AECB News

Essentials of Passivhaus - Understanding the Passivhaus standard, principles and methodologies.      
19 March 2010 - Portsmouth.
Book now! Go to www.carbonlite.org.uk/carbonlite/training.php

The course is aimed at all those wishing to learn more about low energy design and use of the Passivhaus standard. It introduces the principles behind the Passivhaus standard and methodologies for a variety of building types and  how the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) works to deliver low-energy performance.

Places also still available on two AECB CarbonLite courses in London in March: Essentials of Passivhaus (as above), 24 March, Park Crescent Conference Centre, London

Also Using PHPP in A Building Certification Process - This practical hands-on two day course will provide energy consultants, technical building designers and architects with the skills necessary to achieve low energy and CO2 standards using the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP)  -- delegates will need to bring a laptop pre-loaded with a copy of the PHPP software for this course.

25-26 March 2010 | Park Crescent Conference Centre, London

Limited availability on some of these events -- so book now  at www.carbonlite.org.uk/carbonlite/training.php

AECB will be giving free advice to members of the public on green building questions, at the Homebuilding and Renovation Show, NEC, Birmingham, 18-21 March. So send your customers over - or recommend they go along. Info and tickets from
http://national.homebuildingshow.co.uk

See you there!

Once again the AECB has a stand at Ecobuild this year. So if you are planning a visit, come over to stand 1593 and say hello.

We will be demonstrating The Passivhaus Buildings Planning Package (PHPP) and experts will be able to answer your questions. You can also find out more about Passivhaus Buildings, the new company set up by AECB to promote the Passivhaus standard in all types of new building, as well as other AECB initiatives, and our annual conference of course!

We can enrol new members on the stand, so if you're not a member and have been thinking of joining, you'll be very welcome to come and chat to find out more. And if as a member, you've been encouraging anyone to join, why not bring them along too?

We will also be hosting two fringe events:
1)   Looking at indoor air quality and specifying MVHR.
Thursday 04 March 14.15 - 15.45 - Mall Room
 
2)   Passivhaus workshop will examine the uptake of Passivhaus design in the UK.
Tuesday 02 March 
10.45 - 12.15 - Model Classroom.

It’s also definitely worth looking at the list of workshops, as many are being run by AECB members.

More information about seminars we're involved with, see the earlier post on this board -- AECB seminars at Ecobuild

For more details of all seminars, go to the homepage and click on the Ecobuild link, or go to the main Ecobuild site www.ecobuild.co.uk.

AECB is putting on two seminars in the Ecobuild Fringe (www.ecobuild.co.uk/fringe). Other AECB members are also giving talks and seminars, and our experts will be on the AECB stand throughout the show, so come and have a chat, ask your questions or just rest your feet!

Ventilation and MVHR Workshop, Ecobuild Fringe, March 4th, pm
Building design legislation and guidance are moving towards requirements for lower energy design, better fabric performance and lower levels of air-permeability. These requirements start to significantly impact on the issues of ventilation and indoor air quality.
The AECB will be hosting a workshop on the specific theme of ventilation for Passivhaus design.  This two-hour session includes presentations about some of the key issues by Andrew Farr and Chris Herring from the Green Building Store, and an interactive, hands-on discussion about the principles of MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery). This will include a chance to look up close at an MVHR unit.

Passivhaus in the UK Workshop, Ecobuild Fringe, March 2nd, am  explores the uptake of Passivhaus design in the UK. It will be run for the AECB by Henrietta Lynch, who is undertaking research into the uptake of Passivhaus design in the UK, at University College London. The session will include a presentation of this research, and an interactive workshop that will allow participants to contribute their views and experiences.

Other Ecobuild highlights involving AECB members include Howard Liddell of Gaia Architects discussing 'Zero Carbon without the Bling', and 'Living within Environmental Limits', Judith Thornton, Alan Clarke and John Cantor on tackling the carbon footprint of hot water, and Liz Reason on 'Is SAP fit for purpose now and in the future?'

Full programme for the whole event at www.ecobuild.co.uk/

Any AECB members who would like to share details of their contributions at Ecobuild – please do post a mention on the events board of the AECB forum.

AECB  has set up a Twitter account at http://twitter.com/AECBnet (no need to have a Twitter account yourself in order to view it).

The idea is to pass on items about sustainable building likely to be of interest to AECB members and others.

Early highlights include links to a simple, clear paper from the Passivhaus Institute explaining why they recommend heat recovery ventilation; Bill Butcher's Denby Dale Passivhaus blog, and some photos. The "tweets" will also flag up some of the current discussions taking place on the AECB forum, and give updates on AECB news (for example, information about regional meetings or new downloads).

If you have (or create) a Twitter account (its free), and then opt to follow AECBnet, you will receive the updates automatically. Otherwise simply click on the link above, and you can see the "tweets".

A direct link will be added to the main AECB.net pages in due course.

This is new, and we want to know if it's useful -- so please do feel free to feed back on this service on the forum (you can use the general public board) – or of course, direct to the Twitter account.

Kate de S

Passivhaus Schools
The Route to Low Energy Schools in the UK?
11 December 2009 | RIBA, London

This very succesful one-day conference explored how the German low energy Passivhaus standard could provide a solution to achieving low energy buildings and improved air quality in UK schools.

Click on "Conferences" in the aecb.net menu, or go straight to http://www.aecb.net/phschools2009.php. to view presentations.

All posts for the eleven groups are now up in the networking section (Near the bottom!), though some don't contain definite dates yet we've got some fascinating talks and venues in January already lined up. Brighton's however is going to be in the pub  Please feel free to contact local leaders to find out more.

Jo

The AECB 2010 Annual Conference will be held on 10-11 June 2010 in Milton Keynes.

More details will be available shortly.

Whet your appetite by finding out what a great event we had in 2009, at
www.aecb.net/conference.php

A full list will be uploaded shortly.

AECB has signed up to the 10:10 Campaign and we are aiming to cut our carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. The AECB's administration is very low-carbon as we have no offices, and the board have minimised their use of private vehicles, and travel by public transport wherever possible. We are now recording what we do use, and aim to cut a further 10% next year. Take on the challenge yourself – more information at http://www.1010uk.org/