Lambert Home Builds is promoting the use of natural materials to help future-proof homes against rising temperatures and reduce environmental impact.
The company shared its approach on the Novuna Sustainable Business Podcast alongside Eco Renovation Home, a retrofit educator and advocate for sustainable construction.
The two businesses discussed the benefits of sustainable building and the role small companies can play in tackling climate change.
Nikki Lambert, co-founder of Lambert Home Builds, said: “Different people view sustainability differently.
“To us, it’s about taking a considered approach to the environment.
“As a business, we look at what we can do.
“We encourage the use of natural materials, run programmes like car shares amongst our employees and try to be very considerate with our waste and water consumption.
“Our client proposals quite often don’t initially involve natural materials, so we open a conversation about natural materials, not simply because they’re good for the environment, but because they’ve got a lot of other co-benefits.”
Ms Lambert said that more clients are now looking to upgrade their homes for energy security, future-proofing, and resilience as extreme weather becomes more common.
Although demand is growing, she said these practices are ‘not quite’ mainstream yet.
Judith Leary-Joyce, founder of Eco Renovation Home, said: “We retrofitted our Victorian end-of-terrace house and are now saving 75 per cent of our energy usage.
“I’m an eco-warrior, but it’s not about being an eco-radical now.
“With climate change affecting our everyday lives, it’s just common sense to protect the planet and use energy wisely, whether you’re a business or a consumer.”
She highlighted the value of natural insulation materials in keeping homes cooler for longer periods compared to synthetic options.
Both Ms Lambert and Ms Leary-Joyce agreed that education is essential and called for the next generation of builders to be trained in sustainable construction methods rather than outdated techniques.
Their conversation forms part of a new report from Novuna Business Finance, which gathers insights from the latest series of its podcast.
The report shows that sustainability remains a core focus for many small companies, even as some larger organisations reduce their net zero commitments.
Research by Novuna found that 31 per cent of small businesses consider sustainability central to their culture and planning, while 38 per cent are taking practical steps to improve their environmental impact this year.
Jo Morris, head of insight at Novuna Business Finance, said: “What is interesting about the conversations across the latest series of Novuna Sustainable Business Podcast is the different definitions of sustainability across different businesses, and the unique ways this idea is implemented in their work.”
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