About Us
History
Back to topThe Green Register was launched in October 2000. It was initiated by 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 steadily. Lucy Pedler is Director of The Green Register; Sarah Derryman, Manager, runs The Green Register office and Sally Collister is our Membership Co-ordinator.
The Green Register now holds the two-day introductory 'Sustainable Building and Services' course approximately 8 times a year at locations throughout the UK. We also run seminars, workshops, in-house CPD sessions and events on a variety of sustainable construction topics.
The Green Register can provide in-house CPD (Continuing Professional Development) sessions for a wide variety of both 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 the entire RIBA North region, PRP Architects and a series of fourteen bespoke sessions for various Stride Treglown offices around the country.
Core Activities
Back to topOur aims are achieved through our three core activities:
- 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 training course that is a pre-requisite for becoming a member. The Green Register also runs in-house CPD seminars for construction professionals on a wide range of topics.
- The Register - all our members have been on our two-day training course 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.
Mission Statement
Back to topThe Green Register is an independent, self-funded organisation whose principal goal is to promote sustainable building practices across all disciplines of the construction industry. 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 the two-day Sustainable Building and Services course.
- We will promote ourselves, our members and the principles of sustainable construction in everything we do
Trainers
Back to topThe Green Register is fortunate to have a core of expert trainers who present our two-day Sustainable Building and Services course throughout the UK. These are all industry professionals and consultants in their own right with many years of sustainable construction experience between them and who have been a part of The Green Register since its inception. Below the trainers tell you a little about themselves in their own words…
Robert Borruso
Robert 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 fridges to the mainstream of the construction industry, with a focus very much on delivering pragmatic and workable solutions. Robert works 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.
Elliot Carter
Elliot gained a Masters in Environmental Management with Distinction from Nottingham University. He has since provided environmental consultancy for a wide range of construction projects around the country, with various roles focussing on ecological protection, low impact material specification, low energy strategies and sustainable planning policy.
He is a lecturer and steering group member for The Green Register, and is also a member of the Construction Industry Council's (CIC) Sustainable Development Committee. In March 2005, Elliot was awarded the Happold Trust Scholarship for professional research within the field of Sustainable Construction.
He presently leads a team of registered EcoHomes and BREEAM assessors under the banner of PDM Consultants Environment, providing advice on all aspects of sustainability throughout the construction process and has personally carried out over 50 BREEAM/EcoHomes assessments.
Cath Hassell
Cath is an expert in sustainable water strategies and integrated water management formed from a background of 14 years experience in the conventional plumbing industry and 10 years in environmental building. From 1998 - 2004 she worked at Construction Resources, designing and implementing rainwater harvesting and water efficient systems for domestic, commercial and industrial sites, and was a founder member of the UKRHA. She set up ech2o in 2004 and works with councils, developers, housing associations, architects and engineers, at both a strategic and individual site level, to successfully incorporate sustainable water systems into the built environment.
Brian Murphy BSc Dip Arch (Hons + Dist)
Anyone who is an architect by training and specification consultant by choice has got to be a boring old fart, but Brian'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 24 years of consultancy he specified large and small projects with a cumulative value of over £2200m. 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.
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 520 PowerPoint files on Environmentally Sustainable Construction, Specification and Professional Practice CPD seminars, all of which will find their way on to the site to download.
Brian was also on the AECB committee, remains a member and is working on the AECB CarbonLite Programme, and has fingers in many others' project pies.
Lucy Pedler, BA Arch, Dip Arch, ARB
Lucy is an architect with 23 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 and other professionals 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.
Steering Group
Back to topIn 2004 a 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, various members who expressed an interest in being involved and representatives from some of our Local Authority members.
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 help in guiding The Green Register forward.
If you are a Green Register member who is 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 4.30pm to 7pm and are held in London). Please contact us to find out if there are vacancies.
