Ecobuild claims to be the world’s biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment – although that claim doesn’t sound very ‘eco’. Bigger? I though Small is Beautiful. Anyway…

Ecobuild show Excel London 2012 solar display

This show is focussing on “new eco thinking and challenging designs“. Although Eco is still outside the mainstream. New Building Regulations are very good for insul;ation – which is the main factor for an eco home. Other things tend to be a bit expensive, so stay in the luxury or niche market. Such as grey water recycling, sustainable materials (like hempcrete – hemp to make building blocks), straw, recycled materials, etc.

Ecobuild is at London’s ExCeL on Tuesday 20 – Thursday 22 March 2012. This is over in Canary Wharl to the east of LOndon, and is quite an interesting place, makes a change for Earl’s Court. Grand Designs is in ExCel, it is a very good venue for this sort of thing (vast consumer show).

Ecobuild show Excel London 2012 big crowds

So what’s on?

• more than 1,500 exhibitors – more! bigger! sustainable construction systems and products
• conference – with Sir John Beddington, Angela Brady, Greg Dyke, Monty Don, Stephen Bayley and others
• over 130 free seminars – these are promos by companies so be prepared, select with care
• many interactive displays which are fun – including Solar hub, Fabric first, Renewable heat and Natural, traditional and sustainable

Important
Before you go, make a list of what you want to do and see, or you will get swamped by the diversity and volume of things there.

To get a free ticket, register at:

Ecobuild 2012 at London ExCel tickets >

Where and When is it?

Tuesday 20 March 2012 10.00 – 17.00
Wednesday 21 March 10.00 – 18.00
Thursday 22 March 10.00 – 16.00

ExCeL London
One Western Gateway
Royal Victoria Dock
London
E16 1XL

See also our Building DIY pages on Green Building advice >

and

Building DIY pages on Solar power, solar thermal advice >

Friday and Saturday it is open 10am to 6pm, Sunday is 10am to 5pm.

Main sections are:

Interiors - furnishing, furniture, lighting, carpets, wallpaper, paint etc – but grand
Build - for self builders and DIY buildings and DIY builders
Kitchens - your dream kitchens and mastering the culineray arts – chefs available – sponsored by Miele
Bathrooms - styles, fittings and finishes, all the latest energy and water saving devices
Gardens - big and small – grow your won
Food - kitchens live!
Village - full size buildings to explore
Technology - home tech including AV audio visual, security, 3D and more

Crest roofing and tiling display at the Grand Designs 2009 show

Eco Heat underfloor heating at the above show

British Eco wind turbine at the above Grand Designs show.

See Grand Design 2011 NEC >

The New Products section of the show is based on three main themes with a ‘path’ or ‘trail’ to guide a visitor through the vast show. This is a great idea as these shows can be like going to disorganised shopping malls, with no shops just hundreds of stands.:

• Design trail
• Innovation trail
• Eco trail

Where?

NEC (National Exhibition Centre)
Birmingham
West Midlands
B40 1NT

DIY Building went to the 2009 show, here are some Grand Designs Show photo pages >

Workshops on renovation, DIY, remodeling, building for amateurs.

There are Masterclasses and also open format Ask the Experts sessions.

Masterclasses are on:

9.30 to 10.15 am Walking Tours – Self Build & Renovation
These are on all day and comprise an expert walking and talking around the many standing exhibits in the centre.

10.30 to 11.15 am Is It For Me?

Some jobs are too big for beginners. So get an idea of the scope of a job before you create a disaster.

11.30 to 12.15am Finding and Funding Your Project
This covers financing for land, construction, materials, workers, insurance etc.

1 to 1.45pm Design, Planning & Sustainable Building

Just get it in budget. This is a hard one as things get added (let’s have a wine cellar!), or the spec improves (you are buying flooring and suddenly decide the better version is what you want) so always add a bit – perhaps 50%.

3.00 to 3:45pm Project Management

Don’t made horrible expensive mistakes. Hire an expert to run your job – you can still be hands-on.

4 to 4:45pm Walking Tours – Self Build & Renovation

More walk and talk with the experts.

Go here for Tickets and more details >

Coming soon, 3 weeks away, this event is a practical guide to what to do to renovate, refurbish and generally spring build your home.

Building DIY advice tips materials

With 200 exhibitors, many workshops and master classes with real experts. There are Buildstore (the sponsors) Finance (mortgages, grants, loans etc), Land Finding (with planning PP or with ouline planning OPP or none), and Materials Purchasing (wholesale and normal) experts. Also available to discuss your project are architects, project managers, building control officers, planners and planning officers, green and eco advisors and sustainability experts.

Amazingly, you can bring along drawings and sketches for the experts to comment on. That should be fun!

There are also many proper workshops.

Sat. 16th April 2011
10am to 5pm (doors open 9.30 am).
Parking: There is a big car park at the rear of the building, drive past the front, turn right and right again. It is basically a huge warehouse.
Or get a bus from Swindon Bus Station. See their website for details.

Self Build and Renovation Workshop 1
Talk to the experts. Ask questions, Get practical answers. Whatever you level – DIY, builder, enthusiast – this will be very useful.

Sun. 17th April 2011
10am to 5pm

Self Build and Renovation Workshop 2
As above. The Masterclasses are the same schedule each day,.

See the website for for free tickets or they are 10 UKP on the door.

See also DIY building advice and tips, information and topics >

Building site materials construction - sand

There are many small and large builders merchants all over the country which are happy to do small sales, as it is all money comin gin. Architects and trade people often get a discount (10% or so) from these places, but if you are regular or friendly you too might get a discount. We will be starting an online building supplies directory so keep a look out for that.

We will be adding:

• wholesalers
• building supplies
• green building materials
• green technology
• green roofing
• green house materials
• fabric wholesale for interior decoration and refurbishment and remodeling
• wholesale furniture
• online wholesale supplies
• construction material
• eco building
• wholesale wood and timber

This new section will address building materials and construction, with a green eco slant, as is usual for this site. Buy cheap wood, bricks, slabs, windows, frames, glass, roofing… the list is almost endless. Garden supplies and garden materials will also be included, as you can get through a lot of wood, timber, bamboo, decking, slabs etc doing up a garden.

Save money and get more satisfaction from your building projects.

We are excited by this addition and will let you know what is coming in this building and DIY blog.

See our section on Building Materials and Wood for some information >

Eco Technologies Workshop – Retrofit Your Home – 10am – 5pm

95% – 99% of housing is old not new – so green and sustainable technology has to be added to OLD homes and office snot just glamorous new housing.

• solar panels
• solar thermal
• insulation – all types natural, synthetic
• costs – very important!
• effectiveness
• ease of installation
• project planning for maximum effect

Tickets from the Buildstore website >

Many seminars.
11.00 – 11.30 Eco Technologies – What’s Available?
12.00 – 12.30 New Tricks for Old Bricks
13.00 – 13.30 Question Time – All Experts
14.00 – 14.30 What To Install & Where To Start

See our Green DIY and building index advice >

And Solar technology index advice >

They say green goods (energy efficiency, glazing, insulation, solar powered gadgets etc) should have a lower rate to encourage take-up. This is a good idea, since cost is a major factor in going green.

As builders, and architects specifying jobs, clients are often interested in green approaches, but stop short when they realise it will add substantially to the cost.

Incidentally, B&Q stands for Bill and Quentin, who set up a DIY shop for home enthusiasts, and latterly builders, in 1972.

The DIY market was new then; DIY (do it yourself) was a sign of lack of funds for a ‘proper’ builder; whereas now it is a hobby as much as anything; perhaps working at the computer all day causes this reaction – get you hands dirty, many pursuits, etc.

DIY building green - VAT reduction?

Anyway, B&Q have a box in store where you leave your details, with a pretty green piggy bank symbol, then the parent company Kingfisher will lobby government for a reduction in VAT. (That’s a good way of getting lots of people’s details!).

B&Q have also dropped the VAT themselves (absorbed it) on energy monitors. Some items such as solar panels, insulation,etc, already have a reduced rate.

So all you DIY and building fans, let’s see if Wickes, et al, also start a green campaign.

See this DIY store campaigning >

And our own Green DIY building pages >

and

DIY building section >

Small green roof

That time of year again, the Big Green Home Show in Swindon off the M4. Many exhibits, seminars, Expert Alley (Ask The Experts) where you can get answers to your home renovation questions.

Dates: Fri 29 to Sun 31 October 2010
Where:
The National Self Build & Renovation Centre, Swindon
Open from 9.30-17.00.

Car: M4 at junction 16, signposted Swindon West, Wootton Bassett. Down A3102, signposted Swindon, go left after 200metres.

Of course you should take public transport to Swindon centre then get out there on a Bus, which is easy.

Suitable for all DIY and professional builders, the exhibition centre is worth a visit if you have not been before – it is huge with many excellent permanent installations showing foundations, water recycling, walls, roof, even an old house being renovated.

Topics include:

Eco Technologies
Sustainable Building
Energy Efficiency
SAP Assessor & Code for Sustainable Homes
Environmental Buildings
Plot/Property Searching
Design, Planning & Building Regs
Building Control
Builders Merchants
Buying Materials
Planning
Mortgages & Finance
Insurance & Protection
Eco Project Management
Self Build
Building Work Guarantees

You can get tickets from here:

Big Green Home Show 2010 >

See also our Green DIY Building advice >

Visite las páginas en Español de la construcción, bricolaje, jardines

Have a look at the Spanish pages now >

Consejos Auto Construcción, hágalo usted mismo, construcción de casas auto construcción, consejos para la casas, jardines y jardinería, información ambiente, más regulaciones, aseguramiento, hipotecas, cámaras, juguetes y más.

Visite las páginas en Español de la construcción, bricolaje, jardines >

Uso de metales en construcciones – cobre, plomo, aluminio, estano, latón, hierro, oro, plata, titanio >

Consejos de hipoteca – comercial y residencial – y consejos de aseguramiento >

Barbacoa en el jardin >

Construir una barbacoa >

Toldos de jardín y doseles – guías útiles >

Desvanes y Áticos – ¿Cuál es la diferencia? >

Túneles solares – también llamados conductos o tuberías solares, de luz, tragaluz o claraboyas >

Calefaccion por suelo radiante agua caliente y sistemas de calefaccion central >

Many great seminars and demonstrations. The location is fantastic – a huge hall with many permanent exhibitions on walls, foundations, water systems, roofing, etc. Always fun and no cost tickets too.

This is just off M4, junction 16 on Bristol side of Swindon (is west Swindon), head into Swindow and turn left after about 100 yards – easy.

Get more information on Self Build Show here >

See our section on DIY Building and self build >