Whats the project ? Uk?
New build , Refurb , build method ?
- green roofs may only be green in colour , do some research
- many out there , green building store has a good name
- GSHP ,are you rural ? if you're on main gas dont bother. in the UK its expensive and no better than a modern gas boiler , spend the money reducing your expected heat demand
 
cheers

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Wet("green") roofs will evaporate water. This will cool down the surface. Wear a wet jumper and tell us that this helps to safe on energy consumption...
Something for tropical countries to safe on air conditioning.
Get a real engineer/energy advisor into the project. Get him/her to sign and guarantee the energy consumption. This would be a wiser decision. As jamesingram mentioned already, reduce the energy demand by increasing the intellectual effort going into the planning.

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Thanks for your thoughts so far, Jamesingram & Heinbloed. It's UK, an inherited partially-built new build - so we are committed to some things. For the rest, we are in the planning phase. Deciding how best to insulate the envelope. GSHP only if calculations show we need space heating. Interviewing energy advisors at the moment. Researching and geting quotes for all the items I mentioned ie green roof, triple glazing, GSHP, floor. Any thoughts about how to buy excellent project management skills for this project?

Well, contact the (local?) chamber of architects, engineers.
They'll give you a list of their members who specialise in such projects.
Try also the yellow/golden pages.
If you aim for top class project managment don't hesitate to put a small ad into the magazines of the architect/engineer organisation. Or onto their organisation's web pages.
The first thing you'll be hopefully asked for are the detailed drawings of the (planned)structure.This is necessary to decide on what can actually be done, loadbearing of the foundations, walls etc.. But also the planning permission for apearance, hight restrictions, connection points to sewers and so on.
Think about what you want to achieve, what are the priorities, the budget.
And then it's a plain building project, finding the architect/engineer, tell them what you want, detail the conditions, set up a contract for supervision and timing - the project management being independant from the supervision, sometimes it gives peace of mind to employ a third party.
Fix everything you want to be done in writing. Involve an independant solicitor/lawyer to check the contract before signing it.
If you have any doubts about legal formulations and implications don't sign the contract, don't agree on works or payments.
Building is a buyer's market for the next couple of years, don't rush through things because someone gives you the impression 'it's now or never'.
 
Good luck!

http://www.aecb.net/findmembers.php
try a members search of the AECB

Thanks for the details and reassurance, Heinbloed, and the link, Jamesingram. Where would you start researching green roofs and good quality suppliers?

The roof is a very important part the building. Therefore not a supplier should be choosen first but an engineer who will decide what type of roof has to be constructed.
Similar to buying tires before deciding for a vehicle, first the demand has to be figured out.
Loadbearing, shading, angle, exposure, energy conservation,penetrations,appearence...all these things have to be clear BEFORE looking for a supplier.
 
" Where would you start researching green roofs and good quality suppliers?"
 
Well, I wouldn't at all. Longevity,no maintenance, no fire risk, cheap construction and energy conservation are my personal priorities when building future proof.
 
The EU demands the plus/zero/low energy building to be the only standard. So a vegetabile roof would have to be demolished to achieve this goal, a legal requirement from 2019. Not only for new buildings but for existing buildings when undergoing major renovations.
Therefore a "green roof" is a waste of resources. No space for ST energy, no space for PV energy.
The fire risk during a hot dry summer(no lawn hoses please!) would make the PV installation uninsureable.
 
Try to rent out such a building to someone with hayfever. About 10% of the population ?
 
Talk to an energy advisor first, talk to the engineer. They might have a future proof solution for your project, I don't.

green roofs-
Well to me the greenest roof design in the UK is a pitched roof made of second hand slates or clay (or concrete)tiles as they have been proven to last the longest.
Windows-
check the green building forum for suppliers
http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/forum114/comments.php?DiscussionID=527&page=1#Item_0

That is really nice thing to do. I have recently renovated my office furniture. Recycling furniture is really great.
:}

Thanks, for all this help. Structural engineer has been and we await his report. Unfortunately, previous planning permission has determined there must be a flat green roof! So we will put PVs on a garden wall (and ban visiting children who want to play ball!) What is ST energy, Heinbloed?
Thanks for the windows link, Jamesingram.
Any thoughts on how to insulate a suspended timber floor, that already exists with room partitions placed onto the suspended floor(void below, dug into earth)? We can only think of getting someone to go below and add insulation. (What type?) Floor to ceiling height seems too short to put sufficient insulation onto the suspended timber floor. And you may have other thoughts.
Yes, we're hoping to recycle furniture too, Cleodann.

ST stands for Solar Thermal energy, usually for the preparation of warm water/air, but also for cooling.
Is the planned green roof to be added to the structure mentioned in the last post?
 
The weight/loadbearing capacity might be critical, fundations and supporting walls might be to weak.
Your engineer would be able to advise on the insulation methods as well. Ask for a 'dynamic dew point calculation', esp. with the floor and (flat)roof
Granted planning permissions can be changed, check out this option - if desired.
 
PV is relativly expensive, so it should be placed at optimum gain positions. Garden walls could be shaded, the neighbours might like to grow trees.Theft is another problem, a roof installation being cheaper and more profitable.

As I said, partial build means we're committed to certain things. Green roof was inherited - but part of plant layer has been removed (we don't know how long ago). So damage possible and we're investigating repairs / upgrading. We anticipate the energy adviser/ sustainable consultant we hire will advise us. Whilst in the process of recruiting, we want to find out as much as we can - so that we're informed clients.
 
The most important, and difficult thing to discover, at the moment, is our options for insulating the suspended timber floor. Adviser will have an opinion and .. until we hire one, ... we're searching around. We've heard about some foil, that might be as effective as Kingspan. Do you know anything about it?
 
Many thanks

I m sure that I could help you with all this.
 
I have views on all aspects of what you are trying to do and have done it all before lots including the green roof stuff.
 
let me know if you in the south

Yes, I am in the south east. Can we chat off-line? Or does it all have to happen through this forum? (I'm a newbie so please forgive obvious questions!)

visit <tonyshouse dot info> understanding the dot is the same as all web addresses with no spaces and use the link to my E mail and I will tell you more

Maybe I can help with triple glaze.
In France I have found a national company who supply at nearly the same price as double glazing.
Heres the "catch" it has an external double laminated layer which is very insulative a bit like the old triplex windscreens, an argon 16mm gap and internal 4mm reflective St Gobain glass.
The external layer is very tough and therefore secure.
It's effectivly double glazing but very efficient.
Options include PVC, Alu.or timber/alu mix.
It is marketed as "Solarbaie" in France and must be available in the UK and probably cheaper.

Thanks, Debbie & Coleoaks. I'll check out our technical requirements and get back to you.

Re triple glazed doors, I'd try Internorm.

Thanks, Harrysdad. Was just given their name by another person. Will investigate.

Caspen, finding the right pm will save you money but more importantly should make sure your requirements are met. There will be constraints none the less your requirements should be met.
Good double glazing wil give you a similar u value to double glazing with lower frame costs.
I can find you some consultants who can provide the service you can then meet and assess the ones who may be suitable for you.