The way to a greener home

This weekend’s Greener Homes and Buildings Show at Builth Wells is a must for everyone interested in reducing their carbon footprint.

With our homes accounting for an estimated 27 per cent of all the UK CO2 emissions, the show aims to offer real solutions to homeowners who are keen to address this important issue.

From renewable energy to passive solar design, modern insulation materials to traditional building techniques, the event will give visitors the knowledge and materials to take their building projects a step further.

Held at the Royal Welsh Showground from March 7 to 9, the show is expected to attract around 5,000 visitors over the weekend.

This major three-day event, which begins with a trade and professional day on Friday for around 150 delegates before opening to the public on Saturday and Sunday, is organised by the Welsh Assembly Government, with support from the Welsh Timber Forum and is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Gareth Price, Greener Homes and Builders project manager, said: “This is an ideal opportunity for those interested in building projects to get information about products and services that will help improve energy savings in buildings, using natural and environmentally-friendly products.

“A range of businesses are exhibiting, and will be available to showcase their products, provide support and guidance.”

Besides exhibits from all the leading Welsh green building and energy companies, there is also a programme of drop-in seminars covering a wide range of topics.

Celebrity television presenter and author Dick Strawbridge will be making a star appearance at the show on Saturday to talk about his family’s quest to live a 21st century lifestyle without fossil fuels and by producing little or no waste. Visitors will have a chance during the weekend to win copies of his book, It’s Not Easy Being Green.

Strawbridge is included in the line-up of speakers at Saturday’s seminars, which end with a question and answer session.

The speakers include Jenny Hall, an architectural designer and member of Recycled Venues, who will be speak about using natural and recycled materials in building projects and Peter Harper, head of research and innovation at the Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynlleth, who will address the role of the garden in reducing our carbon footprint.

There will also be a talk from Tim and Sam Organ, CO2 Architecture and Design, whose topic is Acting Responsibly in Practice, and Dick Strawbridge on It’s Not Easy Being Green and Ashley Yarrow and Tom Williams, Wales’ Young Climate Champions, who will speak about their hopes for the future.

Sunday’s seminars include a talk on water heating by Chris Lord Smith from Llani Solar, environmental building projects in Wales by Derek Jones from North East Wales Institute, Wrexham, home heating with wood by Chris Laughton from the Very Efficient Heating Company, the Ty Unnos modular building system using sustainable Welsh wood by David Jenkins from Coed Cymru and planning for change by Andy Bull from Severn Wye Energy Agency.

Several new products and services will be launched at the show, including Top of the Realm, an exclusive new range of engineered oak flooring from ATC, the Monmouth and Cheltenham-based wood flooring company. The oak is all from sustainable sources, in keeping with ATC’s green credentials.

Clifford Jones Timber Ltd, based in Ruthin, will be promoting its new 20,000 sq ft facility to produce environmentally friendly wood pellets for domestic and commercial heating systems. The £2.5 million plant is expected to be in production this summer, producing around 30,000 tons of wood pellets a year.

Hanson Formpave, manufacturer of specialist concrete paving products, will be highlighting its flagship Aquaflow(tm) Water Harvesting System for domestic applications. Other exhibitors include Fforwm Tirlun, the Wales landscape industry forum

For more information about the show, which is open from 9.30am to 5pm each day, visit www.greenerhomeshow.co.uk or call 0845 602 4087.

On Saturday and Sunday tickets will cost £8 for adults, £3 for children and £19 for a family of two adults and two children under the age of 16.