Virginia is a qualified architect, project manager, BREEAM AP and ISO14001 Lead Auditor, with a lifelong passion for sustainability.
She is the author of SustainABLE: How to Find Success as a Sustainability Professional in a Rapidly Changing World, a practical guide for those that have a passion for sustainability but cannot make an impact.
Virginia is also an Assistant Lecturer in Sustainability and Environmental Management at Coventry University.

During her previous long career at BRE, Virginia was the author of Integrating BREEAM throughout the Design Process (the best selling publication that for the first time helped assessors tackle BREEAM assessments strategically), and of BREEAM Healthcare (on behalf of the NHS) and BREEAM Higher Education (on behalf of AUDE and HEFCE); additionally, she managed the BRE Innovation Park and the BRE Academy membership scheme.

Virginia is the founder and director of Green Gorilla Consultants Ltd (www.thegreengorilla.co.uk), a unique training and coaching company focusing exclusively on empowering sustainability professionals to become the most confident and assertive version of themselves, and to successfully accomplish their sustainability projects even when their stakeholders think sustainability is a waste of time and money!

Episode Links 

• Green Gorilla (Virginia's Company) - https://thegreengorilla.co.uk/
• BRE - https://www.bregroup.com/
• BREAM - Sustainability assessment - https://www.breeam.com/ 
• SustainABLE (Book) - https://thegreengorilla.co.uk/sustainable-the-book
• Deep Work (Cal Newport) - https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Cal-Newport/Deep-Work--Rules-for-Focused-Success-in-a-Distracted-World
• Don't Look Up - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11286314/
• The Future We Choose (Christiana Figueres) - https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Christiana-Figueres/The-Future-We-Choose
• Four Thousand Weeks - https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Oliver-Burkeman/Four-Thousand-Weeks--The-smash-hit-Sunday-Times-bestselle/25942066
• Integrating BREEAM (Book) - https://tinyurl.com/22gx5umr

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Today we talk about mindful spaces and biophilic meditation with Sophie Lacey.

Sophie has been running her own freelance copywriting and content writing business for nearly 15 years, working with a variety of lifestyle brands and specialists in placemaking, the built environment, interior design and retail. Her half-Swedish heritage inspires a love of simple design and an affinity with nature and organic materials, colours and textures, while her diploma in meditation teaching gives her a unique perspective on mindful spaces, biophilic design and placemaking for wellbeing.

 Sophie’s meditation and mindfulness teaching takes an unusually broad and non-affiliated approach, meaning students are encouraged to choose and adapt their practice according to need and preference. She uses her creative copywriting skills to devise engaging multi-sensory meditations, using her love of nature and spiritual ideas from across cultures to reconnect her students with their true selves in an effective and enjoyable way. In the spring and summer she leads meditation and forest bathing events at University of Oxford Botanic Garden & Arboretum.

• https://sophielacey-copywriting.co.uk/
• https://www.lindentreemeditation.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophielaceycopycontentwriter/
• https://www.facebook.com/lindentreemeditationdotcom 
• Support the podcast - https://www.patreon.com/buildingsustainability
• Workshops with Sigi Koko & James Henderson - https://thathempcreteguy.com/courses
• Futurebuild 2022 - https://www.futurebuild.co.uk/
• Biophillic Design Episode with Bill Browning and Catie Ryan - https://www.buildingsustainabilitypodcast.com/biophilic-design-bill-browning-catie-ryan-bs047/

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Sigi Koko is the principal designer of Down to Earth Design, which she founded in 1998 to help her clients manifest their dreams  of living in a natural, healthy home.  She works exclusively on projects that are natural, energy-efficient buildings, on the forefront of sustainable design.  Every project functions in synchronicity with its environment, relating to seasonal cycles of sun,  wind, and rain to provide natural heating and cooling primarily from passive (free!) sources.  Her clients enjoy an average 50% reduction in total energy usage compared to conventional buildings.  She uses a palette of building materials that ensure healthy indoor space and minimal environmental impact.

This episode is the first episode from a two hour conversation with Sigi Koko. This episode is mostly focussed around the design of a natural home. We talk about how she is able to design a home that meets her clients dreams... even when they don't yet know them! 

Episode 71 is the second half of this conversation and focusses more on materials, myths and women in construction. 

Links for Episode 70:

• Sigi Koko's website - https://buildnaturally.com/
• A Pattern Language - Christopher Alexander
• http://www.patternlanguage.com/ 
• Rob Hopkins - What is to what if
• Review Building Sustainability Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/building-sustainability-podcast/id1459369615
• Kiko Denzer - Build Your own earth oven - https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/kiko-denzer/build-your-own-earth-oven
• Becky Bee  - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19046.You_Can_Make_the_Best_Hot_Tub_Ever
• Spoon carving course with Jeffrey May 7th 2022 -  Bristol, UK- https://treetotreen.com/spoon-carving/
• Podcast Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/buildingsustainability

The Southside Hereford: University Design Challenge 2022:
Information TDChallenge22 
Flyer here
Register your interest in participating here
Recordings

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Sigi Koko is the principal designer of Down to Earth Design, which she founded in 1998 to help her clients manifest their dreams  of living in a natural, healthy home.  She works exclusively on projects that are natural, energy-efficient buildings, on the forefront of sustainable design.  Every project functions in synchronicity with its environment, relating to seasonal cycles of sun,  wind, and rain to provide natural heating and cooling primarily from passive (free!) sources.  Her clients enjoy an average 50% reduction in total energy usage compared to conventional buildings.  She uses a palette of building materials that ensure healthy indoor space and minimal environmental impact.

This episode is the second episode from a two hour conversation with Sigi Koko. This episode is a more free ranging chat taking in materials, myths, women in construction, and empowerment. 

Episode 70 is the first half of this conversation and focusses more on how she is able to design a home that fits her clients dreams... even when they don't yet know them! 

Links for Episode 70:

• Sigi Koko's website - https://buildnaturally.com/
• A Pattern Language - Christopher Alexander
• http://www.patternlanguage.com/ 
• Rob Hopkins - What is to what if
• Review Building Sustainability Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/building-sustainability-podcast/id1459369615
• Kiko Denzer - Build Your own earth oven - https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/kiko-denzer/build-your-own-earth-oven
• Becky Bee  - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19046.You_Can_Make_the_Best_Hot_Tub_Ever
• Spoon carving course with Jeffrey May 7th 2022 -  Bristol, UK- https://treetotreen.com/spoon-carving/
• Podcast Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/buildingsustainability

The Southside Hereford: University Design Challenge 2022:
Information TDChallenge22
Flyer here
Register your interest in participating here
Recordings

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Connect with me:
IG - @jeffreythenaturalbuilder
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Support this podcast - https://www.patreon.com/buildingsustainability

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Well, there's a title I didn't expect to write when I started this podcast! Today I'm talking to Danny and Zach from Terran Robotics about their work training AI drones to build cob homes.

Now this might sound a little crazy when you are first introduced to the idea, but the logic behind it is solid. To make affordable homes,  build with the cheapest material and reduce the labor costs.

Have a listen to the work that Danny and Zach are up to today and let me know what you think!

Episode Links

• Terran Website
• Article on how much mass matters 
• Cobbauge 
• Carpenter Owl Tiny Homes (Danny's previous work)
• Open Source Ecology
• Sisters with transistors - film
• LEED certification
• Passivhaus trust

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Part 2! (Check out episode 67 for Part 1)

With energy prices soaring, everybody has good reason to be thinking about adding more insulation to their home. In this episode we are discussing the best types of insulation for your home and the pros and cons of some different types.  A recommended listen for anyone looking to increase the energy efficiency of their home.

Ben Kerslake is back! Ben last joined us way back in Episode 45 to discuss solving damp problems with lime plaster.

Check out insulation month at: https://www.carringtonlime.co.uk/courses

Building Sustainability Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/340122253926357

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With energy prices soaring, everybody has good reason to be thinking about adding more insulation to their home. In this episode we are discussing the best types of insulation for your home and the pros and cons of some different types.  A recommended listen for anyone looking to increase the energy efficiency of their home.

Ben Kerslake is back! Ben last joined us way back in Episode 45 to discuss solving damp problems with lime plaster.

Check out insulation month at: https://www.carringtonlime.co.uk/courses

Building Sustainability Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/340122253926357

Connect with me
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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

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We discuss the report created by Material Cultures and ARUP which examines the potential positive impacts of a bioregional construction economy, from improvements in biodiversity to an increase in construction jobs and security; building a case for redistributing the values of the construction industry towards a cleaner, sustainable methodology for growth that is beneficial to all. It can be viewed here.

Until recently, little attention has been paid to the carbon impacts of the construction and refurbishing of buildings, with the majority of focus on their operational performance. Substituting carbon intensive technical materials with regenerative resources and materials from the biosphere, which absorb and store natural carbon, could have a significant impact on both the carbon footprint and economy of the UK.

The built environment is responsible for almost 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions. If we intend to halt the progress of the climate and ecological breakdown, we must find new ways to design and to build.

List of resources, suggested materials, and social media handles:

• https://materialcultures.org/
• Research website - https://materialcultures.org/research-ney/
• The Report https://materialcultures.org/2021-circular-biobased-construction-in-the-north-east-and-yorkshire/
• https://www.arup.com/
• Carbon Copies - https://materialcultures.org/publication-carbon-copies/
• Adaptavate - https://adaptavate.com/
• Central Saint Martins, UAL - https://www.arts.ac.uk/colleges/central-saint-martins
• Insulate Britain Interview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzJOFANOC4E
• Wholewoods (Adrian Leaman) Roundwood timber framing course - http://wholewoods.co.uk/roundwood-timber-framing-course/
• Spotify invests in AI defence Tech - https://www.nme.com/news/music/artists-criticise-sp

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Rachel Fowler is an interior designer who focusses on creating healthy and sustainable spaces. We discuss how to design healthy, what to watch out for and get into the healthy products and finishes you could be choosing in your own project. 
Her company website - https://rachelfowlerinteriors.com/
Her book - My happy place - https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/My-Happy-Place-by-Rachel-Fowler-author/9781788602983

Episode Links

• Enki Magazine - https://enkimagazine.com
• Declare - https://declare.living-future.org/
• Cradle to cradle - https://www.c2ccertified.org/get-certified/product-certification
• Blue angel - https://www.blauer-engel.de/en
• GOT certified cotton - https://global-standard.org/
• Healthy Materials Lab New York - https://healthymaterialslab.org/
• Ellen Mccarthur Foundation - https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/
• Red list - Living Building Challenge - https://living-future.org/declare/declare-about/red-list/
• Pinatex (leather alternative) - https://www.ananas-anam.com/
• Biohm insulation - https://www.biohm.co.uk/mycelium
• Mogu flooring mycelium - https://mogu.bio/
• Mushlume mycelium lampshades - https://danielletrofe.com/shop
• Building Biology - https://buildingbiology.com/
• Earth Floors - http://earthfloors.co.uk/
• Natural floors bristol - http://www.naturalbornflooring.com/naturals/
• Edward Bulmers paint - https://www.edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk/
• Earthborn Clay Paint - https://earthbornpaints.co.uk/product/claypaint/
• Graphenstone - https://graphenstone.co.uk/
• AURO wax/oil - https://www.auro.de/en/products/wooden-floors/waxes/
• Orbital Shower - https://orbital-systems.com/

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John Butler is back for another episode, this time focussing on 'natural' materials and their whole life carbon. 

Topics include:

• What natural means, is it a useful descriptor? 
• The results from a new UK Straw Bale Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) 
• Is there enough straw to build a reasonable quantity of homes with? 
• Why is John called the woodlouse? 

This episode has associated graphs to peruse on the BSP website: https://www.buildingsustainabilitypodcast.com/what-is-the-environmental-impact-of-building-with-straw-bales

Support the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/buildingsustainability

Episode Links:

• The Straw EPD - http://schoolofnaturalbuilding.co.uk/epd-straw-as-insulation-material/
• Upstraw Project - https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/up-straw-urban-and-public-buildings-in-straw/
• John's blog - What is thermal bridging and does it matter? - https://www.sustainablebuildconsultancy.com/blog/what-is-thermal-bridging\
• John's blog - Natural Vs Sustainable video - https://www.sustainablebuildconsultancy.com/blog/natural-vs-sustainable-in-film-form
• John's blog - Is there enough straw to build with? - https://www.sustainablebuildconsultancy.com/blog/isthereenoughstraw
• ICE embodied carbon database - https://circularecology.com/news/the-ice-embodied-carbon-database-is-now-hosted-for-download-by-circular-ecology
• Map of straw bale homes in Europe - https://strawbuilding.eu/strawbale-houses-europe/
• Chris Magwood Episode - https://www.buildingsustainabilitypodcast.com/how-buildings-are-going-to-save-the-world-chris-magwood-bs044/

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