At the Sustainable Development Foundation our mission is to help tackle the climate and ecological emergency by driving the adoption of exemplary sustainability practices in buildings. Our library of exemplar projects demonstrates buildings which are fit for the future and being built, NOW.

We take a holistic approach to all aspects of building sustainably, demonstrating how exemplar projects deliver different aspects of sustainability across three cross-cutting themes:

  • Enable sustainable communities
  • Promote occupant health and wellbeing
  • Deliver whole-life net zero

SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS

Within the three cross-cutting themes, we use ten sustainability indicators to define high performance, sustainable buildings. Rather than just focusing on buildings which achieve, for example, low energy use, our exemplars demonstrate a holistic approach to sustainability that delivers for people, planet and communities. All the featured projects are complete or nearing completion, showing how the construction industry can be transformed to be fit for the future, NOW.

THE PROJECTS

Click images to find out more

Agar Grove 1b, Camden

Agar Grove

Healthy indoor environments, Operational energy, Ownership models, Performance monitoring, Social value, Summer & winter comfort
Residential
Bowman's Lea Retrofit

Bowman’s Lea Retrofit

Embodied carbon, Healthy indoor environments, Natural materials, Operational energy, Performance monitoring, Resource efficiency, Summer & winter comfort
Residential
Retrofit
Cannock Mill Cohousing . Image credit Anne Thorne Architects

Cannock Mill Cohousing

Healthy indoor environments, Natural materials, Nature connectedness, Operational energy, Ownership models, Performance monitoring, Social value, Summer & winter comfort
CISL Entopia Building

CISL Entopia Building

Embodied carbon, Healthy indoor environments, Natural materials, Operational energy, Performance monitoring, Resource efficiency, Social value, Summer & winter comfort
Commerical
Retrofit
Cre8 Barn

Cre8 Barn

Healthy indoor environments, Nature connectedness, Operational energy, Ownership models, Resource efficiency, Social value, Summer & winter comfort
Community
Retrofit
Cuerden Valley Park Visitors Centre

Cuerden Valley Park

Embodied carbon, Healthy indoor environments, Natural materials, Nature connectedness, Ownership models, Resource efficiency, Social value
Community
New build
Footprint Architects Durley Chine Environmental Hub

Durley Chine Environmental Hub

Embodied carbon, Healthy indoor environments, Natural materials, Nature connectedness, Operational energy, Ownership models, Resource efficiency, Social value, Summer & winter comfort
Community, Education
Enterprise Centre

Enterprise Centre

Embodied carbon, Healthy indoor environments, Natural materials, Operational energy, Performance monitoring, Resource efficiency, Social value, Summer & winter comfort
Commerical, Education
New build
Harris Academy Sutton

Harris Academy Sutton

Embodied carbon, Healthy indoor environments, Natural materials, Operational energy, Performance monitoring, Social value, Summer & winter comfort
Education
New build
Highpoint View

Highpoint View

Embodied carbon, Natural materials, Resource efficiency, Social value
New build
Larch Corner

Larch Corner

Embodied carbon, Healthy indoor environments, Natural materials, Operational energy, Performance monitoring, Summer & winter comfort
Residential
New build
Marmalade Lane

Marmalade Lane

Healthy indoor environments, Nature connectedness, Ownership models, Resource efficiency, Social value
Community, Residential
New build
Niddrie Road

Niddrie Road

Healthy indoor environments, Natural materials, Operational energy, Ownership models, Performance monitoring, Social value, Summer & winter comfort
Residential
Retrofit
Shepherd's Barn

Shepherd’s Barn

Embodied carbon, Healthy indoor environments, Natural materials, Nature connectedness, Operational energy, Performance monitoring, Resource efficiency, Social value, Summer & winter comfort
Springfield Meadows

Springfield Meadows

Embodied carbon, Healthy indoor environments, Natural materials, Nature connectedness, Operational energy, Ownership models
Residential
New build
Squash

Squash

Embodied carbon, Natural materials, Ownership models, Resource efficiency, Social value
Community
New build
Image credit: Exeter City Council

St. Sidwell’s Point

Healthy indoor environments, Operational energy, Performance monitoring, Social value, Summer & winter comfort
Leisure Centre
New build
Virido

Virido

Nature connectedness, Operational energy, Ownership models, Social value
Residential
New build