The Green Register of Construction Professionals

TGR is pleased to announce the launch of a new series of courses designed to up-date professionals on the recent revisions to the Building Regulations Parts J, F, L and G.

See our events page for forthcoming courses at locations in and around the southeast. Places are being subsidised by SUSCON which means we are able to offer a very low rate of £40 instead of our usual fee of £180 for a one day course (funding subject to eligibilty criteria).

For more information contact mail@greenregister.org.uk

Low Carbon Futures:  Money does grow on trees

23 November 2010, The Watershed, Bristol - One day conference

A one-day conference to inspire and inform architects and construction professionals that green technology, government initiatives and smart sustainable design choices can help drive the new economy and provide marketing edge over others. Chaired by RIBA Chief Executive Harry Rich, featuring international input from the Head of Energy at Freiburg Stadt, the Director of the BRE in Wales/South West and cutting edge case studies, the conference looks to showcase the very best of practice and facilitate a forum for sharing knowledge and techniques that are both thought provoking and applicable.

Full programme and booking form to follow or see RIBA website for further details:

http://www.architecture.com/

Join The Green Register team for an evening talk on SUDS on the 19 July at Bristol's Golden Guinea (see events page for booking).

Cost - £5 or buy one get one free!

We're extremely sorry to say that we have taken the disappointing decision to cancel the two courses we had planned for next week in Glasgow - the Foundation Course and 'Becoming an Eco-Refurbisher'. 

Unfortunately the take up of places on these courses was extremely disappointing (less than five people for each course), and as The Green Register is a not for profit organisation sadly we cannot afford to run courses at a loss.  With such a poor take up of places the course would not have paid for itself, so much as we wanted to be able to run these courses in Glasgow we had no choice but to cancel.

We aim to reschedule for later in 2010 and hopefully with some help in promoting the courses we should be able to run them before the end of the year.  If you would like to be added to a mailing list registering your interest in hearing about new course dates please do contact us.

Lucy is taking part in a panel debate at 12:30-13:30 in the central area of this year's Greenbuild Expo event. The debate team will be looking at the future value of sustainability On the panel is: The Green Register’s Lucy Pedler, RICS’ Barry Hall and BRE’s Tom Saunders.

Each panel member will speak for 5-10 minutes on their topic. This will be followed by an audience Q&A. We hope to see you there! www.greenbuildexpo.co.uk - Sustainable Building Event - Greenbuild Expo

Earthscan is the latest company to offer our members a generous discount on its products. They say -

'Earthscan is the world’s leading publisher on climate change, sustainable development and environmental technology. We are currently offering a 20% discount to Green Register members on all our books'

Members can LOG IN for the offer code and place an order at www.earthscan.co.uk

The Green Register is delighted to announce an additional date for its highly acclaimed sustainable building course - available for FREE through the University of Westminster’s innovative Build Up program.

A further 2-day course on the 17th and 18th of June has just been agreed following the success of the first course which ran in January.

Build Up has seen an upsurge of built environment professionals registering for one of 1,500 free places on offer to help develop their careers against the recession.

Now delegates can sign up for training in sustainable building delivered by industry experts TGR. The course will equip delegates with the skills and knowledge they need to meet the growing demand for green building products and services.

Build Up Programme Director, Laura Harding said:

“The Build Up Programme features a range of collaborative projects involving local authorities and not-for-profit organisations that focus on the development of green skills, dealing with low carbon and sustainable community issues. Our association with The Green Register helps strengthen our focus on adapting building practices and individual projects to become more environmentally sustainable.”

The 2-day course is based on TGR’s Sustainable Building & Services course which is the UK’s longest running green building training course. It will provide an ideal, compact opportunity to learn about the essential issues surrounding sustainable building practices and to network with like-minded individuals across a range of disciplines

Lucy Pedler, TGR’s Director and Head Trainer, said:

“Sustainable construction is no longer viewed as an ‘alternative’ method of building, and is increasingly being considered a fundamental approach to the way we design and construct our buildings. There is a great deal to learn and with new legislation being introduced at an ever-increasing pace, the challenge is to keep abreast of new developments and remain competitive.”

The course is due to take place this June. Full details to follow at www.build-up.org.uk

Completing this course means that delegates will qualify for Green Register membership.

Benefits of Green Register membership include:

·     promotion of your business to a growing market for sustainable building services

·     networking and knowledge-sharing with like-minded individuals

·     regular training and social events

·     bespoke CPD training

·     preferential rates, discounts and special offers

Build Up is aimed at unemployed or under-employed built environment professionals, the program enables eligible participants such as town planners, architects, surveyors, construction professionals, housing professionals, building engineers and urban designers the opportunity to identify and develop skills in key shortage areas, better preparing them to take advantage of the predicted economic upturn.

Build Up offers a range of courses over three strands which concentrate on issues that are sometimes overlooked in traditional educational or professional environments. A key is to promote and develop inter-professional working and new ways of looking at urban issues, with participants being offered courses in networking and career assessment, business skills and community engagement.

The third strand features a range of collaborative projects involving local authorities and not-for-profit organisations that also focus on the development of green skills, dealing with low carbon and sustainable community issues.

http://www.build-up.org.uk/index.php/courses/view/?id=308

This month we've had great coverage in the media on TGR's training course plus our members' exciting green building projects. Denovo Design's Sun Tunnels project in Ashton will be in April's Sustainable FM magazine and if you can't wait until then visit:

http://www.thehouseplanner.co.uk/rooflights.html

Look at for McCaren Design's eco renovation project in the latest Homebuilding and Renovating, and don't forget to stay up-to-date with TGR's work on our blog page: www.greenregister.org.uk/blog

Lucy Pedler, TGR's Director, has predicted 3 key top trends in green building for 2010.

“For 2010 I think the UK’s construction industry professionals will:

1.   Give much more emphasis on the existing building stock.

2.   Builders will have to become much more aware of issues such as airtightness due to new Part L legislation and clients’ desire to reach higher building standards such as passivhaus.

3.   Developers will need to be more savvy about sustainable building practices as clients/occupants demand higher standards.”

Despite the recession TGR thinks that opportunities exist and this positive attitude is reflected by its member  97% of whom have just renewed their annual membership. Lucy said:

“Our members come from all disciplines of the construction industry and from all regions of the UK. We are committed to providing them with up-to-date training on cutting edge issues at an affordable price. We’d like to thank our partners and members for supporting the work of TGR and we’re very glad that members see huge benefits in renewing their valuable TGR membership.”

TGR believes that struggling professionals who have been hit hard by the recession can give their career a boost by training in green building issues. Their next Foundation course is on 25^th February in Leeds, book online at www.greenregister.org

This course starts with an introduction to The Green Register and an overview of current global problems.  Sessions then follow on Relevant Legislation, The External Envelope including Healthy Interiors, Sustainable Water in the UK and Low Carbon Technologies Parts 1 and 2.  

In addition to the main subjects presented - energy, water and waste minimisation - the topic of Contraction and Convergence as an important social issue is also covered.  

Hilary Philips of McCaren Design said:

“McCaren Design are pleased to be members of the Green Register.  Their induction course provided an independent and objective overview of best practice in sustainable design – an invaluable resource in a field where genuine sustainability and ‘greenwash’ are easily confused.  Through the Green Register events we also have an opportunity to share ideas with other practices all working towards the same goal.  The regular Green Register newsletters keep us informed of further training opportunities and important developments in the field.”

For more information on TGR and their training courses and membership please call the team on 01173773490 or mail@greenregister.org.uk

Green Books is a long-established publisher of environmental titles for the general and professional reader.

Their sustainable building list includes The Green Self-Build Book by architect Jon Broome;  Building with Cob and Using Natural Finishes by award-winning cob builders Adam Weismann and Katy Bryce; and Building with Straw Bales: a guide for the UK and Ireland by the UK's premier straw-bale builder Barbara Jones (new edition recently published).

All their books are printed in the UK on recycled paper using vegetable inks.

They also distribute books produced by US publisher Chelsea Green, whose bestselling titles include The Slate Roof Bible by Joseph Jenkins and Wind Energy Basics by Paul Gipe.

Green Books is offering a 20% discount on all their books to Green Register members.

Members should log in to find out how to claim this generous discount and visit www.greenbooks.co.uk to view the full range of titles available