airtightness membrane installation in an attic (purple)

Smart Membranes: How Do They Work?

Posted on October 7, 2026

A newer category of construction membrane is becoming increasingly relevant to retrofit and energy-efficient construction, the smart membrane. Unlike conventional membranes, a smart membrane can change its resistance to water vapour depending on the moisture conditions. Its sd-value changes, allowing the membrane to become more vapour-resistant when conditions are dry and more vapour-open when humidity increases.Traditionally, construction membranes have generally been used for three main purposes. Roofing membranes provide protection from liquid water and weather while, depending on the type, allowing water vapour to escape from the construction. A damp proof...

Why Is There Condensation in My Home? Understanding Moisture, Cold Spots and Thermal Bridges

Posted on October 1, 2026

by Russell Selby

Why is there condensation in the corner of my room?Why does water keep appearing around my windows?And why does mould seem to appear in exactly the same places every winter?You may notice black mould in the corners of rooms, condensation running down your windows, damp patches around window reveals, or moisture appearing on cold walls. It is easy to assume that the problem is simply too much moisture or humidity in the home.But persistent condensation and mould are rarely quite that simple. A room can have perfectly reasonable humidity levels...

What you must know about Retrofit Coordinator and PAS 2035!

Posted on February 9, 2026

by Russell Selby

PAS (Publicly Available Specification) is the UK Government’s initiative, developed by the British Standards Institution, to tackle urgent challenges across many critical sectors, including climate change, digital infrastructure, and innovation. When looking to address the gaps and failures in the UK’s attempts to implement sustainable retrofit over the years, many people would argue that a lack of overall coordination has meant that schemes have failed time and time again. The ever improving retrofit standards and the Retrofit Coordinator role look to close those gaps.As sustainability consultants, we are specifically interested...

From Complexity to Clarity: Our New Approach to Reporting for Your Low Energy Refurb

Posted on September 3, 2025

by Russell Selby

One Year of Resolve Sustainability Consulting: Improving Our Reporting It has been one year since Resolve Sustainability Consulting metamorphosed from an idea into a physical consulting company. Since then, it has grown into a reliable and trustworthy partner for developers and homeowners seeking to make their properties more sustainable.One of the challenges we have faced is how to present information to clients. This can be especially difficult when clients are at different stages of their sustainability journey, with varying levels of understanding, and of course, different degrees of support required. Video...

Kier Starmer talking sustainability (purple)

1 Year of Labour Government: How Sustainability Policy is Shaping Green Housing Reform

Posted on August 4, 2025

by Russell Selby

Labour is now one year into government. We reflect on their bold visions from 3 months into office: tighten energy standards, expanding retrofitting, and rewrite planning rules to put sustainability front and centre.Last year that while the messaging was strong, many specifics were still being shaped behind closed doors. Now, some of those specifics have emerged. A revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was released in December 2024, updated to include a presumption in favour of sustainable and affordable housing development. In which local planning authorities have been empowered to...