Sustainable construction is good for people and good for the planet. We used to build in more sustainable ways. Now, by embracing both new and old methods and materials, we are starting to do so again.

Sustainable construction uses materials with a low carbon footprint – materials that grow like wood and hemp – and reuses existing buildings and materials wherever possible; embracing conversion, renovation and retrofit.

Sustainable construction is also about energy efficiency; buildings that are well insulated to reduce heating bills and generate their own energy through solar panels.We are so grateful to all members who submitted their work to be in our exhibition – we really appreciate your contribution. We had such a wonderful range of buildings and projects – it really was a worthy showcase of your wonderful work and the breadth and depth of sustainable construction.

Examples of sustainable construction – Work by our Members

The following case studies were all submitted by our Members for inclusion in our 25th anniversary exhibition, October 2025.

They cover a range of buildings and projects – from new build passive house to extensive retrofit of listed properties – and everything in between, capturing the range and potential of sustainable construction.

Retrofit of internal insulation to a listed property	New build community skills training centre	Retrofit of Edwardian family home
Award-winning new build cohousing project	Thermal imaging surveys	Retrofitting floor insulation in local authority housing
Sustainable new build home	New build high energy efficient home	Retrofit thermal upgrade of offices at The imperial War Museum
Fiv Architecture Architectural model depicting three different “concept” schemes for a four-bedroom home in Green Belt	Retrofit Carbonlite certified home	New build passive house
Radical reimagining and retrofit	Comprehensive eco-refurbishment of a listed building	Circadian lighting for care homes
New build Cotwold eco home	New build passive house	M Sustainability Retrofit Carbonlite certified home
Creative extension and retrofit to listed property	Sustainable retrofit of a listed property and family home	Retrofit upgrades to a listed building – Whitby Abbey Visitor Centre
Low-impact community workshop	Sustainable self-build specialist multi-generational home	Deep retrofit and extension of terraced house
Passiv haus certified art cafe	Low-energy new build co-housing flats	Sustainable restoration of Blenheim Palace glass ceiling and roof
Passive house and building biology new build	Retrofit and environmental upgrade of The Kathryn Stevens Rare Books Library at Newnham College	Handmade oak framed new build house and annex