15 finalists make up the across five different categories in sustainability
Innovations and leading designs are the focus of the awards, with the five categories reflecting this.
The shortlist from the Sustainable Development Foundation shows how the UK is innovating the sustainable building sector in the battle for net zero.
The Exemplar Sustainable Buildings Awards 2025 shortlist follows several themes
Most of the projects within the shortlist have achieved Passivhaus certifications, or use their methodology in their design, as well as prioritising occupant satisfaction and comfort. Low running costs are also a priority, with some projects getting as low as £2/m2/year.
The projects also widely feature embodied carbon, either in the manufacturing or the materials used.
The awards ceremony will take place on 24 June 2025 in London, as part of the Sustainable Development Foundation’s 20th anniversary.
Mark Lynn, of Eden Renewable Innovations Ltd and judge in the Exemplar Sustainable Buildings Awards 2025, said: “The judging process has opened my eyes to the sheer variety of innovations and established technologies at our disposal for buildings and product choices. It’s reinforced my belief that the time to build cost effectively and sustainably is now”.
Nick Grant, of Elemental Solutions and judge in the Exemplar Sustainable Buildings Awards 2025, said: “I am always interested in the fact that whilst judges reach consensus on some projects, other entries split us like Marmite. We almost certainly demand more hard evidence than other awards, but there is still plenty of room for subjective opinion and value judgements, even when judging hard data.”
Several award shortlists have been announced recently, including a shortlist for the Digital Construction awards and a shortlist of entries for the Queen Elizabeth II memorial.
Read the shortlist in full here:
Large projects finalists
The Enterprise Centre, Norwich, University of East Anglia – Combining Passivhaus Classic performance with BREEAM Outstanding certification, it was constructed using bio-based materials, including an innovative pre-fabricated timber frame and cassette-based thatch façade.
Goldsmith Street, Norwich – Commissioned by Norwich City Council, this 93-home Passivhaus project has helped redefine affordable housing, creating light-filled, community-focused homes where annual energy bills can be as low as £150.
WorkStack, Greater London – Combining efficient use of space with a strong focus on environmental and social performance, and built primarily from cross-laminated timber and serviced by simple, low-impact systems, the building achieves a modest energy demand of 36.4 kWh/m².yr and meets both BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and LETI 2030 design standards.
Small projects finalists
Abhainn, Hamilton – Abhainn is a development of three detached dwellings certified to the Passivhaus Classic standard. Strong efforts were made to reduce the embodied carbon of building materials on the development, resulting in the project meeting RIBA 2030 metrics. The homes also comply with the exacting Gold higher level of sustainability in Section 7 of the Scottish Technical Standards. The development’s aims for cost-effective construction was achieved, with the homes delivered for a below-market average cost.
Long Four Acres, North Norfolk – Long Four Acres is a two storey detached self-build in North Norfolk that has been modelled in PHPP and designed, but not certified, to the Passivhaus Plus standard. While airtightness of 0.8 ach @ 50 Pa was just shy of Passivhaus criteria (0.6 ach @ 50 Pa), the building performance in practice aligns closely with PHPP Passivhaus Plus expectations. The judges were impressed by the project’s simplicity and potential replicability.
The Seed, Dundee – Replacing a derelict building, The Seed is a co-living home for two households in a woodland garden near Dundee. Reducing embodied and in use energy and carbon was a primary driver of the design and construction of the building. The home is almost entirely timber and meets both Passivhaus Classic standard and RIBA 2030 embodied carbon requirements. It offers a shining example of how Passivhaus can work in locations with difficult site constraints and restricted solar gain.
Retrofit projects finalists
Entopia Building, Cambridge – The Entopia Building in Cambridge transformed a 1930s telephone exchange into a cutting-edge headquarters for the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). Transforming outdated infrastructure into one of the UK’s most energy-efficient offices, it achieves EnerPHit, BREEAM Outstanding, and targets WELL Gold. The building now operates on just 15% of its original energy demand, showcasing a remarkable 85% reduction.
Niddrie Road, Glasgow – Niddrie Road is a deep retrofit of a Glasgow social housing pre-1919 sandstone tenement. The project was modelled in PHPP and designed, but not certified, to the EnerPHit standard with high levels of insulation and airtightness combined with new heating and ventilation systems. The success of the project has been demonstrated through building performance monitoring, which is showing drastically reduced energy bills for the tenants, with up to 90% savings, while optimising occupant health and comfort.
Ward Grove, Greater Manchester- Ward Grove is a whole-home transformation that demonstrates how deep retrofit can deliver exceptional energy performance, long-term comfort, and inclusive design – all within the constraints of an existing 1980s bungalow. The project has been certified to the AECB CarbonLite Retrofit Standard and achieves performance levels well beyond typical expectations for its type, with annual running costs of only £360. The project also prioritises low embodied carbon through timber-based construction, and thoughtful material choices.
Products finalists
Diasen Diathonite Thermactive – Diasen Diathonite Thermactive.037 is a vapour permeable lime and cork-based insulating plaster that delivers thermal performance with low embodied carbon. Designed for use on internal walls and ceilings, it offers a multifunctional solution – combining thermal insulation, moisture management, and levelling in a single product. With excellent vapour permeability (μ = 3), thermal conductivity of just 0.037 W/mK, and high porosity, Thermactive regulates humidity, stabilises indoor temperatures, and enhances comfort year-round.
EcoCocon – EcoCocon’s innovative straw wall system stores more carbon than it emits per square metre. Prefabricated from renewable timber and straw, the panels offer outstanding thermal performance, vapour permeability, and carbon sequestration—all wrapped in a system that’s fast to build, circular by design, and backed by Cradle to Cradle and Passivhaus component certifications.
Glass Skylight FE Passivhaus – The LAMILUX Glass Skylight FE Passivhaus combines advanced thermal efficiency, Passivhaus certification and attractive design options in various sizes and configurations – fixed, operable and smoke vent. With its sustainability credentials backed up by a third-party verified Environmental Product Declaration, the Glass Skylight FE Passivhaus provides a high quality and reliable solution for a product type often troubled by leaks and maintenance issues.
Initiatives finalists
Coaction Training – Coaction is a collective of highly experienced low energy practitioners who have come together to share their knowledge within the construction industry. Its Design Performance for Climate Action course offers free-to-access resources in essential sustainable design skills to architecture students across the UK. As a not-for-profit organisation seeking to drive real change in building practices, success is not only determined by pass marks or numbers of delegates, but on how graduates can be equipped for long-term success.
MDF Fibre Recovery – The world’s first circular economy solution for MDF waste, this patented technology recycles waste generated by all users of MDF — including manufacturers, furniture manufacturers, and consumers — and converts it back into clean, natural wood fibres. This process delivers a step change: instead of MDF being incinerated or landfilled, it is now recycled into valuable raw material. The recovered natural wood fibres can be reused in a range of construction applications, including insulation.
PACER (Planning Application Carbon Evaluation and Reduction) – PACER is a first-of-its-kind digital platform that empowers Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) with the tools to enforce whole life carbon (WLC) policies in the planning process and reduce both embodied and operational emissions. PACER automates the review of Whole Life Carbon Assessments (WLCAs) submitted in planning applications, providing case officers with clear, data-driven insights into compliance, and prompting actionable recommendations that challenge the carbon impact of developments.
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