Sustainable Structural Engineering was born in 2025 from a vision to create healthy, sustainable homes that leave a positive mark on the planet. I am James Powers, a Chartered Structural Engineer with over 25 years of global experience, and this story begins with a return to Nottingham—a city I proudly call home after years abroad. Inspired by my work in New Zealand, where I ran Oculus, a firm dedicated to designing comfortable, eco-friendly buildings, I launched Sustainable Structural Engineering to bring those lessons to the East Midlands.

A defining moment came as project director of Australasia’s first Passive House multi-storey social housing. Witnessing the transformative health benefits for residents—better air quality, warmer homes—showed me the power of sustainable design to change lives. That experience drives my mission: to deliver carbon-neutral structural solutions that are cost-effective, buildable, and beautiful. Whether it’s a low-carbon extension, a structural survey, or a damp assessment, I use tools like WUFI and BIM to solve problems with pragmatism and transparency.

In Nottingham, I saw an opportunity to address local challenges while advancing the UK’s Net Zero 2050 goals. My unique approach puts skin in the game: I offset the embodied carbon of every design at our cost through Carbon Neutral Britain, ensuring sustainability isn’t a burden on clients. I partner with local suppliers to maximize recycled materials, reducing carbon footprints while keeping costs down. My clients—homeowners and architects—are at the heart of every project, empowered with clear, non-technical options to make informed decisions.

Looking ahead, I envision Sustainable Structural Engineering leading the East Midlands in designing buildings that sequester carbon, balancing both embodied and operational emissions. In 5 to 10 years, I aim to expand services, including energy modelling, to create homes that actively remove CO2 from the environment. Our story is one of innovation, community, and responsibility—building a greener future, one Nottingham home at a time.

Join me on this journey. Schedule a Meeting to start your sustainable project today!