'So much to see, so little time', must have been the mantra of every Ecobuild 2012 visitor. Having grown from its small green shoots to a veritable forest of stands and seminars, Ecobuild is by far the best environmental networking event around. However, what passes for ‘sustainable’, whether it be a building material or a process, is open to interpretation. A number of exhibiting stands offered products and services whose eco credentials were questionable to say the least, but who am I to judge? Business is business.

That aside, Ecobuild 2012 showcased many reasons to be heartened with regards to environmental building progress. My search around the two halls led me to companies who have sustainable innovation at the heart of their businesses and who are the vanguards of the green build movement. But what struck me the most, was the immensely important role architects and specifiers play in implementing sustainable products and building systems.

The requirement to specify intelligently is beyond measure. Just because a material or system meets certain sustainable levels and regulations, does not mean it is suitable across the board. Geographical location and building usage are just two criteria to be taken into account, which is why the skills of the architect and specifier are so important. Using what we learn from Ecobuild wisely, will go some way to ensuring a greener build future.