Sustainability has emerged as a driving force reshaping the landscape of commercial building practices across the UK. With a growing awareness of environmental challenges and the imperative to mitigate climate change, the UK commercial property sector has undergone a profound transformation towards more eco-friendly and sustainable practices.
This article explores the sustainability revolution in Britain’s commercial property sector, focusing on the shift towards eco-friendly construction materials, energy-efficient designs, renewable energy integration, and climate-responsive facades.
Rise of eco-friendly construction materials
A key pillar of sustainability in our country’s commercial property sector is the growing shift towards eco-friendly construction materials. According to a report by the UK Government, the construction industry accounts for approximately 50m tonnes of CO2 emissions each year, highlighting the urgent need for more sustainable practices.
In response, commercial property developers and builders are increasingly turning to more environmentally friendly materials such as recycled steel, reclaimed timber, and low-carbon concrete.
Research by the World Economic Forum indicates a growing preference for sustainable materials among architects and developers, driven by both regulatory requirements and market demand. For example, the use of sustainable timber in construction has surged in recent years, with projects like the Trafalgar Place development in London showcasing the potential of timber construction in reducing carbon emissions and promoting biodiversity.
This much-needed shift towards eco-friendly construction materials will help the industry to significantly reduce its reliance on raw materials for the design, construction, maintenance and demolition of buildings (a process that currently consumes 50% of all raw materials around the world).
Passive design
Passive design plays a crucial role in optimising the performance of facades and cladding systems in the UK’s climate. Passive design principles, such as orientation, shading, and natural ventilation, can significantly reduce the energy demand for heating, cooling, and lighting in commercial buildings.
Studies conducted in 2023 demonstrate the effectiveness of passive design strategies in enhancing thermal comfort and reducing energy consumption in buildings. The research highlighted that passive strategies can lead to energy savings of around 29%.
For example, the incorporation of external shading devices and high-performance glazing in facade design can minimise solar heat gain during the summer months while allowing ample daylight penetration.
Climate-responsive facades
As the UK’s climate becomes increasingly unpredictable due to climate change, there is a growing need for facades and cladding systems that can adapt to changing environmental conditions and mitigate risks such as extreme temperatures, storms, and flooding.
Although in their infancy right now, climate-responsive facades incorporate dynamic elements such as adjustable louvres, movable insulation panels, and integrated solar control systems to optimise performance and improve energy efficiency.
In Switzerland, the Hostellerie am Schwarzsee hotel resort utilises a new type of facade technology called SageGlass Harmony which is capable of tinting the glass on a gradient to maximise daylight into the building while minimising glare. Saint-Gobain, which manufactures SageGlass, says that its innovative product contributes to creating thermally comfortable environments both in winter and summer.
Other case studies of climate-responsive facades, such as the Bloomberg European Headquarters in London, demonstrate how innovative facade design strategies can enhance building performance and occupant comfort while reducing environmental impact.

Opened in 2017, Bloomberg’s London HQ was crowned the world’s most sustainable office building partly due to the fact that its breathing facade, which is covered in rows of bronze louvers, provides unmatched natural ventilation to the interior. Image credit: Wikipedia
Renewable energy integration
Renewable energy integration plays a pivotal role in the sustainability revolution across the UK’s commercial property sector.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, wind turbines, and biomass boilers are increasingly being integrated into commercial buildings to generate clean and renewable energy onsite.
Data from the Solar Trade Association (STA) showed that the UK witnessed a staggering 19% increase in solar capacity in 2022, adding over 2.5 GW of solar energy to the power grid. Almost half of the growth in solar capacity was generated by our commercial property sector.
The growth of solar has been driven by increased awareness of the environment coupled with falling costs and government incentives such as the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme, a scheme designed by the Government to pay for solar energy that is fed back to the grid. Although this scheme ended in 2019.
Commercial buildings equipped with solar panels not only reduce carbon footprint but also benefit from lower energy bills and enhanced energy resilience.
The transition to renewable energy sources is also being facilitated by innovative financing mechanisms such as power purchase agreements (PPAs) and green leases. These arrangements enable commercial property owners to invest in renewable energy infrastructure without upfront capital costs, making sustainable energy solutions more accessible and economically viable.
How we’re supporting the environmental goals of Britain’s commercial property sector
The sustainability revolution is reshaping the UK commercial property sector, driving a shift towards eco-friendly construction materials, energy-efficient facades, and renewable energy integration. With mounting pressure to address climate change and achieve net-zero carbon emissions, developers, architects, and investors are embracing sustainable practices to create buildings that are both environmentally responsible and economically viable.
See Brilliance has over 30 years’ experience in providing eco-friendly restoration alternatives to respraying, rebuilding and replacement.
Utilising advanced systems and certified techniques, our experts can restoratively clean metal, glass and stone facade surfaces back to their factory finish and standard, enhancing company and property image by leaving a protected finish that is practical, aesthetically pleasing and to an almost ‘as new’ condition and appearance.
To find out more about our restoration methods, including DOFF Steam Cleaning, TORC Cleaning, commercial facade and cladding restoration and restorative cleaning, get in touch with our restoration specialists today.