Sustainability is not a new concept. Consider how many farmhouses along Hadrian's Wall were built using stone from the wall itself — reusing materials as a matter of practicality long before it became policy. Windmills have harnessed wind energy for centuries. Boreholes have supplied fresh water for generations. The principles haven't changed. What has changed is our understanding of them — and the technologies now available to you.
Technologies to consider for your project
When designing your building, there is now a wide range of technologies that can significantly reduce your long-term running costs and your environmental impact. Here are the main options worth considering:
- Ground Source Heat Pump Extracts heat from the ground to warm your building — highly efficient where you have sufficient land area for the ground loop or a borehole.
- Air Source Heat Pump A more accessible alternative where ground works aren't feasible — draws heat from the outside air, even at low temperatures.
- Photovoltaic (Solar) Panels Generate electricity from sunlight, reducing your reliance on the grid and your energy bills. Well-suited to south-facing roof slopes.
- Solar Thermal Systems Use the sun's energy to heat your water directly — a simpler and lower-cost alternative to PV for hot water generation.
- Green Roofs Provide additional insulation, manage rainwater, and support local biodiversity — particularly effective on flat-roofed extensions and new builds.
- Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) Recovers heat from extracted indoor air to pre-warm incoming fresh air — most effective in well-insulated, airtight buildings.
We'll help you weigh the capital cost of any of these technologies against their long-term savings. As energy-efficient properties become increasingly sought after, these investments are also likely to increase your building's value over time.
Simple ways to build more sustainably
Not every sustainable choice requires significant investment. Some of the most effective decisions you can make are also the simplest:
- Reuse stone, brick and natural slate wherever possible — particularly relevant across the North East, where these materials are part of the local building vernacular
- Specify materials that are recycled or can be recycled at the end of their life
- Over-insulate your building — it costs far less to keep heat in than to generate more of it, and a well-insulated building reduces your need for expensive renewable technology
- Source materials locally to reduce the carbon footprint of your project's supply chain
Getting the balance right for you
Sustainable design decisions need to make sense for your project and your budget. We won't recommend technology for the sake of it — our role is to help you understand the options available to you, what they cost, what they save, and what makes sense given the nature and scale of your build.
Our team at PJC would be happy to discuss the sustainability measures that are right for your specific project — whether you're building a new home, extending, converting, or developing a commercial site.