Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
An eco-room that brings together all the newest ideas to build a greener lifestyle has been launched by Buildbase, the UK mixed builders merchant arm of the Irish Grafton Group.
The Oxford branch, Johnsons Buildbase, has opened the eco room concept under the banner ‘Go Green at Buildbase’.
The first-floor display features energy-saving and eco-friendly products and systems for new homes or for retro fitting to existing properties. It has information and sample products and is designed for builders, architects, specifiers, self-builders, local authorities, schools, businesses and any homeowners looking to save energy and resources.
As well as a working solar panel display, there are less familiar products such as a Worcester Greenstore ground source heat pump system, a boiler which uses wood pellets and an air source heat pump that harvests thermal energy from the air.
There are also products like a rainwater collection, photovoltaic roof tiles, roof light tunnels and one display shows how different energy saving insulation materials can be installed in walls, loft, roof and floors. Even the timber flooring in the eco-room is made from bamboo, a quick growing, renewable natural material.
The eco-room is the first to be installed at a Buildbase branch and is part of the company’s move to be more aware of environmental issues The company has an environmental focus group which looks to introduce eco-friendly measures, for example, and each Buildbase branch now has a branch environmental manual and a branch environment champion.
The eco-rom at Johnsons Buildbase was researched and designed by Richard Coles and Michaela Walter. “There is no denying that more and more homeowners would like to live in a property that is as energy-efficient as possible. Those in the trade – architects and builders – want to introduce this technology into their plans,” Coles said. “However the range of different products is vast and technically quite complex. Our eco-room brings together many of the best designs all in one place.”
It was officially opened at the end of June by children from a nearby primary school, Garsington School, which has a bronze award in the Green Flag Eco-Schools scheme.
