Articles
Inspiring sustainable building projects that are changing the construction landscape
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The construction industry faces growing pressure to respond to climate change, cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce its impact on the environment. This includes lowering carbon emissions during construction as well as reducing the energy consumption of completed buildings.
Given that, it’s little surprise that sustainability targets are now a familiar part of building projects. But setting targets doesn’t guarantee they’ll be achieved.
Research published by National Building Specification (NBS) found that 90% of construction professionals had worked on projects with sustainability targets, yet fewer than half said these goals were usually or always met. Cost pressures, limited client knowledge and difficulties measuring performance were among the barriers to reaching those targets.
That gap between intention and outcome is why successful sustainable developments are important. They demonstrate that sustainable building projects are possible, acting as a reference for teams being asked to achieve lower-carbon specifications. The examples below show how decisions about architecture, energy, materials, water and waste work in practice and minimise construction's impact on the environment.
Leading examples of innovative, eco-friendly construction
20 Giltspur Street, London
Commercial
20 Giltspur Street sits in the City of London and is being transformed into modern office space thanks to a substantial retrofit project.
Rather than clearing the site and starting again, the development retains 80% of the building’s existing concrete and steel frame. This reduced reliance on raw materials and avoided some of the waste and embodied carbon that would have resulted from complete demolition.
We supplied Lignacite blocks for the project because they’re suitable for this kind of development. They contain 30% recycled material, diverting waste from landfill as well as reducing demand for primary aggregates and the overall impact on the environment. We also meet the requirements of BES 6001, the Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products. In addition, concrete masonry is strong and durable, while providing acoustic insulation and Class A1 non-combustibility.
BedZED, London
Mixed use
Completed in 2002, the Beddington Zero Energy Development, better known as BedZED, is a mixed-use neighbourhood in south London.
The scheme combines 100 homes with offices, educational space and community facilities. South-facing properties, passive solar gain and high levels of insulation help to reduce heating demand, while the wider development encourages use of public transport, car sharing, waste reduction and local food production.
More than half of the materials used in construction, by weight, were sourced within 35 miles of the site. More than 3,000 tonnes of reclaimed or recycled products were also incorporated into the project. This included structural steel from refurbishment work at Brighton railway station.
BedZED received a Housing Design Award for sustainability, was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize and helped inspire Bioregional’s One Planet Living framework.
The Enterprise Centre, Norwich
Commercial/Education
Completed in 2015, the Enterprise Centre at the University of East Anglia is a business and academic hub that combines Passivhaus certification with energy efficiency and a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Outstanding rating.
Many of the construction materials were sourced locally or made from recycled and renewable resources. These include Norfolk thatch and reed, timber, recycled paper, reprocessed glass and clay plaster. Its concrete mix also incorporated locally recycled sand and aggregates.
Planted terraces, insect hotels and bird and bat boxes were added to the design to support the natural environment and wildlife.
The centre achieved a Display Energy Certificate A rating for six consecutive years after opening. This is alongside recognition from RIBA, the British Council for Offices and the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards. It was also selected for the Build Better Now exhibition at COP26, highlighting how sustainable architecture can support biodiversity and respond to the climate emergency.
Bloomberg European Headquarters, London
Commercial
Designed by Foster + Partners, Bloomberg’s European headquarters achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating of 99.1%, which was the highest score recorded for a major office development at the time. It later received a BREEAM Award for Western Europe.
Specially designed ceiling panels bring together lighting, cooling, ventilation and acoustics, while LED lighting uses around 40% less energy than a typical fluorescent office system. These panels were manufactured off site, helping to reduce waste.
Movable bronze fins on the structure allow natural ventilation when conditions are suitable, while smart controls adjust airflow according to occupancy.
Rainwater, grey water and cooling-system discharge are collected and reused for toilet flushing. Alongside water-efficient fittings and vacuum toilets, these measures are expected to save around 25 million litres each year.
City Hall, London
Civic
London’s City Hall is located in the Royal Docks in Newham. Previously known as The Crystal, it opened in 2012 as a sustainability exhibition centre, before being refurbished for the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.
The property runs on renewable energy sources and uses solar photovoltaic panels, solar thermal panels, ground-source heat pumps and smart lighting controls. The windows are also triple glazed. As a result, it is expected to consume around half as much energy as a comparable office.
Rainwater is collected for irrigation and toilet flushing, while furniture from the previous City Hall was reused or donated. Carpets made from recycled fishing nets and wildlife-friendly planting added further circular economy and biodiversity benefits.
Reusing the building extended the life of an asset that already held BREEAM Outstanding and LEED Platinum certification. The refurbishment also achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating.
What these projects teach us about sustainability
Although they differ in age, scale and purpose, these sustainable buildings have several things in common.
The first is that sustainability works best when it shapes a construction project from the outset. The second is the value of what already exists. The third is that lower carbon cannot come at the expense of performance. Materials still have to meet the practical demands of a building: structural loads, acoustic separation and fire safety among them. That’s why concrete masonry continues to feature in projects like these, where Class A1 non-combustibility and durability are non-negotiable alongside recycled content.
Underpinning all of it is evidence. Certifications, lifecycle assessments and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) let project teams compare products with confidence rather than taking claims at face value. Read more about our commitment to sustainable construction.
The path ahead for green building
As awareness and understanding of sustainable construction grows, these principles are being factored into everyday schemes rather than just landmark ones. This is being accelerated by a range of developments in the wider industry.
- Whole-life carbon assessment is moving from voluntary exercise to planning expectation.
- The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard has given the industry an agreed methodology for proving a net zero claim.
- EPDs are increasingly a routine specification requirement rather than a differentiator.
The last point is where manufacturers come in. If lower-carbon construction is to become the norm, products must carry verified data that specifiers can rely on.
Lignacite has used recycled materials in its concrete blocks since 1947, and that work continues through the Lignacite ECO Range. Our ECO 70 blocks are manufactured with a minimum 70% recycled content and deliver up to a 69% reduction in embodied carbon compared with our standard medium dense blocks, supported by independently verified Environmental Product Declarations.
Explore the Lignacite ECO Range or try our Carbon Calculator.
