Greenshop Group

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 23 April 2008

A natural beauty: The Greenshop Group moves to its new building, designed by award-winning  eco architects Architype

On Wednesday 23^rd April 2008, the Greenshop Group welcomes guests to celebrate the launch of its new eco-building with the cutting of the ribbon by Jonathon Porritt CBE, Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission, board member of the South West of England Regional Development Agency, Wessex Water and Founder Director of Forum for the Future. Also in attendance at the launch is David Drew MP, who will be making a speech about the impact he feels the Greenshop Group has on local environmental retailing, plus its wider impact for best practice for other businesses around the UK. Roger Budgeon, owner/founder of the Greenshop, will also make a short speech about why the Greenshop has had a new building built, how the build process went and what has been learnt so far about this demonstration building which is designed to be as low-energy as possible, making the most of water, solar power and other natural resources.

Download PDF version of this release:  Press Release 23-Apr-08 - The Greenshop Eco-building Launch 170 Kb 

The Greenshop has been pioneering sales of environmental products since 1987, over 20 years of business.Roger's philosophy is that environmental thinking should run through every strand of business. The Greenshop only sells products that have a genuine environmental value:  Auro Paints has been voted ‘Favourite Ethical (DIY) Product' by readers of Ethical Consumer magazine; the Greenshop has recently been described in The Observer Magazine as: "a stalwart of green retailing", and Roger Budgeon says that: "Our hope is that the building becomes a beacon of how work premises can be designed for future-proofing and working with the environment, not despite it.

An example is that our rainwater harvesting system supplies more than 80 per cent of our water use. In times of water crisis, such as the Gloucestershire floods of 2007, our rainwater gave us resilience against the water supply failure which meant that the business could remain open. This not only makes environmental sense from a self-sufficiency point of view but also makes commercial sense. We want to pass on our knowledge so that others can benefit from the technologies that we have been putting in place."

One of the aspects of the new build is that the building can act as an education centre as well as the home of the Greenshop and its associated businesses. Over the course of 2008 and into 2009, the Greenshop will have open days for individuals, businesses, suppliers, schools and colleges so that people can find out the latest in environmental technologies and construction methods.

Jonathan Hines, architect, says: "Architype is delighted to have been involved with this exciting project and to work  with such a committed client. Our approach was to design from first principles a building that is truly sustainable, works at a practical level and enables the Greenshop to demonstrate its philosophy and products."

Jonathon Porritt says: "I am delighted to once again be opening a building for the Greenshop. Ten years ago,  I opened the last Greenshop building and I am proud to be a longstanding supporter of a business which has been working on environmental issues for so long."

On Saturday 26^th April, the Greenshop Group will also be celebrating the new building by opening its doors to the public with ‘behind-the-scenes' tours of the building. People will be able to find out about rainwater harvesting, solar PV and solar thermal systems, insulation, natural paints, green roofs and brown roofs, bamboo, recycled and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council certified) flooring and many of the other environmental initiatives included in the building.

The Greenshop currently employs 55 local Gloucestershire people and has a turnover of £3.75 million. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information, product or site photographs, contact Jo Moulds at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ,
020 7359 7961 or 07968 801467 or Roger Budgeon at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 01452 770629. 

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

• The Greenshop won the Gloucestershire Environmental Business Award 2006 and the Gloucestershire Ambassadors Award in November 2007

• The Greenshop Group (www.greenshopgroup.co.uk) includes:
• The Greenshop: www.greenshop.co.uk
• Rainharvesting Systems Ltd: www.rainharvesting.co.uk
• Greenshop Solar Ltd: www.greenshopsolar.co.uk
• Consolar UK: www.consolar.co.uk
• Auro UK: www.auro.co.uk
• Holbrook Garage: www.holbrook-garage.co.uk

FACTS ABOUT THE GREENSHOP'S ECO-BUILD TECHNIQUES: 

• A rainwater harvesting system works in the following way: large tanks are either buried underground (or hidden away). They store water in the dark below 18°C, which prevents algal growth and they have lids to prevent debris falling into them, or to cause a danger to people. The rainwater is collected and stored for re-use later. The water is ideal for everyday use except for drinking, cooking and bathing (unless treated further). Water is released down the drain or into the land gradually (acting as a storm water retention system) as it is re-used. It is an ideal way of cutting down mains water usage, making homes or companies more self-sufficient as well as saving money.
• The car workshop at the Greenshop has a rainwater collecting system for flushing toilets and pressure washing of cars and the workshop is heated by a waste product - waste oil
• At the front of the building, green and brown roofs absorb and retain falling rainwater, releasing it slowly over a long period. Green and brown roofs have the various benefits of helping storm water control (ie. water seeps out slowly over a long period), they provide a replacement of natural habitat and they alsoprovide good insulation, especially keeping the building cool in summer. Roger and his team will be watching how the rainwater collected from the green and brown roofs differs in terms of rainwater harvesting, as this is still a relatively new technology
• Natural paints are used throughout the Greenshop's new building. The Greenshop stocks the largest range of ecological paints and wood finishes in the UK. The paint catalogue is free of charge and includes: Auro Natural Paints, Green Paints, EarthBorn Claypaints, Lime Earth, OSMO, La Tienda Pigments and Holkham Linseed Paints
• The new building operates wind and solar-charged battery systems supplying energy for use in the shop and a grid-connected photovoltaic system on the roof. This means the building uses less energy from the National Grid and any surplus produced can be fed back into the Grid
• The heating system uses solar thermal collectors and a log boiler into a thermal store which, in turn, supplies heat to the under-floor heating and the hot water
• The building has bamboo and oak flooring and a recycled tyre carpet in the entrance. Environmental benefits of using bamboo flooring is that bamboo is a fast-growing, plentiful supply, long-lasting and easy to clean product. Recycled tyre flooring is also hard-wearing, ideal for locations where there is plenty of footfall and uses what would otherwise be seen as a ‘waste product', which is now banned from landfill. The first floor offices are floored in oak (FSC certified)
• The Greenshop website covers aspects of the new build in more detail and visitors are always welcome. www.greenshopgroup.co.uk