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Green Building – the concept of building and construction that always keeps the environment in mind. It means using sustainable energy, constructing with materials like clay and wood, and reducing waste. The following year it moved to the larger QEII Conference Centre, and attracted more interest still.So from 2006 it has been held at Earl’s Court, and has doubled its exhibition size and attendance every year. It now claims to be the largest event in the world for the promotion of sustainable construction and design, with more than 800 exhibitors planned for the event in March of 2009. It is also expecting roughly 30,000 visitors.

Their website has this to say:

“Ecobuild is the green building event, the annual gathering of specifiers in the construction sector and the most effective marketplace for suppliers of green building products and services.

Its visitor audience reflects the complexity of the specification and procurement chain, with every professional discipline represented.

And its 800+ exhibitors represent the greatest breadth of innovative sustainable construction products anywhere in the world.”

The event boasts the latest and greatest advances and equipment for renewable energy, heating, insulation and water management, doors, windows and glazing, natural materials, recycling and waste management, and lighting.

This covers just a few of the areas exhibited and detailed at the event.

It also holds a number of attractions. One of the most popular is ‘Road to Zero Carbon’, which explains the best and most practical ways to reduce carbon emissions when building. As the name suggests, the ultimate aim is to a construction that is carbon free. In 2009, the attraction will expand, as the website also outlines:

“The Road to Zero Carbon will show the range of materials and systems which can be combined to achieve lower carbon buildings – SIPs, timber frame, steel frame, masonry, insulated concrete form work and natural materials constructed to create ‘real’ elevations with cladding, superstructure and insulation combinations, and windows and doors in place.

Comprising a series of external walls, each telling their own ‘carbon story’, the attraction will provide technical information on each structure’s performance against current and upcoming building regulations.

New for 2009! ‘Clad’ It illustrates the technical performance of a wide range of materials and systems, from timber and insulated render, through to brick slips, rain screen cladding and natural stone. Visistors can assess their performance in housing as well as non residential building settings, with products from Hambleside Danelaw, Kingspan Panels, Ibstock Brick, Alumasc, Saint Gobain Weber, BSW, Vincent, Finnforest on display.”

It seems that the best way to enter into green building, then, is to attend the Ecobuild annual event. Whether looking for advice on which of the existing companies suits best, or on green building yourself, the Ecobuild event has an extensive and well represented list of exhibitors, plus a number of seminars and attractions, making it informative and practical.

It’s never been easier to green build.

Chris Woolfrey is the Green Building expert at EcoSwitch The environmental social network.