Sustainability

We embed sustainable design in all our work and encourage sustainable living by helping to create buildings and spaces that fulfill environmental, social and economic needs.

Sustainable design and good design are mutually reinforcing. Good design is not just defined by how a building, space or place looks. It is also about whether it is responsive to context, adaptable, uses resources efficiently and delivers value over its whole life.

Read our sustainability publications for more information.

Sustainability at CABE

Sustainable Cities

Get advice on how to tackle climate change through planning, designing and managing sustainable places. Sign up for regular news and updates.

Building for Life

Learn how the Building for Life criteria, used by all local authorities in England, include assessments of environmental, social and economic impacts in housing developments.

Climate change and public space

See how public spaces can play a major role in combating the effects of climate change and explore the resources available.

Green day for schools

Download our activity kit for your school and hold your own event about climate change, sustainability and the built environment.

Sustainable design, climate change and the built environment

Read how we are addressing sustainable design and climate change, and learn about the action that is required from both the public and private sectors.

Better Public Building

See how well-designed buildings and spaces are cheaper to manage and better cared for by the people who use them - and what we’re doing to encourage better design.

Building Schools for the Future

Find out about the government’s £45 billion programme that will see every one of England’s 3,500 state secondary schools rebuilt or renewed over 15 years.

What makes an Eco-town?

Read our advice to the agencies involved in developing proposals for England’s eco-towns, challenging the eco-town proposers to be as ambitious as they can.

Inclusion by design

Stay up to date wth our position on equality, diversity and the built environment, with everyday examples of how good design can create places that work for everyone.

Sustainability on the web

UK Climate Impacts Programme

Helping organisations to adapt to inevitable climate change.

Sustainable development at DCMS

Outlining our sponsor's sustainable development policy.

Sustainable Communities (CLG)

Showing what our sponsor is doing to create sustainable communities.

Sustainable Development Commission

Putting sustainable development at the heart of government policy.

The Climate Change Committee

Advising the government on setting carbon budgets.