Green Build 2003 Exhibition Pays Off

At least 300 people turned out to get green building advice and inspiration at an event organised by North Norfolk District Council.

The Green Build 2003 exhibition, on 11 and 12 April, was the culmination of a week of events with the theme of 'sustainable construction' - the use of environmentally-friendly materials, techniques and technologies in renovation or new build.

The exhibition was held at Binham Memorial Village Hall (which won the green building category of the North Norfolk Environment Awards in 2000), where about 30 representatives of the building trade and NNDC had stalls covering a range of green building issues, from use of lime to low-energy lightbulbs.

The exhibition also gave members of the building trade (to whom the exhibition was open on the first day) and the public (on the second day) information and advice about how to build sustainability into their properties, and the grants available for green building work.

The event was officially opened on 11 April by NNDC Chairman Don Venvell, followed by a very thorough and informative talk to a packed hall by green architect Neil Winder of Green Yard Architecture.

There were also advice clinics run by NNDC planning, design and building control officers, and presentations given by environmental and conservation organisations. On the second day, the public saw performances by Momo, the environmental theatre group.

Frances Francis, NNDC's Environmental and Green Build Consultant and organiser of Environment Week, said: "It was a very successful event, and, given the number of positive comments I've received from exhibitors, one which we hope to repeat.

"Green building is all about conserving resources by minimising the use of energy, water, harmful chemicals and so on, so they also help save money. We hope it has given people the inspiration and reassurance they need to build sustainability into their homes and workplaces, and that it was a useful promotional and networking exercise for the exhibitors."