AECB News

AECB CarbonLite courses have been announced for Plymouth from 27-30th September.

Please see the pdf attached below for more info.

AECB chair Chris Herring is making the epic journey from Huddersfield to Machynlleth by bike, to raise money for Practical Action - an excellent charity supporting the  development of appropriate technology worldwide.

And you can now sponsor him online here: http://www.aecb.net/conference2010.php.

The pledges have already started coming in the few days the link has been up, so thanks to everyone who has sponsored him already!

Then of course, once you've sponsored Chris, go straight on to booking your conference place if you haven't done so already.

The Autumn Programme for CarbonLite training, including on use of the Passivhaus PHPP software, is now being organised.

See http://www.aecb.net/carbonlite/courses.php - go to 'training calendar' for list of available dates and venues.

AECB today congratulates the board of the Passivhaus Trust on its launch event, being held in London this evening -- along with a tour of a community building undergoing refurbishment to Passivhaus Standard --  and the launch of the Trust's new website.

The Passivhaus Trust was set up by the AECB to provide leadership in the UK for the adoption of the Passivhaus standard and methodology. The Trust is run by its own board and staff team, but has close working links with AECB and with other key organsations: the International Passive House Association, CAT Graduate School, University of Strathclyde, Good Homes Alliance and the Sustainable Development Foundation.

Explaining why AECB sees Passivhaus as being so important to the development of truly sustainable building in the UK, AECB chair and Passivhaus Trust board member Chris Herring explained:

“ Passivhaus is the leading international low energy design standard. With over 20,000 Passivhaus buildings completed across Europe, it offers a robust, proven and cost effective method for the UK achieve its challenging carbon reduction targets for the built environment sector."

By setting up the Passivhaus Trust, the AECB and its partners have established a visible and accessible focal point for the adoption and understanding of this unrivalled approach to cutting energy use in buildings. A forum has been created where practitioners from all sections of the construction industry can network and share the theoretical underpinning and the practical know-how that will enable Passivhaus to take wing in this country.

To find out more, visit the Trust's new website at www.passivhaustrust.org.uk

AECB are pleased to announce that the Green Building Site are now offering offer a 5% discount exclusively to all AECB members on all our products for orders over £500, for the rest of the year. All orders will need to be telephoned through on 0844 561 7949 and the discount requested at the point of sale. Further details/prices are available at www.TheGreenBuildingSite.co.uk

For a full list of discounts offered to AECB members go to http://www.aecb.net/benefits.php

*** DATE ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON ***

The AECB, with support from Pass Net and in conjunction with the Passivhaus Trust, is excited to announce an upcoming online 'webinar' on adopting the Passivhaus methodology in refurbishments. This event will be held in late July and will primarily focus on the social housing sector.

This two-part event will present video visits to three retrofit projects, to be made available on the AECB website, and follow up with an on-line question and answer and discussion with a panel of AECB experts. More information to follow soon at: http://www.aecb.net/latestnews.php

Autumn programme will be available soon. Details will be posted here and at http://www.carbonlite.org.uk/carbonlite/training.php later in the year.

AECB 2010 Anniversary Conference

Celebrating 21 years of the AECB
New Dates: Friday and Saturday 1st and 2nd October 2010
New Venue: WISE, at the Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynlleth
A wonderful programme, in a beautiful location -- more details and booking on www.aecb.net soon

The AECB's initiative to promote low carbon building, Passivhaus Buildings, will now operate under the name of the Passivhaus Trust. The Trust is a not-for-profit company absorbing the Passivhaus Buildings Trust and Association.

The Passivhaus Trust’s key aim is to promote the reduction of energy use and carbon emissions from new and refurbished buildings. It intends to achieve this  by encouraging the development and widespread adoption of proven methodologies to deliver buildings with low levels of energy use and carbon emissions.

The AECB confirms the recent departure of Liz Reason, John Walker and Daniel Nabarro from the AECB's Passivhaus Buildings initiative. Liz has left her position as MD of Passivhaus Buildings in order to work with John and Daniel on their own joint projects. We would like to thank Liz for her contributions during her time at the AECB.

Three new Directors have been appointed to the Passivhaus Trust: Neil May, Nick Grant and Peter Wilkinson will join Chris Herring on the Board. The AECB is firmly committed to ensuring that the Passivhaus Trust is successful and operates transparently in the public interest. Through working collaboratively with a range of partners, the AECB is committed to creating, in the Trust, a robust and non commercial platform to help the UK make a successful transition to low energy, low carbon building.

Functions of the Trust include:

•   Providing leadership for low energy/low carbon buildings in the UK through promoting understanding of the Passivhaus Standard and methodology.
•   Promoting and facilitating quality assurance regarding Passivhaus standards of building construction and performance.
•   Co-ordinating monitoring and feedback related to Passivhaus low energy standards and methodologies.
•   Promotion and dissemination of best practice in low energy, low carbon building.

If you wish to become a partner or supporter of the Passivhaus Trust, please register your interest with Sally Hall at the AECB, sally@aecb.net.