Master the strategies to prove the financial and environmental ROI of green building to clients, confidently securing buy-in for your sustainable design initiatives.
Sustainability is now a baseline expectation in architectural practice, yet it is still too often framed in narrow terms of compliance, ratings, or technical performance. When reduced to a checklist, its broader value can be overlooked — particularly its contribution to design quality, occupant comfort, resilience, and long-term client outcomes.
This session reframes sustainability as a core driver of architectural value rather than a regulatory requirement. It explores how low-energy design, Passivhaus principles, and natural materials translate into tangible benefits for users and clients, and equips architects with practical ways to communicate and defend these outcomes through clear, credible, and design-led narratives.
Key Topics Discussed:
Director at Paper Igloo Architecture + Design
Mhairi is an expert in designing energy-efficient homes that are as comfortable as they are sustainable. A certified Passivhaus designer with PHPP Expert qualification, a RIAS Sustainability Accredited Architect, a Living Futures accredited professional, and a Section 6: Energy Assessor for domestic projects, she brings a deep understanding of how to create homes that reduce energy use and maximise comfort. Whether you’re planning to build a low-energy home or need guidance on energy assessments, Mhairi’s expertise covers everything from hygrothermal analysis to the latest sustainability practices. Beyond her design work, she serves as the RIAS Stirling Chapter vice president and is an active member of the RIAS Sustainability Working Group, helping to shape the future of energy-efficient architecture.
