Home ownership 05/06/2026

World Environment Day: Building homes to last

This year, World Environment Day (June 05th) focuses on ‘climate action’ - highlighting the significance of technology and solutions that can accelerate environmental progress.

In housebuilding, the climate focus surrounds sustainability, energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. To align with eco-conscious living, Keepmoat is committed to creating environmentally friendly housing that can positively impact the planet.

To celebrate the awareness day, we’ve caught up with our Group Technical Director, Trudie McCormick, who explores energy efficiency in new build homes and how the team is prioritising sustainable communities made to last.

Creating low-carbon communities

At Keepmoat, we are dedicated to building sustainable, high-quality, and energy-efficient homes. This commitment has led us to create zero-carbon-ready developments which consistently meet and surpass regulatory standards.

We were proud to be the first housebuilder in the UK to offer a zero-carbon-ready development for open market sale at our Gedling Green development in Nottinghamshire.

All the new homes in this development feature air source heat pumps, solar PV panels, increased levels of insulation, electric vehicle (EV) charging points, and smart hot water cylinders. These technologies use algorithms to predict energy usage patterns for hot water and heating, maximising efficiency and reducing energy waste.

Additionally, we have partnered with Birmingham City University (BCU) to advance a crucial pilot program at the site, aimed at understanding how energy and sustainable technologies are utilised in homes.

This two-year partnership has monitored how the correct usage of the sustainable technology has impacted energy consumption, associated bills and emissions.

Energy-efficient living

Technology plays a vital role in our ongoing mission to create sustainable, energy-efficient homes. Keepmoat’s commitment to innovation is evident in projects like Gedling Green, but also prevalent in wider schemes such as Winterstoke Gate in Weston-super-Mare.

At Winterstoke Gate, we are creating a community of 425 high-quality new homes, 135 of which will be carbon neutral, while the remaining 290 will meet the anticipated Future Homes Standard. These homes feature a smart design and are constructed using the latest eco-friendly materials, providing low-cost living for residents.

Our smart home systems, integrated into Keepmoat developments, are designed not only for comfort but also to empower homeowners with real-time data on their energy consumption. This allows residents to effectively manage their energy use and minimise their environmental impact.

Energy-efficient homes are essential in contributing to a healthy, nurtured environment. As the Future Homes Standard comes into effect, we can expect to see this technology rolled out more widely across all new homes.

At Keepmoat, we’re committed to creating sustainable, multi-tenure communities that prioritise well-designed neighbourhoods with high quality homes, green spaces and public transport and cycle connections, working with surrounding suppliers to invest in the local supply chain.

Through our research with BCU, we have explored how energy usage habits contribute to effective use and the impact this has on unlocking energy-efficient homes.

Reducing site carbon emissions with HVO biofuel roll out

To support our mission of reducing site carbon emissions by over a thousand tonnes per year, last month we launched a transition for our telehandlers and generators to switch from diesel to HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) biofuel.

The switch fulfils Keepmoat’s commitment to achieve a 51 percent reduction in direct emissions by 2032.

HVO is a renewable diesel that delivers up to 99 percent lower carbon emissions compared to traditional diesel and is fully compatible with plant machinery, enabling immediate adoption across live developments without changing existing equipment or infrastructure.

On a typical site, the switch is expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 21.9 tonnes per year per telehandler, making a significant contribution to Keepmoat’s science-based targets.

We’d love to see what ways you’re incorporating eco-friendly technology in your home. Share your inspiration using #Keepmoat.