Building a Future for Wales: A Strategy for Sustainable Housing prepared by the Centre for Research in the Built Environment of the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) and commissioned by WWF Cymru identifies key practices for designers, planners and developers to make energy efficient and low impact houses the norm in Wales.

"Unfortunately most houses in Wales have a negative impact on the environment because of the way they are designed and built. This guide offers key guidelines for ways to make homes more environmentally friendly," said Haf Roberts, Policy Officer for WWF Cymru.

The guide includes good examples of housing developments built to high environmental standards in Wales. One example is the Plas y Môr building at Burry Port which is an innovative care home that has many energy efficient features properly integrated into the design from the start to ensure affordability, which results in cost savings for the home over the long term. Another example is in Butetown, Cardiff where solar thermal panels and flax roof insulation have been used on a new housing estate. This demonstrates what can be achieved by incorporating sustainability principles at a local Government level.

"Housing is a key element towards building a sustainable future, especially in terms of reducing carbon emissions and material waste. We hope this guide will help pave the way for sustainable communities to be built in Wales," said Professor Phillip Jones, Head of the Welsh School of Architecture.