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 >

Apart from cancelled schemes, this government reversal of strategy “because it is too successful” creates uncertainty for investors – who will then ethically invest abroad.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (a misnomer if ever there was one) say they have to more than halve the FOT subsidy to “protect” it.

That is assuming a relatively tiny pot of money that can never be increased, only decreased. Since all governments of whatever stripe proclaim their green-ness these days, the proof of the pudding is in the eating (to mix metaphors). Both Labour and Conservative (and by extension the Lib-Dems) are not green at all, it is just a fashionable con, with a reluctant obedience to targets set in the EC.

We here used to build eco houses, before the crash of 2007. Then, we fitted Solar PV panels, which used to get a 50% government subsidy on the installation and hardware costs, with a complex application process of course, but there was no FIT (feed-in tariffs, payment for excess energy produced into the grid).

FIT is used in Europe a lot, but was ignored over here even though the entire alternative energy industry wanted it – because too successful.

Anyway that 50% subsidy for installation was also cancelled as too popular. In that system, there was always a rush at the start of the month, as applications had to get in before they maxed out.

What an appallingly stupid system – so the Conservatives are only carrying on a grand UK tradition of loud pro-green noises and quiet cancellations and downward revisions.

FAIL!

Note: we will be adding a DIY Solar Photovoltaic panel section soon – how to make your own panel and save a huge amout of money.

See our sections on:

Solar Energy and Power Advice and Tips>

Green Building advice and Tips >

Solar PV from Building DIY ebook

This sounds too good to be true as even a small system can cost well over £10,000 so what is the deal? Is it a scam? How does it affect your house and mortgage?

The deal is this: a company (there are a few doing this, with varying standards) will buy and install a large grid of solar PV panels, typically 12 or more, onto your roof if suitable.

The panels will generate electricity (electrons) when receiving light (photons) from the sun (an action first postulated by Einstein in 1905, as an explanation for the photoelectric effect previously ‘discovered’ by Heinrich Hertz in 1887).

Solar PV fitting by the Green Home Company, who are accredited

How does it work – financially

So how does this work financially? What are the benefits to you and to the company?

The solar PV panels will generate electricity. Some is used ‘live’ in the house. However a lot of electricity is used in the evenings and night, when it is dark, so the actual percentage of ‘live’ electricity from the panels will be smaller than your actual overall electricity use. So you will still get electricity bills.

The company gets the excess electricity that is sent back into the grid. The Government has a new (April 2010) Feed In Tariff (FIT) scheme which means they make the energy supplying companies (like EDF, or First Utility etc) pay a set amount for any electricity put back into the grid, at a set rate that is over the market value. This could have been done 10 years ago by the supposedly ‘green’ Labour Party but was not… to busy spending money on other things.

The company is renting a large part of your roof space and has a 25 year lease. That will add complications if you want to sell your house, although they claim mortgage companies do not mind. I would like to see some actual examples of people selling their houses with this fitted. It might not annoy the mortgage company or their solicitors (although they are very picky), it might deter buyers, or it might encourage buyers. Generally, you are giving up rights to part of your house for a smallish return.

This FIT scheme is to encourage people to fit solar panels. It is the European model, used a lot in Germany, where people cover their house and gardens, in solar panels to get a profit from the FIT rate.

So the installing solar company make this profit from excess electricity that is fed back into the grid.

Now, this is easily the majority of the electricity generated, as the panels will be producing the most energy in day time and summer days when no lights or heater are on in the house. Also in the winter when an electric bar or convector heater might be used to warm up rooms, the panels will be least efficient and producing less electricity – so you will still be using grid (pay for) energy.

You will definitely save on your electricity bills, the companies claim up to 50% – but that of course includes 10% or so.

Note: solar panels can’t be fixed to normal slate roof tiles as they damage too much, only clay or solid tiles.

So in brief:

Summer - lots of solar power – no use for it – excess energy goes to the grid – FIT money goes to the installing Company
Winter - hardly any solar power – lots of use for it – no excess energy – no FIT either

So over the sunny months, the investment of the installing company does very well, in the winter, it is in hibernation. Of course if the UK was more southerly, the solar input would be more equal all year round.

So you can see how this is quite profitable for the solar company, but not so great for the householder. The solar company is renting your roof space for their profit. You will gain only a small part of the electricity benefit as explained above.

This is obvious once you think about it, as otherwise, why would they buy the expensive panels and go to all the trouble of fitting them and doing all the paperwork etc?

Despite this it still might be a good idea if you are running a home smelting company (or a home office with several computers), if you work mainly in the summer.

See the Building DIY section on Solar Panels and Solar Energy >

Advanced systems include PV-T which is Solar PV and Solar Thermal combined – see our advice >

To save a bit of money by using solar energy to heat water see the Building DIY Solar Thermal panels advice and fitting >

Solar thermal even works in the winter as the new high tech vacuum systems use a temperature difference not absolute temperature to generate heat.

Insulation is less of a concern in the summer, obviously, so that is a good time to fit it. But if you haven’t it is not too late.

Modern insulation standards are very high. In the UK, BREEAM standards cover all aspects of building homes and offices. So if you buy a new build, or newly converted, property you should have excellent insulation.

We have an advice on DIY Building – Insulation >

Wall insulation - pictures - from our Ebook

Sound insulation is controlled under the ‘robust details’ standards.

See advice on DIY Building sound insulation robust details >

If your property is older than 2000 or so, ie, a typical renovation, conversion or older property, it is most likely the insulation is bad. This is because it is an ‘invisible’ feature so developers can save money by fitting low quality basic insulation. This means higher fuel bills and also more noise pollution.

Noise nuisance is an all year round problem – either you make the noise – young children, music, parties, trombone practice – or your neighbours do – but you ALL get to hear it!

This is true of all old buildings, not just cheaply built modern properties. Desirable Edwardian and Victorian houses are usually ’single skin’ – one layer of brick, without even a cavity wall double layer structure.

Loft and attic insulation

Loft spaces (attics in the USA) are another huge source of lost heat (is that gramatically correct?). Most of your expensive heat escapes through the ceiling into the roof space and hence the outside.

It is cheap and easy to lay rolls of loft insulation so get to it!

If you are short of cash, there might be grants for loft insulation, so call your local Council. It must be done anyway, as it will immediately save money on heating.

See DIY Building on Lofts, attics, an dother extensions to the home >

Loft attic stairs can be noisy!

Glazing and double glazing

Double glazing is another must-have, but this is expensive. See our DIY Building advice on windows and glazing >

Energy efficiency and greening the housing stock

Lack of insulation is a major problem with housing in the UK or anywhere else. The existing housing stock is so poorly insulated, that is where the money should be spent.

New build homes with high insulation and building standards are a very small part of the picture, under 1% of housing stock. Even less now there are fewer new houses being built due to the recession (the company that runs this website stopped building eco houses in 2007 due to banking failures, not lack of demand).

We will be adding more posts about Autumn, Fall and Winter jobs such as how to prepare your garden, guttering, roofing, walls, water inress, damp, mould, etc.

Reference:

Visit website for insulation and building standards at BREEAM >

Building a Greener Britain (improving the UK’s housing stock) (pdf) >

Friday 30 September 10:00 – 17.00
Saturday 1 October 10:00 – 17.00
Sunday 2 October 10:00 – 17.00

Ticketas are 8 UKP or 12 UKP on the door, see this link:

Tickets for The National Home Improvement Show 2011 >

This is a vast show so give yourself plenty of time. Features this year are:

Over 300 company stands

Real Homes live – BBC’s Charlie Luxton and ITV’s Matt James will be answering questions, this is quoite fun and makes a change from staring at the products

Julia Kendell’s Interiors Pavilion – advice from this expert

The Advice Centre – more advice…

Kitchen & Bathroom Inspiration Zone… guess what

Eco Home Zone – this is new, amazingly, and migth have some good ideas so check it out

The Period Property Pavilion – for all things retro, which usually means not energy efficient

The Home Entertainment & Technology (from CEDIA) – spend your money before it goes out of fashion – oh it already has!

The Landscaping & Gardens – this is nicely staged and worth a look for a rest from the clamour and crowds

Also Masterclasses and DIY Doctor… more advice.

This is all very un-green, it is really about consumerism, so although interesting, the show can be a bit exhausting. Be prepared.

We have removed the Christmas articles on trees, decorations, green Christmas and presents.

We are adding articles on

• fireplaces
• double glazing
• insulation
• snow clearance

These will be online in the next week.

Dates are Tuesday 01 March to Thursday 03 March 2011.

There are 1300 exhibitors, all sorts and sizes, since everyone does green certified materials and processes these days. This is a fun show and well worth traveling to.

It has over 130 seminars on:

• Future energy
• Energy in buildings
• Sustainable architecture
• Regulations
• Many more

Also installations on Solar, Water, Refurbishment and Remodeling etc.

It says 600 speakers – which seems amazing – with Professor Brian Cox, human rights campaigner Bianca Jagger,
Baroness Susan Greenfield, Construction Advisor, Paul Morrell.

Plus 596 others!

Get your tickets for Ecobuild here >

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 >

Eco Show DIY building

And an Eco Incentives event has lots of advice on Feed-In Tariffs and Renewable Heat Incentives in the UK. There are also ‘walking seminars‘ where you get to traipse around the life-size exhibits there with an expert chatting,, this is a great way to ask questions and have a bit of fun. There is also an Eco Village setup. Quite ironic really – a village inside a vast exhibition hanger next to a motorway.

Basically a whole lot of DIY and building advice is there with a green angle – which is pretty mainstream these days.

The Big Green Home Show is on at National Self Build & Renovation Centre, which is in Swindon, off the M4, tomorrow, Fri 29th October to Sun 31st October 2010. The exhibition opens from 9.30am-5pm each day.

Tickets from here >

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 >