Background
Founded by three experienced building
professionals, Bill Butcher, Chris Herring and Steve Slator, the company (then trading as Environmental Construction Products Ltd) grew out of their frustration with the poor availability of
ecological building products.
Having experienced health problems
after working with treated timber, Chris and Steve undertook extensive
research into the health and environmental implications of conventional
timber preservatives. Their concerns led to the development of Green
Building Store’s own range of windows and doors – the Ecoplus system -
which pioneered the use of safer boron-based timber preservatives in
window manufacture in the UK.
As well as health-related
concerns, thermal efficiency was also a major priority from the start.
High performance low emissivity glazing with argon fill was
incorporated in the Ecoplus range, offering outstanding U values
far in advance of the Building Regulations of the time.
Before forming Green Building Store - and its construction division Green Building Company
- Bill Butcher and Steve Slator had also undertaken the design and build
of the ‘Longwood low energy house’ in Huddersfield, which has been
described as "one of the most energy efficient houses to have been
built in the UK"1. It remains an exemplar for low carbon construction
even now, and corresponds to the AECB CarbonLite Silver standard. Green
Building Company continues to be involved in energy-efficient building
projects throughout Yorkshire and the north-west and is currently
involved in the construction of the Denby Dale Passivhaus, pioneering this
standard in the British vernacular style.
Ecoplus windows
Initially
hand-finished in friends’ garages, with a garden shed for an office,
Ecoplus system windows and doors soon took off, with turnover tripling
within a few years of trading. Ecoplus is now made at Green
Building Store workshops in a converted mill complex in the hills above
Huddersfield. Ecoplus has been continually evolving and improving
throughout its product development and tries to systematically address
the environmental issues relating to window manufacture. In 2005, Green
Building Store managed to source a supplier of suitable FSC laminated
timber and Ecoplus became the first UK manufactured window made with 100%
FSC Pure timber. U-values for Ecoplus have also steadily reduced as
different glazing systems and frame design options have been explored.
The Ecoplus range now offers argon triple glazing, with whole window U value of 1.0 W/m2K and as low as 0.8 W/m2K for krypton trople glazing. It also offers an A
energy rated window through the BFRC scheme. In June 2008 Green
Building Store won a BCE Environmental Leadership Award in recognition
of its pioneering role in developing the Ecoplus system.
Online and mail order store
In
2001 Green Building Store launched an online and mail order service for
both private and commercial customers and expanded its range of
sustainable building products to include everything from sheep’s wool
insulation to natural paints. Green Building Store has developed a
particular specialism in water-saving sanitaryware and is primary UK
distributor of the revolutionary Airflush urinal system and ES4 siphon
flush WC, which offer robust long-term water savings and high
environmental performance. Experienced plumber & trainer Nell Griffiths was
headhunted to head up the sanitaryware department as Water Efficiency
Manager, offering comprehensive technical support to specifiers and
contractors.
Other window ranges
In addition to its own
Ecoplus window range, Green Building Store has been developing a
portfolio of sustainable timber windows designed to suit all
environmental criteria and budgets. Its Ecocontract range of FSC timber
windows was introduced to offer a cost-effective and sustainable option
for larger scale projects. It is particularly suitable for housing
associations and developers trying to meet stringent sustainability
criteria such as CSH/ BREEAM. The Ecoclad range of FSC timber and
aluminium composite windows was introduced to provide an
environmentally responsible solution to low maintenance window
specification.
The three window ranges – Ecoplus, Ecoclad and
Ecocontract – all use FSC certified timber and have ultra-low U values
as standard. However, with the additional eco-options, there is now a
wider range of choices: Timber options including Redwood and Oak; Whole window U-values ranging from 1.4 to 0.8 W/m2K; imported
or UK manufactured options; boron or Remmers timber treatments; as well
as a wide range of glazing, style and opening options. As Chris
Herring, Green Building Store Director puts it, “Green Building
Store specialises in and only supplies windows designed to meet
stringent sustainability criteria, so we can really advise on the best
environmental specification for any project.”
Passivhaus products
As buildings contribute to up to 50% of the UK’s carbon dioxide
emissions, we believe the role of the construction industry in
tackling climate change is pivotal. Green Building Store is a passionate proponent of Passivhaus building
design, which it believes offers the most effective and rigorous
solution to low carbon construction in the UK. Passivhaus design
includes features such as: maximising use of passive solar gain; super
insulation; stringent airtightness standards; and use of mechanical
ventilation and heat recovery systems. Passivhaus design has been widely established in Europe for over 20
years and offers a cost-effective and proven approach to low carbon
construction. According to Chris Herring, Green Building Store
Director, “To us Passivhaus design offers the simplest and best
approach to low carbon construction in the UK. It is our hope that
Government regulations and goals such as ‘Zero Carbon’ and CSH will
start to incorporate Passivhaus approaches as the most coherent and
effective method for reducing buildings’ carbon emissions.”
Green Building Store has been developing its understanding and expertise in Passivhaus design and is now able to offer a new comprehensive range of Passivhaus products and services for the UK. By developing expertise in Passivhaus products, Green Building Store hopes to facilitate the construction of Passivhaus buildings in the UK and to promote ‘best practice’ in low carbon construction.
Green Building Store has been a member of the AECB since its inception and actively supports the AECB CarbonLite Programme, which promotes Passivhaus design and training.
Green Building Magazine feature on Green Building Store - download pdf
1. 'The Longwood Low Energy House' chapter in Energy Efficiency in Housing, Bell, Lowe & Roberts (Avebury, 1996)