Retrofit Existing Housing Conference 11 Nov in Brighton

Guest post from an eco builder who was project manager of the Brighton Earthship, Mischa Hewitt. He has a book out called 'Earthships: building a zero carbon future'.

Everyone is talking about the urgent need to retrofit our existing housing, but can we make houses constructed in the 1970s, the 1930s, or even earlier, come up to modern sustainable requirements fit for the 21st century?

The Low Carbon Trust in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects are proud to present a housing retrofit day and evening at the Thistle Hotel in Brighton on 11th November 2008.

Housing Retrofit conference:

A one-day conference will explore the challenge of retrofitting our exist homes with a wide range of speakers, case studies, workshops and debate and will look at the latest ideas and technologies and how to incorporate them into the existing housing stock - from one-off private homes to social housing.

Chaired by Duncan Baker-Brown, of BBM Sustainable Design, the conference will consider:
* Economic drivers
* Is retrofit appropriate for all housing stock?
* Retrofitting for old/historic buildings
* Re-use and renewables
* Case studies of ground-breaking projects
* The Green Homes Retrofit Manual
* A wide selection of workshop topics.

Please note the cost to attend the conference is £150 – to book a place see the link below.
Evening event - Green up your home:


Finding your way around all the green options for your home can be difficult and confusing. What would work for you? How cost-effective might ‘greening' be? Who can supply, or advise you? How much money could you save?

Whatever type of house you live in, come along to a FREE evening. You will be able to get the help you need from local professionals, manufacturers and suppliers.
* Chaired by Sarah Lewis, The Argus
* Reuse, renew, recycle Duncan Baker-Brown, BBM Sustainable Design
* ‘No, you don't want that!' George Marshall, Climate Outreach Information Network
* Living green Dusty Gedge, The Green Roof Consultancy
* Question Time panel as above, plus Mischa Hewitt, Low Carbon Trust and Brian Murphy, National Green Specification
* Exhibition 6.00-8.00pm
* Speakers and question time 6.30-8.00pm

The evening event is FREE entry - all are welcome.

Hope to see you there!

Event organisers
RIBA South East
17 Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2DU
01892 515878


Low Carbon Trust
+44 (0) 7974 122 770
www.lowcarbon.co.uk

ps Michael Reynolds the original Earthship man was shown in a film this week, see http://www.garbagewarrior.com
The Earthship concept is the brainchild of Michael Reynolds, who has written several books on the topic including 'Earthship: How to Build Your Own'. Near Taos New Mexico, he has his Earthship business, are whole communities of earthships. The basic earthship design incorporates substantial walls made from tires, they are so well insulated they act to store heat, passive solar architecture. The used tires are filled with earth and stacked up like bricks. The interior surface of the tires is then plastered with adobe or cement so the tires don't show. The concept is to make the building self suffiennt in terms of water and power, so rainwater is collected from the roof and stored in tanks, and solar panels collect power stored in batteries.