Building on the success of Cop26, the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum is to launch an eco homes festival in August, aiming to deliver practical advice to help Scotland become a net-zero nation. The Green Home Festival, from 8 to 12 August, is to offer the public and businesses demonstrations and hands-on guidance to help reduce their carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency. The week-long event will be part of the official Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
One of the event’s organisers, John McKinney, secretary of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, said: “The event will highlight the important role that construction will play in Scotland to achieving its net zero target. Delivered via collaboration across the Scottish construction industry through the CICV Forum, we are aiming to make it an annual occasion that will help build a long-term legacy and demonstrate our commitment to greener, low-carbon solutions.”
The festival is due to include around 15 shows across five days, targeting homeowners, professionals, local authorities, housing associations and local authorities. Sessions will be delivered both in-person and online.
Practical advice on effective retrofit work for older homes, as well as the latest technology for new homes, is to be showcased. Sessions aim to demonstrate how the construction industry can work together to make green home living a reality for everyone.
Topics are to include:
· Traditional buildings, eg tenements
· Commercial buildings and facilities management
· Solid and cavity wall buildings
· New developments
· Heat sources and renewable technology, and
· Minimising the carbon footprint of existing and new buildings.
Gordon Nelson, Scotland director of the Federation of Master Builders, who co-organised the festival, said: “The festival will show what we can all do to save energy and become a more efficient, low-carbon society and give us the opportunity to share good examples of larger projects and new developments, such as the Resource Efficient House in Ravenscraig.” Fellow organiser David Logue, a partner at Gardiner and Theobald, said: “There will be expert input from a range of designers, consultants and contractors who will share their journey towards carbon reduction. We are particularly looking forward to discussing the technology of heat sources, how they work, where they’re appropriate and how solar and wind power could be used to power them, including use of batteries.”
