The Green Register of Construction Professionals

We are delighted that yet another Green Register member has won an award for their work!

At this year’s prestigious ‘Building Better Healthcare Awards’, Green Register Architect Caroline Martin of Househam Henderson beat stiff competition to win the coveted award for Best Sustainable Building. Winthrop Hall is a new residential drugs and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Staplehurst, Kent, built for pioneering company Success In Recovery.

In its 10th year, the awards celebrate people, products and projects that have excelled in improving the Healthcare environment.

Commenting on the award, Winthrop’s Chief Executive Lesley Reardon said: ’Our brief to Househam Henderson was to create a state of the art building that would be as sustainable and healthy as we could make it. We wanted a building that would work with us, in this challenging sector of drugs and alcohol addiction, and one that reflected our holistic approach to recovery. It is therefore particularly satisfying to win this award’.

Having looked at whether the existing building was suitable, it was decided that a more energy efficient, new build approach would be taken. Existing materials from site were recycled or used as infill, and local materials and suppliers were specified where possible. Earthworks were minimised and cut materials were retained on site. Existing trees and biodiversity were protected.

Efficient under floor heating is used with a ground source heat pump, which can be reversed to cooling mode in summer. Timber windows incorporating thermal glass, external louvres, and high and low level openings aid natural air flow and reduce heat gain. Roof mounted ‘windcatchers’ provide controllable natural ventilation to higher occupancy areas.  Water and energy consumption are minimised by the use of low energy lamps, automatic daylight dimming and PIR’s, rainwater recycling for WC flushing, low capacity cisterns and aerated taps. Also incorporated into the design were sustainable urban drainage, sedum roofs to some areas and timber frame construction. Planning conditions required the building to meet BREEAM’s ‘Very Good’ standard.

John Mullan, Househam Henderson’s MD said: ’Good projects need an inspirational client, a committed, talented design team, and a shared concern for the environment. We’ve been fortunate with this project to have all these ingredients, and are delighted to receive this award.’

Come and join us for an evening of interesting discussion, delicious food and good cheer to blow away those economic blues!

This year's End of Year parties will be taking place in London and Bristol on the following dates:

9 December at Bristol’s Tobacco Factory

11 December at Living Space, 1 Coral Street, London SE1

We hope you can join us for wine, nibbles and the opportunity to share experiences and ideas with our fascinating speakers. Ticket numbers are limited, so please do book early to avoid disappointment. The event is open to both members and non-members alike

Cost: £12 for Green Register members, £15 for non-members.

Please see the Events page for further details or to book a place, please call Sarah or Sally on 0117 377 3490 or email mail@greenregister.org.uk

We recently held this one day conference here in Bristol, in conjunction with RIBA South West and WESCON, exploring the way we have historically used land in the UK and, if we are to live sustainably in the 21st century and beyond, how we need to radically change the way we manage our land as a valuable resource.

Please click HERE to visit the RIBA website, where four of the five main presentations are available to download.

The full carbon impact of the event was compensated by contributing to The Converging World

Many thanks indeed to all those who attended and contributed to making this such an interesting and successful day of debate and discussion.

Congratulations to our Liverpool-based Green Register members, Denovo Deisgn, who have been presented with a Silver International Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practise and Sustainable Development at a ceremony held at the House of Commons on Monday, November 10th.

They say –

"We are delighted to have secured a further award for our project in Halifax Road, Rochdale - Siver International Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice and Sustainable Development 2008. The trophy, the second to be awarded to the scheme this year, was presented to David Duvall, Director Denovo Design, at the House of Commons on 10 November 2008. The project, which has also secured a 'Very Good' EcoHomes Rating, Secured by Design Accreditation and the Lifetime Homes Standard, incorporates many eco-friendly technologies and commodities, which will be instrumental in reducing residents' heating/energy and water bills.

'Halifax Road' is the fourth housing development, designed by Denovo Design, that has achieved a Green Apple Award in the last three years and celebrates the Practice's commitment to environmentally conscious design, which began in 1998 with the first 'green' housing development on Merseyside, and which continues currently with a further eco-regeneration project in Ashton-under-Lyne, incorporating the same technologies and products."

See www.denovodesign.ltd.uk for more information about the company.

Bristol City Council are running a practical DIY Green Roof Day at the CREATE Centre on Sunday 12 October. The workshop is being run by two green roof experts and only 25 places are available so booking is essential; the council is asking that people register their interest before Friday 19 September.

The course costs are below, food and refreshments are included and you'll get to make and take home a section of green roof and a digital DIY Green Roof Guide!

Prices are:
Standard rate £80
Low waged rate £45
Concession/benefits rate £30

For further details or to book a place, contact Rowan Matthiessen by email: rowan.matthiessen@bristol.gov.uk or telephone 0117 9224459, Tues-Fri 10am-5pm

Our friends at the Good Homes Alliance have told us about a couple of site visits they have organised to sustainable homes which are either under construction or recently completed.  The two visits are both taking place in the South West and will focus on the systems and contracting aspects required to deliver sustainable homes.

The first takes place on Tuesday 16 September and visits Restormel Urban Village Phase II in St Austell, from 1pm until 5pm.  The second event takes place on Thursday 18 September from 1pm until 5.30pm, and offers the opportunity to visit both The Old Apple Store in Stawell and Great Bow Yard in Langport.

If you would like further details about either of these visits or to book a place, please contact Lilja at the Good Homes Alliance by email: info@goodhomes.org.uk

The visits are free for GHA members or £50 plus VAT for non-members.

RIBA Bookshops are generously offering a 10% discount to our members on their current Sustainable Code Booklist!

Members should log in for further details, or email sally@greenregister.org.uk

We are pleased to announce an exciting one day conference here in Bristol on November 11th.

Please click the links below for full info, programme and booking form -

Booking Form and Info

Programme

We are delighted to announce that Green Woods Furniture are now offering discounts to Green Register members!

If you are a member, please log in to the members area to find out how to claim your discount.

Elsevier are delighted to offer a 10% discount (and free postage) on all of their green building books to members of The Green Register

Simply Log In to the members area for full details of this offer!