Sustainable Housing

There has never been a sharper focus on how we heat and power our buildings. With fuel prices soaring and deadlines for energy-efficiency improvements fast approaching, housing developers and social landlords are at the forefront of the challenge to decarbonise our homes, both new and existing. It’s with this in mind that the elemental content theatres, which are free-to-attend and running alongside InstallerSHOW at Birmingam’s NEC in June, have been put together.
Designed for an audience of social housing and built environment professionals, the three-day conference programme will feature thought-provoking discussion and an opportunity to learn about the key issues facing the industry when it comes to energy and heat.

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With COVID-19 changing the way that people live and work, new research from Marley has revealed what people value most about their homes and communities in post-lockdown Britain.  Here, Stuart Nicholson, talks us through the findings and the implications for those designing and specifying new homes.

2020 was a year like no other, with COVID restrictions, furlough and health concerns forcing large numbers of people to spend long periods of time in their homes.  The house had to become the gym, the office, the school, and the relaxation space, causing people to re-evaluate where they live, work and how they spend their time.

Leading Change Consultancy Nine Feet Tall will be hosting a Virtual Roundtable Event aimed at business and transformation leaders in the Housing sector. Digital transformation has been on the agenda for many housing providers and these events provide a much-needed platform for thoughtful discussion and insight.

Customers are increasingly expecting digital solutions for their day-to-day interactions with housing providers and the pressure to deliver is high. Technology has evolved so quickly in recent years and the race is on to provide personalisation, efficiency and more customer control.

The Roundtable Event, on 29th September, will include interactive discussions, best practice advice and the key success factors to deliver transformation.

The resounding message to new Government is clear - we need affordable, well designed and energy efficient homes that address the significant issues of fuel poverty and climate change. Sustainable building methods and renewable energy are pivotal in delivering a sustainable solution.
We live in a time where people are beginning to wake up to the threat of climate change. Something must be done. Increased onus now rightly resides on housebuilders to deliver sustainable and energy efficient homes as part of the greater effort to reduce CO2 emissions, energy consumption and waste as an industry. These environmental considerations will transform how our buildings are constructed, what materials are used and which methods are employed.

Our world is mostly built out of unsustainable materials. Bricks, concrete, steel, glass, and wood. All of these substances are practical and relatively cheap to produce which is why they are so popular (although the cost is rising), but there is growing concern over the long-term impact their production is having on the planet. It is estimated that the production of these building materials accounts for five per cent of all manmade carbon emissions — and nearly two-thirds of all the materials end up on a landfill site and are not recycled. 

So perhaps it is time to look beyond the traditional materials that currently sustain the housing market. Here are five emerging sustainable materials that could be the bricks-and-mortar of tomorrow’s world: ‘Programmable cement’ Cement is perhaps the most ubiquitous building material of the lot, but there are problems with cement.