easier to push further here with new builds, but that doesn’t mean progress can’t be made on retrofits. How can insulation levels and glazing be improved to bring down the building’s energy demand? Less plant will deliver better acoustics, more space for amenities and reduce operational energy and carbon. 

You need to choose an approach that works for the asset in question and tenant’s requirements. More insulation will reduce the net internal area, so how can you get around that? If maximising internal area is key, then the compromise will be on cost – sourcing manufacturers that can provide compact insulation that still delivers on energy efficiency. You will also need to remember that upping the insulation will increase the Whole Life Carbon and the risk of overheating. All of these issues need to be carefully considered and worked through.

But if budget is the deciding factor, it may be the tenant can accommodate the trade off in floor area through hybrid working policies. And if the building becomes more sustainable in the longer term, there may be the potential to charge more per square foot so that the increased rental value delivers a better yield.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, we need to accelerate change and reduce EUI as targets will become more demanding over time. Retrofit projects offer the opportunity to transition and future-proof an asset. To succeed, it’s a case of understanding what you’re working with, and developing an operational carbon reduction strategy tailored to that asset and occupier. 

Verte website: https://www.verteltd.com/services/ 

Verte social media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/verte-ltd/ 

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This page presents data, evidence, and solutions that are provided by our partners and members and should therefore not be attributed to UKGBC. While we showcase these solutions for inspiration, to build consensus, and create momentum for climate action, UKGBC does not offer commercial endorsement of individual solutions. If you would like to quote something from this page, or more information, please contact our Communications team at media@ukgbc.org.

The post Intelligent building vibration reduction system  appeared first on UKGBC.

For those of us lucky enough to be able to afford our heating bills, despite the recent sharp rises, this thought is perhaps more of an inconvenience, or a self-inflicted  endurance challenge, or motivated by not wanting to add GHG emissions to the atmosphere by turning up the thermostat and getting the gas boiler going again. 

However, for many people, this thought fills them with dread – how long before I have to start choosing between whether to eat or heat my home? How long before the kids start complaining that they can’t sleep because it’s too cold? How long before I have to start washing the black mould off my windows and walls? 

In 2024, this is a shocking state of affairs, and what’s more, it really does not have to be this way. We, as an industry have the technology and the know-how to upgrade the majority of these homes and turn them into warm, comfortable, affordable places to live. Places where no one needs to feel cold at best, and worst die of preventable respiratory diseases, as we saw in the tragic case of Awaab Ishaak 4 years ago – a little boy who died from breathing in black mould every day of his short life. 

What’s more, retrofitting our homes and neighbourhoods can also offer multiple ‘co-benefits’ such as: reducing costs to the NHS of poorly insulated, damp homes; improving health and wellbeing; reducing the load on local energy systems, and creating local green jobs and supply chains. 

That’s why we’re enormously excited and proud to launch UKGBC’s new ‘Regenerative Places’ Programme, which has home retrofit at its heart.  

What do we mean by ‘Regenerative’ places?

The terminology is drawn from Bill Reed and others’ thinking around how we need to shift from ‘sustainability’ to a more regenerative, integrated approach, encouraging the need to look beyond reducing negative impacts, improving efficiency, and being ‘less bad’, to having a positive impact on society and our environment.   

We use the term “Regenerative” as our North star, guiding our work to set the level of ambition, and the necessary shift in mindset. We emphasise that while current projects may not immediately demonstrate regenerative traits, we are inspired by the Three-Horizons Framework, which we are using  as a way of mapping how a shift could take place from the established patterns of the first horizon (business-as usual) to the beginning of new patterns and emerging future in the third horizon. Disruptive innovations and industry actions of the second horizon will be crucial to make the shift from the current system to the emerging future a successful one. The diagram below illustrates this in a bit more detail. 

UKGBC envisions the Programme setting out our own “Horizon 3” – a shared vision of an emerging future that has positive, regenerative impacts on people, planet, and place. 

So, what might this mean in practice, and how does it relate to home retrofit?  

Our new Programme will work in partnership with the MCS Foundation (MCSF) to support and draw learnings from their new Local Area Retrofit Accelerator (LARA) pilot. Through this pilot, four places (in England initially) are being supported to develop ‘Local Retrofit Strategies’ for their area. These strategies will take a systems-led approach and be place based, collaborative and locally led. We had the first of the LARA pilot workshops with our first ‘place’ this week, where over 40 local stakeholders  gathered to discuss the development of their Local Retrofit Strategy. It was fantastic to hear the level of enthusiasm across the different local authorities and other stakeholders for getting retrofit going at scale.

UKGBC will work alongside the LARA pilots (which are also supported by Ashden, the National Retrofit Hub and others), and with our Regenerative Places Programme Partners, to explore and demonstrate how home retrofit can act as a catalyst to ensure wider regenerative benefits to communities, such as: 

• Decarbonising heat and energy  
• Improving biodiversity and green space  
• Offering health and social value benefits  
• Embedding climate resilience
• Strengthening community relationships and networks 

While retrofit is a huge part of the problem and the solution, we also need to consider how new buildings and developments can move beyond ‘doing less harm’ and towards a more regenerative approach. We were very excited to speak at an ‘Architects Declare’ event last week and start to share our thinking around how regenerative principles should be applied to both new development and retrofit. 

 

We will also be building a compendium of experiences, projects and processes that demonstrate regenerative traits. The aim is to help guide others in their thinking about how to move towards regenerative approaches.   

 

With this in mind, we need your help! Please tell us about projects and processes that you’re aware of that should be in our compendium! You can add them to our Miro Board here. 

As we know, no one has all the answers here – we’re all learning all the time. At the heart of a regenerative approach is collaboration and we can’t wait to work with you, our members, and the wider industry and local communities as we develop our thinking and practice on regenerative places. 

Finally, if you’re a local authority officer and would like support in  developing retrofit services for householders in your area, with our partners the MCS Foundation we’ve created a ‘Getting Started Toolkit’ to help you build the business case for a Retrofit ‘One Stop Shop’. Keep it bookmarked as we’ll be adding more resources on a regular basis. 

Regenerative Places

Our programme utilises a place-based retrofit strategy to enhance local network capacity, strengthen resilience against future climate-related challenges, and deliver broad regenerative benefits to communities.

Learn more

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