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Energy efficiency and associated environmental concerns and costs are central to contemporary building design – both newbuild and retrofit.

This category will reward projects that have used timber technology to make a tangible difference in lowering the overall environmental impact of the project and used circular economy principles.

Entries should highlight and explain in an understandable, measurable way how timber – either structurally, externally or internally – has been exploited to its maximum potential to drive forward the concept of low-carbon building design.

Special emphasis will be placed on lifecycle analysis, use of smart technology to measure both embodied and operational carbon, the route to net zero carbon targets, use of certified timber, whole-life costs, the use of circular economy principles, ‘Fabric First’ and ‘Passivhaus’ methods, EPDs and digital modelling.

Entry Questions:

1. Describe how the use of timber technology has made a tangible difference in lowering the overall environmental and carbon impact of the project. Has a circular economy and zero carbon mindset informed decisions?

2. Demonstrate how you have measured and quantified the carbon footprint and carbon reduction levels throughout the project – e.g. data from smart monitoring technology, BREEAM or achieving Passivhaus levels and integration of bolt-on micro-renewables as part of attaining low energy targets.

3. Evidence how sustainability and circular economy principles have been embedded in the project design and process management from initial project brief to site installation e.g. measurement of embodied carbon, EPDs, lifecycle analysis, projection of operational carbon and meeting the needs of the local community.

4. Describe how timber has informed the project’s design, manufacture and delivered better building performance – e.g. building fabric, improved acoustic and thermal objectives, running and maintenance costs or exceeded Building Regulations and how the engineering and architectural aspects of the project were an integral part of the low energy aspiration.

5. Give FIVE key reasons why your project is exceptional, contributed to a healthier and cleaner built environment, applied the principles of the circular economy and should be considered as the best example of low energy project this year. Can it be seen as a future example for others to follow, e.g. low carbon approach, futureproofing, energy efficiency, use of digital technology, structural and engineering excellence.