CONTACT Jonny Walker

sustainable building forum

The Sustainable Building Forum has been founded to provide a focus on sustainable building practices. There is already a great deal of activity in sustainable building in the Bath, but no group has yet existed to take advantage of these skills in a coherent way.

The Forum is intended to be a one-stop shop for members of the public interested in sustainable construction projects, putting them in touch with professionals who can help. It is also intended to let professionals come together and network, supporting the sustainable construction industry, allowing them to provide a better and more visible service to the public. In this way sustainable construction can be promoted as a attractive and viable alternative to standard building practices.

From the first meeting on 11 June, after an informative presentation from Construction Resources and a lively debate, it was decided that:

· a steering group would be created
· Seminars will create debate, which steering group will act on
· Meetings will be held every quarter

For anyone interested, please call Jonny Walker at Envolve on 01225 787910

The Sustainable Business Forum, with Envolve will be represented at the AECB (Association for Environmental Conscious Builders) tent in the Green Futures field at Glastonbury Festival from 26-30 June.

From July 14 in the foyer of Green Park Station an exhibition will be held of sustainable building projects. Produced by final year Bath University Civil Engineering students, the exhibition will feature work from their Sustainable Construction Module. This will coincide with the Envolve Annual Lecture at which Bill Dunster, a founder of the ZedBed project will give the keynote speech.

In the autumn, with funding from B&NES Adult & Community Education department, Envolve are going to provide four introductory taster seminars on sustainable construction. They will be free to the public. Check back at the Envolve site for more information.

Self-build scheme seeks site

A group of people interested in creating a community based on environmentally sustainable principles has moved one step closer to finding a site.

Jonathan Walker, chair of B&NES Sustainable Self-build association (BSSB) said: "We have been in touch with the Norton Radstock Regeneration Co., who own a site which is scheduled for development. Our vision is for a Green Village which would incorporate homes for affordable rent and for sale, and a community and environment centre."

The group formed in 2000 with the support of Envolve and the Drugs and Homeless Initiative (DHI), and became an Association last year. It now has 70 members representing a wide variety of skills.
Jonathan explained: "It's anticipated that a small team would construct 12 to 14 homes in which they would then live. Other members of the group would contribute to the project through management, admin and accounting, or architectural design, site surveying, and crafts."

Self-build schemes are one way of addressing the urgent need for affordable housing. They are often initiated by members living in social housing or those unable to buy on the open market. They also provide opportunities for those with sufficient resources to have more say in the sustainable aspects of design and construction.

FFI: Jonathan Walker: 01225 787910

The Natural Paint Store

Natural paints are high performance products which are excellent to work with. They provide you with worthy alternatives to the paints produced with the synthetic materials derived by the petro-chemical industry.

Natural paints are not carcinogenic or otherwise injurious to your health. During the past decade the toxic side effects of conventional paints have become widely known. Because natural paints do not contain complex synthetic compounds there is no toxic off-gassing and they do not attract dust. They do not cause allergic reactions.

Natural paints are manufactured using only plant and mineral materials recovered from ethical methods from renewable sources.

Natural paints help your home to breathe and to control moisture levels in the air and walls this combating 'sick house syndrome'.

Natural paints are good to you and good to your environment.

The NATURAL PAINT STORE stocks all the leading brands of natural home and garden decorating materials and preserving oils including Aquamarijn, Osmo, Biofa, NBTpaints, Holzweg, Tierrafino, Auro, Eco-solutions, LaTienda.

For more information, call 01225 471898 or 07790 839367