Upcoming Events:

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Sustainable Building & Services Masterclasses - 1-day course

22/05/2013 • 09:00

Bite size session: Part L - New Dwellings

05/06/2013 • 17:00

Eco-refurbishment and The Green Deal

06/06/2013 • 09:00

Latest News:

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London calling! The Green Register are first to bring WUFI® Pro training to the capital.

Posted by: Sally on: 13/05/2013

Lucy Pedler's Ecohome featured in the Times

Posted by: Sally on: 04/04/2013

ASBP Event - special offer for Green Register Members

Posted by: Birgit on: 21/03/2013

The Blog

For and by sustainable construction professionals

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About The Green Register

History

The Green Register is an independent, self-funded and not-for-profit organisation whose principal goal is to promote sustainable building practices across all disciplines of the construction industry.

Launched in October 2000, The Green Register was initiated by Lucy Pedler’s architectural practice archipeleco, who wanted to create a network of like-minded construction professionals across the borough of Southwark, London. The Register was given start-up funding and support by Southwark Building Control and Sustainable Energy Action, and very rapidly expanded from a local list of architects and engineers to a nationwide network of construction professionals, tradespeople and supporting Local Authorities.

In October 2005 The Green Register became entirely self-supporting when the office moved from London to Bristol, and membership continues to grow. Lucy Pedler is Director of The Green Register; Birgit Nicklitzsch, Manager, runs The Green Register office and we are guided by our members through our steering group and Regional Coordinators.

The Green Register runs the two-day introductory ‘Sustainable Building and Services’ course at locations throughout the UK – this was the first course of its kind to launch in the UK. TGR also organises a wide range of seminars and training events and in-house CPD sessions on a variety of cutting-edge sustainable construction topics.

The Green Register can provide in-house CPD (Continuing Professional Development) sessions for a wide variety of small and large organisations, ranging from general overviews of sustainable construction topics through to specifically tailored sessions. Organisations we have provided CPD sessions to include entire RIBA regions, PRP Architects and a series of fourteen bespoke sessions for Stride Treglown offices around the country.

Core Activities

Our aims are achieved through our three core activities:

  • Training – raising awareness of the issues surrounding sustainable building practices by running training and events across the UK. These events range from half day practical workshops through to the full two-day Sustainable Building & Services training course. The Green Register also runs in-house CPD sessions for construction professionals on a wide range of topics.
  • The Register – all our members have attended at least two days of Green Register training and, once registered, are placed on the web-based register of members. This list is available to potential clients who are looking for professionals with a demonstrated commitment to sustainable building practices.
  • Networking – it is important to exchange ideas, provide mutual support and make professional connections with other disciplines – our events provide an ideal opportunity to meet other like-minded individuals and network, share ideas and information.

What is Sustainable or Green Building?
Building to green or sustainable principles is an holistic approach that addresses social, environmental and economic issues. It is not a style or fashion but an enduring set of principles that looks at all aspects of construction from site preparation through to reuse, recycling and reclamation. Sustainable building considers how the construction will affect the wellbeing of people and natural ecosystems.

Mission Statement

We will adhere to the following principles in all our activities:

  • We will aim to be an ethical business in all respects. This includes:
    • Treating people with respect
    • Using public transport wherever possible
    • Using environmentally responsible suppliers
    • Choosing working partners who share our principles
    • Supporting like-minded charities and organisations when funds allow
  • We will organise regular educational and social events throughout the UK for our members and others, providing clear, impartial information on cutting edge issues.
  • We will ensure that all our members achieve a minimum standard by attending at least two days of Green Register training.
  • We will promote ourselves, our members and the principles of sustainable construction in everything we do.
  • We will be guided by our members through the steering group.

Steering Group

In 2004 the Green Register Steering Group was formed so that members could contribute to the ongoing activities of the organisation. This group is made up of Green Register staff members, some of our trainers, members who expressed an interest in being involved and representatives from our supporting Local Authorities.

The Steering Group is an invaluable resource for those of us that run The Green Register on a day-to-day basis. The group meets once a quarter; we advise the group on the activities of The Green Register, seek their input and advice on decisions we make and generally benefit from their guidance.

If you are a Green Register member and are interested in joining the Steering Group, please note that we meet 3-4 times per year and so you would be asked to donate your time once a quarter (meetings usually run from 1.30pm to 5.30pm and are held in London). Please contact us to find out if there are vacancies.

The Green Register Training Team

Photo of Lucy Pedler

Lucy Pedler

Lucy Pedler is an architect with 24 years of professional experience in the UK and USA and has particular expertise in the sustainable issues relevant to architecture.

Lucy worked as a Product Specialist at Construction Resources, the UK’s first Ecological Building Centre, for five years. She spent the first two years researching the environmental impact of ecologically sound building materials and systems and the subsequent three years advising architects, other professionals and visitors on the appropriate selection of building materials. She was also responsible for running the seminar programme at Construction Resources and still makes regular presentations to architects and other organisations as part of The Green Register team.

In 1999, Lucy started her own sustainable architecture practice, archipeleco, designing buildings that have a low impact on the environment. In addition to sustainable design, the practice also acts as consultants to architectural practices and other organisations. Consultancy work includes creating information for website content, information leaflets and advising on sustainable building issues. In 2005, Lucy’s husband Paul McWilliams joined the company as co-director.

Lucy created The Green Register in 2000 as part of her lifelong commitment to the promotion of sustainable building.

Photo of Brian Murphy

Brian Murphy

Anyone who is an architect by training and specification consultant by choice has got to be a boring old fart, but Brian Murphy’s last 30+ years in the industry have been challenging and gratifying; greening up his act since 1999 these have been the most enjoyable. In 27 years of consultancy he specified large and small projects with a cumulative value of over £2400m. He founded National Green Specification (NGS) GreenSpec® in 2001 to try to right the wrongs of many fellow architects and to challenge the establishment that maintains status quo.

Brian’s highlights are working with students and practicing architects to enable them to achieve the ideas in their heads; bringing extensive materials, construction know-how and an environmental focus to the drawing board and with driving enthusiasm for competency in exhilarating solutions.

The boring old fart comes out from time to time when Brian reverts to Specification writing to the last dot and crossed tee in 400 page competent, robust, he would argue exquisite, specifications that are not rushed over the weekend; or when he gets pleasure from power over numbers in Excel spreadsheets including WasteCost® lite Calculator & GreenSpec Studio.

Brian has an appetite for recording what he has learned so he does not have to remember it (there is only so much he can keep in all at the same time), so is passing on this knowledge of environmentally sound design and construction through the www.GreenSpec.co.uk website and has developed specifications for: products & materials; waste minimisation/management of materials/packaging; reclaim for reuse/recycling, and over 800 PowerPoint files on Environmentally Sustainable Construction, Specification and Professional Practice CPD seminars, all of which can be downloaded at www.scribd.com/BrianSpecMan

Brian is the East of England Regional Coordinator for The Green Register and also sits on The Green Register’s steering group.

Photo of Cath Hassell

Cath Hassell

Cath Hassell is an expert in sustainable water strategies and low and zero carbon technologies formed from a background of 17 years experience in the conventional plumbing industry and 14 years in environmental building. From 1998 – 2004 she worked at Construction Resources, designing and implementing rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling and solar technologies for domestic, commercial and industrial sites. She was a founder member of the UKRHA, was a director of the AECB (the Sustainable Building Association) for 7 years and has been a core presenter for the Green Register since its inception in 2000.

She set up ech2o consultants ltd (www.ech2o.co.uk) in 2004. The company works with local authorities, water companies, developers, housing associations, schools, architects and engineers, at both a strategic and individual site level, to successfully incorporate sustainable water and low carbon solutions into the built environment.

Photo of Robert Borruso

Robert Borruso

Robert Borruso has studied to degree level both mechanical engineering and environmental science and has 10 years experience in both fields. This combination gives him an exceptional understanding of the issues associated with moving sustainable energy systems from the fringes to the mainstream of the construction industry, with a focus very much on delivering pragmatic and workable solutions.

Robert is currently working as an independent energy consultant with a client base ranging from small community groups to housing associations. He also has extensive experience in troubleshooting existing underperforming, renewable energy installations. He also occasionally writes on environmental issues in his own, often controversial, style.

Robert’s previous professional experience includes four years as a Product Specialist at Construction Resources Environmental Building Centre and as a Renewable Energy advisor at Sustainable Energy Action, both in London. He now lives in Scotland and is involved in a much more hands on approach with renewables.

Photo of Jean-Pierre Wack

Jean-Pierre Wack

Jean-Pierre Wack is Managing Director of Eight Associates, a licensed EcoHomes and Code for Sustainable Homes assessor and is responsible for taking schemes from planning through to certification. He also provides energy modelling and renewable energy design advice.

Photo of Mark Saich

Mark Saich

Mark Saich is a sustainability consultant and trainer. He regularly speaks at RICS, RIBA and Green Register events on a range of issues including Part L and sustainable construction. In 2006 he was part of the team training building control professionals the then new part L on behalf of the DCLG.

Mark’s background is in local authority and private sector building control and environmental health (private sector housing). Having gained BSc Hons in Environmental Science and Post Grad Diploma in Architecture (Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies) he set up and continues to run his own consultancy practice (www.greenbuildingsolutions.co.uk) providing technical support on low energy and low impact projects.