Eco Workshop - Sustainable Building Systems - Saturday 10th April

Resident expert Dave Hilton will be accompanied by representatives from four different package build companies to help you explore the benefits of each system, with particular emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency.

Eco Workshops pull together a small group of eco experts to help you really get to grips with the subject of the day, which in this instance is Sustainable Building Systems. Dave Hilton and the package build specialists will also be joined by 2010's Green Team - made up of an eco architect, SAP assessor and environmental buildings adviser. If you're keen to understand more about eco building and have all your questions answered, then these are the people to speak to.

The Experts

Dave Hilton Expert About Dave Hilton: David has completed various self builds in South Africa and renovations in the UK and has been involved in designing and installing Solar and heat pump systems since the early 1980s. On the technical side, he is Gassafe registered, an accredited installer of Ground Source and Air Source heat pumps and is currently undertaking an MSc Architecture: Advanced Energy and Environmental Studies.

He currently contributes to Grand Designs magazine and has also been published in BuildIt magazine. David frequently leads seminars, workshops and CPD lectures as well as eco and sustainability training on the self build courses at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon.

Building Systems Experts
ICF: Robin Miller, Beco Wallform
Brick & Block: Andrew Edwards, Masonry Homes
Timber Frame: David Parker, Framewise
SIPS: Garry Dyke, Lowfield Timber Frames

PLUS: The Green Team
Architect: Paul Richards, Architecture Verte
SAP Assessor: Sue Dewhirst; Evolved Design
Environmental Buildings Adviser: Ian Jones; Environmental Building Services

The Seminars

11.00-12.00	Intro to Sustainable Building Systems	Dave Hilton
Dave Hilton will kick off the day with this hour-long introductory seminar, highlighting the sustainable benefits of each and the factors to consider when deciding which system is right for your project.

12.30-13.30	Question Time
This is your opportunity to quiz the experts and get answers to all your sustainable self build questions.

14.00-14.30	How to Work With Your Architect to Determine Your Building System	Paul Richards
The building system you choose for your home can depend heavily on the design concept, the site circumstances, budget available and much more. Paul illustrates how to work with your architect to take into account these variables to make a choice of building system that not only answers your quest for sustainability, but that also meets your budget and creates the most ergonomic living space.

15.00-15.30	Building Systems and Eco Technologies	Dave Hilton
To wrap up the day, Dave looks at how your choice of eco technologies is affected by the building system that you use for the shell of your home; encouraging you to look at the house as a complete system rather than as individual elements.

About Sustainable Building Systems: If you're looking to build your own home then there are a multitude of construction methods available; four of the key ones to consider are:

	Brick & Block represented by Masonry Homes Brick & block is the most popular choice for self builders in the south of the UK, where weather delays are less likely. Most people perceive a brick & block house to be more 'solid' than timber frame. It is much more difficult to reach the U-values and air-tightness required under current regulations and these requirements become more stringent all the time. The 'normal' insulating block is 100mm thick, but to get improved levels of insulation you may want to consider using a 150mm block, and possibly upgrade the cavity insulation - of course, this adds to the cost. The weather is probably the biggest factor in budget management with masonry construction with both heavy rain and frost being a significant risk to the integrity & appearance of the masonry; time delays will add to costs such as scaffolding & plant hire, protection of recently built walls, storage and so on.

	Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF) represented by Beco An ingenious system where the structure of the house is built out of hollow polystyrene blocks known as insulated concrete formwork (ICF), which are then filled with concrete. The assembly of the hollow polystyrene blocks is reasonably quick; once assembled, the internal cavity of the blocks is filled with ready-mix concrete which provides strength. The result is a concrete external wall, wrapped on both sides with a good layer of polystyrene insulation. On the inside, there is no need for additional insulation, so plasterboard can be adhered directly to the polystyrene. In many respects insulated formwork is ideal for the self builder because the structure and wall layout is relatively quick, easy and - being polystyrene - not difficult to lift. A lot of the work could be carried out yourself - the system is fairly straightforward so this should be within most self builders' capabilities. ICF also offers a relatively short build time and currently meets all building regulations.

	Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPS) represented by Lowfield Timber Frame SIPS uses a traditional cavity wall construction but with the inner skin being a structurally insulated panel (SIP), the external facing is largely there for weathering and decorative purposes. The panels themselves are expensive to make, but savings are introduced later as you are unlikely to need further insulation in the walls to meet current standards. The panels carry the building's structural load, similar to other timber construction methods. The panels are faced on both sides with orientated strand board (OSB), and the two sides are factory-bonded to a rigid insulation, to make a wafer-like construction. The principle is that very large panels can be constructed, using much less conventional timber, as studs are only required at junctions. The larger panels are craned into position so good access to site is essential, but this does make for a very short on-site construction time. Using SIPS is probably one of the quickest methods available for building and is very thermally efficient.

	Timber Frame represented by Framewise An incredibly flexible system, and almost any design can be built using timber studs and panels. It is very quick to build on site and is great for self building because it provides a weathered shell from a specialist supplier, allowing easier project management thereafter. Timber is also a renewable resource; a plus for the eco-conscious self builder and with the appropriate insulation between the studs and in the panels, the energy performance of your finished home will be very high. The external cladding on the outside, which can be any material including masonry, timber or render, is only for weathering and decorative purposes, rather than taking any of the loading from the roof; it is the timber structure which takes the weight of the roof trusses and the roof covering.

Permanent Exhibits

The National Self Build & Renovation Centre has been built on a scale previously unseen in the UK. Here you can walk through exhibits that explain - in exploded detail - every step of the self build and renovation processes.

Trade Village

The permanent exhibition area containing over 200 exhibitor stands, covering everything you'll need to undertake your project.

Wolseley Building	New!
The Wolseley Building has four key zones; the Wolseley Theatre, a Bathstore Showroom, a Moores Kitchen Showroom and a builders merchant branch area where visitors can place orders! The house has numerous different products installed for visitors to see in situ; many of these are 'eco' products such as LED lighting, sun scoops, thermowood timber cladding, sheepswool insulation and others.

Educational Journey

A fully guided audio tour taking you round a fantastic selection of life-sized exhibits, featuring cutaways of groundworks, foundations, walls, roofs and more. If you're considering self building then don't miss this!

EDF Energy Renovation House	Improved!
Take a walk through the front doors of this full-size renovation project and see the house come to life before your eyes. The audio guide explains every step of the process to give you a deeper understanding of what a renovation project entails.

Potton Show House

Full of character and the latest technology, this show home is an inspiration to self builders, no matter what your tastes.

Outdoor Living Zone	New!
Everything you could need to finish off the exterior of your home, from hard landscaping to living roofs, to the Potton Zone Studios.

Design Centre

Browse through hundreds of designs and get ideas for your own home.

Finance Zone

Speak to our specially trained self build & renovation finance advisors to find the best way of funding your project.

PlotSearch

Search thousands of plots and renovation projects across the country, the first step to building your dream home!

TradeCard

Chat to our TradeCard advisors and learn how to save £1000s on materials.

Experts

A selection of experts are based in the Centre on a permanent basis to speak to you about your particular project and answer any questions you may have about self build, renovation, planning, design, project management and so on.