Dr Neil Cutland
Neil Cutland is an independent consultant specialising in sustainability and energy efficiency in the built environment.
Between 2022 and 2026 Neil was the Special Projects Director at Sava, responsible for developing the company’s energy consultancy business. The services ranged from energy data analytics, zero carbon strategies and policy formulation to technical research & report writing, training, management consultancy and business development.
Neil previously ran his own company Cutland Consulting Ltd for 12 years, maintaining a reputation with his client base for getting things done. The focus was on strategic support for energy efficiency and sustainability, and Cutland Consulting’s key clients included the energy regulator Ofgem, NHBC, Central Bedfordshire Council, Knauf Insulation, Carbon Limiting Technologies, DESNZ, MHCLG and others.
From 2007 to 2010 Neil was a founding Director of sustainable built environment consultancy Inbuilt, where he led the technical and strategic consultancy offerings associated with low- and zero- energy buildings. As such, he spent much of his time engaged with the issues surrounding the UK government’s erstwhile 2016 zero-carbon housing agenda and the Code for Sustainable Homes. Neil played a pivotal part in growing Inbuilt from a standing start to a substantial six-figure turnover organisation employing 35 people within a year, then doubling its turnover during 2009 despite the company’s key markets being in the grip of worldwide recession.
Neil was previously Director of BRE’s Low Carbon Housing Futures Centre. During this time he successfully bid for, and then managed, EST’s Housing Best Practice programme. He also had overall responsibility for the design and delivery of the energy part of BRE’s Home Inspector/DEA training courses, secured technical consultancy business in both the private and public sectors, and led the delivery teams.
Prior to that, Neil was UK Business Development Manager of the M&T company TEAM Energy, and a Director of National Energy Services/NHER where he had technical and financial responsibility for the company's software and consultancy offerings.
Neil’s first job in energy efficiency was in Milton Keynes Development Corporation’s energy group, which evolved into the charitable National Energy Foundation. He was responsible for the energy objectives and performance monitoring of the Milton Keynes Energy Park, a pioneering large scale low-energy housing/commercial development. The role included extensive liaison with developers to help them implement the demanding energy standards and fulfil the technical objectives.
Neil is one of the authors of the BREDEM-8 and BREDEM-12 models, and has contributed extensively to the development of the SAP since its inception. He has good relationships with journalists, who regularly contact him for comment on current issues, and due to his industry reputation he is often invited to give presentations to large audiences. He has sat on various task groups and advisory boards, notably the zero carbon task groups established by the Zero Carbon Hub and the UK Green Building Council, the Government’s BRAC energy working group, the SAP Scientific Integrity Group (SAPSIG) and Ofgem’s Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) for ECO innovation.
Neil also sat on Ofgem’s Energy Efficiency and Social Programmes Board, the Board of the Passivhaus Trust and the regional committee of the Institute of Directors. Following his Doctoral research into industrial heat recovery, Neil qualified as a Chartered IT Practitioner, and is currently a Member of the Institute of Physics. He was a school governor for many years. He also skis, plays the guitar and drives classic sports cars, with more enthusiasm than skill in all cases.