Get the knowledge: How to make better choices about buildings

In order to ensure new builds or home improvements comply with these principles, consumers can appoint ‘Passivhaus consultants’ or certified designers which can be found in the North American Passive House Network and PassiveHouse.com, or follow the Passivhaus building criteria developed by the Passivhaus Institute.

It’s important to integrate passive house approaches from the initial design stage, as every element - from insulation and thermal isolation strategies - should work together to produce the benefits of the methodology. For example, including a fresh air exchanger would be ineffective if a home’s windows leak.

Sustainable Materials

It may be surprising but many building materials contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous substances which are harmful for both human health and the environment. With people in Europe and the US spending around 90% of their time indoors and with the depletion of natural resources, environmentally-conscious manufacturers are stepping up to disclose the components of their materials and come up with sustainable solutions.

For example, the world’s leading carpet tiles and flooring manufacturer Interface has made renewable and recyclable materials its priority and is on a mission to source 100% of recycled materials for their production, and engage in the circular economy. 

One of their most notable innovations include Net-Works, an initiative aimed at employing coastal communities in the Philippines to remove discarded fishing nets from the ocean, which are recycled into new yarn to create carpet threads.

However, assessing the level of chemicals present in materials of existing buildings remains challenging. The UK’s Grenfell Tower tragedy, which left 72 dead in 2017, after the building cladding - which was supposed to contain flame retardants - caught fire, has shown how the choice of building materials can have devastating effects on people’s lives, and needs to be carefully specified and selected.

In order to ensure properties they invest in are safe and sustainable, consumers can look for WELL-certified buildings, as the certification addresses indoor air pollution related to building materials, including Particulate Matters, formaldehyde and VOCs present in ambient air. For those looking to make home improvements, ecolabels such as Living Building Challenge Compliant or Certified Cradle to Cradle Material Health recognise products that are sustainable or avoid the use of harmful chemicals.

The way forward

With the lack of clear communication and transparency in the construction sector, consumers can exert limited influence on the sustainable performance of buildings they live and work in. However, by mobilising actors along the construction value chain and raising ambitions to meet the Paris Agreement goals, organisations such as the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) are working towards a zero-emission, efficient, and resilient building sector. 

With strong government policies and forward-thinking architects and manufacturers, collaborative efforts can drive the transformation towards a sustainable future in the construction industry.