This week saw the launch of the Suffolk Green Buildings Network, which is collaboration between The Creating the Greenest County Partnership and University Campus Suffolk.

The network aims to bring together anyone with an interest in sustainable construction and building management, in order to share ideas and promote green buildings.

Green building case studies will form the core of the network, from a home with small modifications to a large, purpose-built building. They will be exemplar, inspirational and achievable buildings.

An events programme will include buildings opening up their doors to the public as part of English Heritage’s Heritage Open Days in September. There will also be a series of workshops on topics of interest to the network’s members.

Advice and guidance is available on the innovative and information-packed Suffolk Green Buildings Network website, www.greensuffolk.org/sgbn. This website will allow you to drill down through layers of information to design specifications on the individual case study buildings.

So why has this network been set up?

Buildings are responsible for nearly half the country’s carbon emissions, half the country’s water consumption, about one third of landfill waste and one quarter of all raw materials used in the economy.

So with those figures in mind it seems obvious to celebrate some of the best practice in Suffolk which is reducing this environmental impact.

Suffolk already contains numerous examples of environmentally sustainable buildings, worthy of promotion.

West Suffolk House in Bury St Edmunds, the UCS Waterfront Building in Ipswich, OrbisEnergy in Lowestoft and the Greenlight Trust in Lawshall all demonstrate a range of technologies and design aspects that reduce environmental impact.

Equally important is the economic contribution of these buildings. Good building design with reduced energy costs may make Suffolk business more competitive.

They may also attract new businesses which want to be located in an area with high environmental values, thus achieving their marketing and corporate social responsibility aims.

This will encourage a growth in the low carbon economy in the county, the subject matter for the next Creating the Greenest County Conference in October 2010.

So if you have a green building let the Suffolk Green Buildings Network know by contacting them at sgbn@suffolk.gov.uk and take a look at the web site.