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Ecobuild 2012 London March – building, DIY, sustainable exhibition.

Geoffd — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:23:31 +0000

Ecobuild 2012 is sponsored by Schuco, who make solar power and heat (thermal) systems, glass, facades, etc.

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

and

Building DIY pages on Solar power, solar thermal advice >

Feed in Tariffs FIT to be halved in UK in December 2011

Geoffd — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:04:24 +0000

This is to update the blog about the companies that fit solar PV panels for free.

The Conservative Government is reducing the FIT rate by half from December 12th 2011. Any solar PV panels installed and also registered with an energy company will qualify. So it is no good booking it in as the waiting times are long, as there is now a rush to sign up. There is always a delay in physically fitting the panels (6 weeks is very short time).

Also the energy companies ar ein no hurry to register your panels for the increased FIT rate – as they have to subsidise it as part of some energy reduction deal.

Comment
This is typical of the start-stop approach to anything green by both the recent Labour and current Conservative governments. They don’t really have any interest in green issues, it is just a lot of noise to fool the public. Plenty of money can be found for almost anything else – current spending cuts are a drop in the ocean of UK debt.

If a green initiate is successful, it has to scaled back or stopped, in case it is… too successful. So what is the point of that?

Tacita Dean artist at Tate Modern Turbine Hall London – building specific art film installation

Geoffd — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:22:00 +0000

Went along to the installation in the Turbine Hall of the Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG. The building is an old power station converted into a vast art gallery – a bit like an Art Mall – styled to be a bit modern, a bit industrial, a bit futuristic.