I have recently begun contributing to Building Products magazine, as one of my interests revolves around houses and homes – inside and out, and the more green the better! You can see the online feature below and feel free to visit it on their website.
Innovative products at Welsh green building show
This year’s Greener Homes and Buildings show was again held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells. The exhibitors reflected the market with a Welsh slant and included timber frame suppliers, renewable energy providers, a traditional thatcher and wood pellet boilers galore, among various green insulation materials, innovative wood products and joiners.
The Centre for Alternative Technology, Energy Saving Trust and BRE were also on hand with green advice and ideas. With a bigger programme of speakers and demonstrations, including Dick Strawbridge (from TV’s It’s Not Easy Being Green), who spoke about his Cornish project and demonstrated small scale hydropower, the show is much more than a Welsh self-builder’s day out.
Demonstrations during the exhibition included erecting a wind turbine, plus seminars on subjects such as sustainable drainage and responsible design, giving thought-provoking discussion for experts, consultants and architects alike.
It was fascinating to note the innovation taking place within Wales, especially from Coed Cymru. The organisation has devised various techniques to add value to Welsh timber, including heat-treated beech windows, flooring made from cross-cut timber to give a pleasing ‘ringed’ pattern, and the Ty Unnos modular housing system.
The event provided an opportunity to catch up with timely new developments and thinking in the sustainable building sector, with the new sustainability legislation taking effect in Wales in a few short months. Next year’s event will no doubt prove even more popular as greener building begins to go mainstream – expect even more innovative thinking and exciting green products from Wales to appear over the next 12 months.
Words by Building Products’ contributor Charlie Duff
