Sustainability Talks at Greyfriars

Upskilling the Team in Sustainable Construction

Greyfriars recently hosted two engaging talks designed to deepen the team’s understanding of sustainability in the construction industry. Led by local experts, these sessions highlighted certifications and practical strategies for building more sustainably and creating better buildings.

Expert Insights on Sustainable Building

The first session, led by Rob Diamond from Ingleton Wood, delivered a clear and informative overview of the BREEAM and WELL certifications. For each standard, Rob explained the assessment criteria, outlined the benefits, and demonstrated how to apply them effectively in real-world projects.

A couple of weeks later, James Evans and Daniel Towers from Fielden+Mawson presented on the Passivhaus standard. Their talk explored the core principles of energy-efficient design and walked the team through the rigorous certification process required to meet Passivhaus standards.

Through these talks, we wanted to understand the ins and outs of the processes in more detail, enabling us to identify reasons why they are not more widely adopted and brainstorm ideas of how they could be integrated into more projects. One of the most thought-provoking parts of both talks was the discussion around the limited adoption of these certifications. While cost is often seen as a barrier, the team explored how these concerns are frequently overstated. Fielden+Mawson pointed out that, in many cases, high costs stem from premium client specifications such as luxury furnishings and fittings, rather than the materials, practices, and certification processes required to achieve BREEAM and / or passivhaus.

Building Longevity and Lifecycle Analysis

Both talks also touched on the importance of building longevity and lifecycle analysis of materials—a topic that has sparked debate within the Greyfriars team in recent weeks, both in the office and at industry events.

These discussions have highlighted the need to consider not just the immediate environmental impact of materials, but also their performance and sustainability over the entire lifespan of a building. Tools like BREEAM support this approach by encouraging lifecycle thinking and rewarding the use of durable, responsibly sourced materials that contribute to long-term environmental and economic value.

Driving Sustainable Innovation at Greyfriars

At Greyfriars, we are actively cultivating a culture of sustainability. To support this, we are developing a sustainable projects framework and a sustainable practice matrix. These tools aim to inspire innovation and guide thoughtful material selection across all our projects. By doing so, we empower our teams to discover and recommend smarter, more sustainable ways to deliver projects.

Special recognition goes to Assistant Project Manager Roland, who has been instrumental in researching low-carbon and recycled materials. His dedication and expertise are helping us reduce our environmental impact and develop the local industry in meaningful ways.

Building Better with Local Knowledge

These sessions also underscored the value of tapping into local expertise. Greyfriars takes pride in its deep understanding of the Norfolk construction landscape. This local insight enables us to seamlessly integrate sustainable practices into projects throughout the region.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Rob Diamond, Ingleton Wood, and James Evans and Daniel Towers from Fielden+Mawson for their time and valuable contributions.

Learn more about Greyfriars’ commitment to sustainability: https://greyfriarspm.com/