Scottish Ecological Design Association

Why is the sale of peat still a thing? It's pretty much the stupidest thing you can do in a climate crisis, second only to the sale of fossil fuels.

Star Trek is a positive post consumerism, post capitalism vision of the future where materials can be replicated from energy that comes from clean sources. Although, we do prefer to watch Blade Runner all the same.

‘I have watched politicians failing yet and yet again’: lessons from a life as an environment writer Paul Brown looks back at his career reporting on the climate crisis, failed summit and nuclear power – and how to do it well

The latest nuclear renaissance is a very sinister development says ex Guardian environment writer Paul Brown. Starmer’s government has gone gung-ho on nuclear—to the utter dismay of many environmentalists, forcing the public to watch as billions of pounds of our money is poured down the drain.

Drifting North I interviewed Dominic Hinde, author of Drifting North, finding a sustainable future in Scotland’s past (Manchester University Press, 2025). It’s an unusually readable book you’ve …

“It’s about energy and time and capital and how these forces come into our lives and how we work through them.”

@dominicmhinde.bsky.social was interviewed about his new book Drifting North: Finding A Sustainable Future in Scotland's Past, by @bellacaledonia.bsky.social

Looking for an interesting read? Check out this article by Colin Porteous reflecting on COP26. ♻️

🔗 - seda.scot/cop26

#seda #cop26

Growing our homes - ♻️ upscaling biobased materials in construction webinar!

Link - 🔗 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/growing-ou... 🔗

Please reserve your spot in the webinar in the link above!

#SEDA

Inside the tiny stone house just shortlisted for House of the Year The first two homes on this year’s RIBA House of the Year shortlist have been revealed on Grand Designs

Caochan na Creige, a self-build project on the Isle of Harris designed by Izat Arundell, has been shortlisted for RIBA’s House of the Year 2025. Jury chair David Kohn said “It isn’t a building about itself. It's a building about a way of making homes, about the island, and about craft traditions.”

It's time for our annual Show and Tell event for members!
Location, Date & Time is shown on graphic, as well as on the eventbrite page linked below!

Please reserve your tickets on the eventbrite website. - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/seda-show-...

We look forward to seeing you there!

But, how will people greenwash their buildings by adding timber finishes and panelling to magically sequester their 'eco' steel, concrete and plastic creations? They've really not thought this through.

For mass timber to be useful it must be used in appropriate projects and treated as the precious resource it is, not in single family dwellings for aesthetics. More buildings in timber, not more timber in buildings.

The media is so full of divisive issues separating us, the truth is. We're all going to need each other.

Great to see PH solutions that aren't plastic and concrete!

‘A Win for People-Led Rewilding’ – New Hutting Law in Scotland to Unlock Public Land to Connect People and Nature The change to the law will make it easier for people across Scotland to access public land for low-impact, sustainable hutting in future.

Scotland’s new hutting law making it easier for people to access public land for low-impact, sustainable hutting has been described as "a win for people-led rewilding". Article by @goodmenproject.bsky.social

"My mum rang me to tell me there was water coming into the house. She sounded fine... . But when I rang her back later, the telephone was dead. When we eventually got into the house the next day, I found the phone downstairs near her body."
The tragic reality of a changing climate.

Balancing Liveability and Climate Goals: Edinburgh’s Path to Sustainable Building Discover how Edinburgh balances its rich heritage with sustainable architecture amid climate challenges.

Edinburgh’s balancing act between decarbonisation and the preservation of cultural identity. City-wide strategies from retrofitting and adaptive reuse to promoting circular design are bringing long-term benefits.

Article by Ananya Nayak in @archdaily.bsky.social

‘A win for people-led rewilding’ – new hutting law in Scotland to unlock public land to connect people and nature - Inside Ecology Last night (4 November) MSPs in the Scottish Parliament voted to create a new hutting law compelling the Scottish Government to publish a model lease for hutting on public land. The change to the law ...

A win for people-led rewilding, as MSPs vote to create a new hutting law. The amendment to the Land Reform (Scotland) bill was introduced by @scottishgreens.org MSP @ariane-burgess.bsky.social.

Deep retrofit of SNRC shortlisted for GIA sustainability accolade | Project Scotland Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre THE deep retrofit of Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre has been shortlisted for The Glasgow Institute of Architects (G ...

Deep retrofit of Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre has been shortlisted for the Glasgow Institute of Architects' sustainability award.

The project, led by @be-stbuild.bsky.social with ScotGov support, was developed by John Gilbert Architects, Brown+Wallace, Luths Services, and Narro Associates

The carbon footprint of construction will double by 2050 and blow the carbon budget. A new study advocates for a material revolution, but we are held back by structural inertia.

We need a materials revolution in the construction sector—embracing circularity, innovation and cooperation—otherwise its carbon footprint is going to double by 2050, breaching climate goals and endangering our planetary future, say the authors of new Nature paper. @lloydalter.bsky.social

Scotland's construction and built environment professionals are being urged to make the most of two new facilities — the Mass Timber Centre of Excellence and Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre — at @be-stbuild.bsky.social's innovation campus in Hamilton.

projectscot.com/2025/10/new-...

Climate Change - finding a sustainable future in Scotland's past | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about Climate Change - finding a sustainable future in Scotland's past today.

Can the lessons of the past help Scotland build a more sustainable future? Dominic Hinde is launching his book, Drifting North: Finding a Sustainable Future in Scotland's Past, on Monday 3rd November at @waterstones.bsky.social, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow.

Photo of the cover of “wild cities: discovering new ways of living in the modern urban jungle“ by Chris Fitch

Cover of “shade: the promise of a forgotten natural resource” by Sam Bloch

#UrbanismBookClub: Some great books on key, underconsidered elements of better city-making have been coming out lately — thanks to @chrisfitchchris.bsky.social, author of “Wild Cities,” and @samkbloch.bsky.social, author of “Shade,” for sending me copies. Digging into both. Anyone finished them yet?

At the SEDA Green Careers Fair held in Glasgow University Union, the exhibition halls were packed with exhibitors from across Scotland promoting real green jobs — ranging from green health to environmental law, and from forestry to regenerative farming.

It was a busy day. We welcomed over 600 students from the universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Napier, Heriot-Watt, and Strathclyde to the Green Careers, who enjoyed a wide range of activities including a workshop exposing greenwash.

Liz Barron-Majerik, Scotland director of Lantra, welcoming students to the SEDA Green Careers Fair at Glasgow University Union on 24 September 2025.

No greenwashing please, we're SEDA! In one of the two exhibition halls at the Green Careers Fair, Liz Barron-Majerik, director of @lantrascotland.bsky.social played a pivotal role, guiding students towards truly sustainable, land-based jobs.

Group of 10 SEDA and Glasgow University volunteers wearing the newly designed SEDA T-shirts at SEDA Green Careers Fair on Wednesday 24 September 2026. The event was held in the Glasgow University Union from 10am to 4pm.

Thanks very much to the impressive team of volunteers who guided over 600 students around the SEDA Green Careers Fair at @uofglasgow.bsky.social ensuring it was such as success.

Join us this Sunday 5th Oct for a visit to Sustainable Thinking Scotland's Walled Garden in Bo'ness.
seda.scot/seda-confere...

As part of this years conference, you will have the chance to buy signed copies of some of our guests' books! Please bring your pennies, as its cash purchases only!

📌 Edinburgh & ONLINE
📆 Fri 3 - Sun 5 Oct
🎟 seda.scot/seda-conference-2025

Kathy Li is a founding member of Missing in Architecture, a collaborative compromising of architects and educators at Glasgow's Mackintosh School of Architecture.

Find out more and book tickets here:
seda.scot/seda-confere...

Join our Team!

Email info@seda.scot to find out more.

SEDA Conference: Sufficiency, Edinburgh – Other Arts & Culture Discover more details about SEDA Conference: Sufficiency in Edinburgh including contact details, dates and times as well as ticket information.

“Sufficiency isn’t about austerity, deprivation, or resignation. Sufficiency is about knowing what is enough.”

Further information about the SEDA annual conference, 3-5 October 2025; Augustine United Church, 41-43 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL

@visit-scotland.bsky.social