Ecobuild keeps finger on the pulse of industry issues with new sustainability showcases for 2018

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A series of exclusive Sustainability Showcases is set to be launched at ecobuild 2018 as new owner, Futurebuild Events Ltd, looks to put sustainability back at the heart of the industry-leading event.

Following its acquisition of ecobuild, Futurebuild Events called on industry to provide feedback, input and support to collaboratively shape ecobuild 2018 and ensure the event remains as relevant and invaluable as possible.

Curated alongside leading architects, manufacturers and designers – and developed as a direct response to industry feedback – the Showcases will form a 1500m2 area at the very centre of ecobuild dedicated to innovative sustainability features.

Building on the conference programme and seminar series, the Showcases will add a further dimension to the event, delivering a range of interactive installations and demonstrations – from full scale builds that could solve the housing crisis to pocket parks that can better build community – that offer direct, tangible solutions to the biggest issues facing the industry.

Martin Hurn, managing director of Futurebuild Events, explains “ecobuild is well-renowned as the must-go event for forward thinkers in the built environment.

This reputation is built on the event’s track-record of collaboratively showcasing and championing the very latest thinking and approaches from across the built environment, and indeed further afield. Under independent ownership, we’re determined to further enhance ecobuild’s commitment to industry innovation and sustainability.

“The Sustainability Showcases represent this commitment in action and are all about bringing the latest thinking from across the industry to attendees in a way that they can physically interactive and engage with. Each Showcase promises to be a thought-provoking and striking event highlight, yet all also offer very practical and achievable solutions to the current issues we face. They will also feed into the main conference programme, which will be shaped around delivering the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and place sustainability firmly at the heart of everything ecobuild 2018 is about.”

The Sustainability Showcases are:

Zero Bills Home Lite
ZEDfactory returns to ecobuild with a full-scale build designed to tackle the housing crisis. The zero-net carbon home is designed to minimise fossil fuels and annual energy bills, while also reducing build times to four weeks.

Passive Pod Exhibition House
Building Research in Architecture (BRIA) will showcase a full-scale demountable Passive Pod House erected on a foundation of recycled concrete railway sleepers on a gravel bed.

The Hive
Returning to ecobuild for the second year, the Edible Bus Stop Studio will be showcasing The Hive – an engaging pocket park focused on biodiversity, biophilia and health and wellbeing.

WasteZone
Curated by architect, academic and environmental activist Duncan Baker-Brown, the WasteZone will discuss the issues and huge potentials of seeing waste as a valuable resource, not a problem.

Buildings as Material Banks
16 partners from eight European countries share their mission to move the building industry towards a circular economy, by combining materials passports with reversible building design.

Sustainable Product Showcase
A collaboration between sustainable built environment champions, the Passivhaus Trust and the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, to showcase the most sustainable and innovative products and materials across two pavilions.

Natural Building Products café
In this café, industry experts will provide demonstrations and information about natural building materials and techniques, including advice on how attendees can incorporate them into their projects.

BREEAM Awards Gallery
Attendees can find out more about BREEAM’s leading-edge thinking and learn about the performance of past winners’ buildings and projects. BRE experts will also be providing 1:1 support with any technical questions.

The Showcases will complement and build upon ecobuild 2018’s wider programme of talks, seminars and activities, all centred around a core objective of developing an action plan for change.

To register for ecobuild 2018, visit www.ecobuild.co.uk/register.
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Upcycling and zero-waste key to MEDITE SMARTPLY’s eye-catching Ecobuild stand

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MEDITE SMARTPLY, leading supplier of sustainable OSB and MDF panel products, is partnering with award winning social enterprise Goldfinger Factory for its ground-breaking new stand at Ecobuild 2017.

The two companies are combining their core values to create a tribute to sustainable innovation. MEDITE SMARTPLY’s fully traceable supply chain boasts its own FSC certified forestry management programme, which means it can track its certified products from sapling to site.

Complementing this will be Goldfinger Factory’s own commitment to zero waste production, as Oliver Waddington-Ball, Founder of Goldfinger Factory, explains: “Goldfinger Factory is a design, build and teaching platform centred around upcycling. We create bespoke furniture and interiors, while helping artisans, trainees and young people become self-sustaining through craft, in turn saving materials from landfill.

“Our partnership with MEDITE SMARTPLY requires us to construct and design the coffee lounge section of its stand using SMARTPLY OSB3, FR OSB3, and PROPASSIV products. The focal point of the build is a fantastic table centrepiece that uses large sheets of board, made possible due to the new continuous production line at the SMARTPLY factory. The legs of the table will be particularly special, using board shaped into the MEDITE SMARTPLY tree logo.

“All of this has been designed and managed by our full-time staff and used as a training process for the young people that the organisation supports. Once the show is over the work doesn’t stop for us. The materials will be reused to complete a community centre refit in the Havelock estate, Ealing as part of our work for Catalyst housing association. We will also turn the panels into products, made by our trainees, to sell in our shop.”

The issues of sustainability and supply chain management remain priorities within the timber industry and are issues on which MEDITE SMARTPLY is keen to lead the discussion.

“This partnership for us is also about uniting two brands passionate about the environment and the people that we serve,” says Stuart Devoil, Head of Marketing and Brand at MEDITE SMARTPLY.

“Ecobuild also marks the start of our Wake up and Smell the Coffee project. This campaign is essentially a series of myth busting exercises. We want to educate customers, and the industry, on the advantages of timber with zero added formaldehyde, flame retardant timber, and sustainability. We will be looking to eliminate any rumours and uncertainties around these issues and report on the facts and figures with examples from our own expertise.

“All of the product that we are supplying to Goldfinger Factory is fully traceable and certified, which means that Oliver and his team are fully compliant with all required legislation and regulation for their Havelock estate project.”

MEDITE SMARTPLY will be at Ecobuild, Excel centre, London from 7th to the 9th March on stand D115. For more information or to book your ticket to the event please visit the website here.

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District Energy Town Square at Ecobuild

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Evinox will be exhibiting in the District Energy Town Square at Ecobuild 2017, taking place from the 7th to the 9th March at Excel London. This year the exhibition will be themed as an immersive city – complete with main street, distinct destinations and special feature attractions. Ecobuild is the UK’s largest event for specifiers across the built environment, from architects and developers to local government and major infrastructure clients.

Visit us at stand F231 to find out more about our latest ModuSat HIU for communal and district heating schemes, which takes just 15 seconds to reach 55°C from the tap opening, providing an impressive dynamic response. You can also pick up a copy of our new “Guide to Metering & Billing” a useful document for anyone involved in a communal or district heating scheme.

We look forward to welcoming you at the event. You can register now to attend the exhibition for free by visiting the Ecobuild website.

Evinox Energy combine smart HIU technology with excellent after-sales end-user support and flexible metering and billing services, ensuring the building owner has a hassle-free, efficient development and residents enjoy a comfortable and relaxed place to live.

For more information on Evinox please visit www.evinoxenergy.co.uk.
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Explore Offsite Zone to be showcased at Ecobuild

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  • Offsite construction expert voice added to the schedule for Ecobuild 2017
  • A series of masterclass seminars will explore the role offsite construction technology will play in tackling the housing crisis and the efficient delivery of infrastructure projects

Ecobuild has announced that it will be partnering with Cogent Consulting, leading experts in offsite construction and Radar Communications, the organisers of the Explore Offsite series of events and conferences to deliver a focused exhibition zone and series of offsite masterclasses for the 2017 edition of the show.

Explore Offsite at Ecobuild, in partnership with Offsite Magazine and the Offsite Hub, will be a dedicated show feature focused on supporting attendees in learning more about the exciting opportunities offered by offsite technology in the future of construction, through a three-day seminar programme and exhibition. By focusing on technology and product innovation, the extensive calendar of masterclasses and demonstrations will highlight the benefits of offsite technology across the built environment – from housebuilding to infrastructure.

The seminars will take place alongside exhibitions showcasing each of the six main types of offsite construction – modular volumetric; steel; timber; concrete; roofing and MEP/pods.

Offsite construction is contributing to resource efficiency, the circular economy and diversifying the skill set in the built environment, all of which will be evidenced by a range of leading exhibitors representing the sector at Ecobuild 2017.

Explore Offsite at Ecobuild comes at a time when the Government is acknowledging the substantial potential of offsite construction. A white paper to be released this month, announced by housing minister Gavin Barwell MP, will look at ways to utilise offsite technology to build 100,000 modular homes over the course of this Parliament2, in a bid to tackle the housing shortage.

With the UK also facing a potential shortage of primary school places, Explore Offsite at Ecobuild will feature the latest innovations in the use of offsite construction to create additional classrooms or add storeys to existing school buildings1.

Visitors will be able to see how extensions can be manufactured away from the building and craned into place in a matter of weeks – offering a sustainable choice by reducing vehicle journeys and increasing efficiency.

Martin Hurn, brand director at Ecobuild, said: “Offsite is clearly the future of construction technology, and it’s happening now. Offsite presents many opportunities for the private and public sectors. Currently some projects can deliver a modular home in 48 hours, which has huge implications for the industry. Our audience wants the latest technologies, systems and processes, and Ecobuild can find no better partners than Cogent Consulting and Radar Communications to bring this to the stage in 2017.”

Darren Richards, Managing Director of Cogent Consulting, said: “Increasingly the construction industry is turning its attention to the substantial benefits offsite technology can offer. In order to make the most of what is possible, clients, contractors and industry at large must have up to date knowledge of what offsite technology suppliers can offer.”

Ecobuild wants to hear from companies who are championing innovation in sustainable construction, design and energy in the built environment. If you are interested in helping shape the 2017 show, find out more at www.ecobuild.co.uk.
Learn more about Explore Offsite at Ecobuild at  www.ecobuild.co.uk/exploreoffsite
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New direction for Ecobuild 2016 voted a hit by industry

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Tens of thousands of industry professionals flocked to Ecobuild to see 800 brands across core areas of industry growth and market priorities: housing, infrastructure, design, energy efficiency, technology and skills. The UK’s definitive event for the built environment, Ecobuild 2016 unveiled its new direction, shook up its layout and delivered a robust three days of business.

It kicked off on a high note as Berkeley Group Chairman, Tony Pidgley CBE opened the Ecobuild Conference, which together with dedicated learning hubs across the show featured more than 350 high level speakers, celebrities and industry A-listers.

Martin Hurn, Event Director at Ecobuild, said “The built environment has fundamentally changed since Ecobuild launched 12 years ago. Government policy is at a crossroads but sustainability has become normalised. While we continue to maintain the eco-focus and promote sustainability standards with our partners across the industry, the smarter end of the market is taking a broader approach to sustainability, aiming to ensure buildings appeal to occupiers well into the future with improved building performance, design, efficiency, health and wellbeing benefits”.

Hurn added that Ecobuild had confidently set out a repositioned show to reflect market priorities after a period of consultation with customers and stakeholders. New areas introduced for infrastructure, digital construction, smart technology and resource efficiency in the built environment are hot prospects set to grow for the event in 2017.

He said “We’ve been thrilled with the feedback from Ecobuild 2016. The industry is changing and we’re changing with it, ensuring our visitors come away with new ideas and working practices as well as new connections.

“The response has been emphatic. It’s been our buzziest show for a number of years and exhibitors are already looking to book for 2017 in record numbers. I’d like to thank the exhibitors for once again showcasing the very best in innovative products and services that are helping to drive the construction and energy industry, meet future needs and adapt to the challenges ahead.

“I’d also like to say a huge thank you to our partners and look forward to our ongoing collaboration with the industry throughout the year.”

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Raising the bar with composite windows at EcoBuild

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New, innovative, window types and a wider range of timber finishes are all on display, on Uniform Architectural’s stand E3200. A wealth of truly original ideas and benefits to meet Architect’s and client’s requirements are the central theme of our stand for 2016.

Slender profiles, invisible corner joints, face drainage, trickle vents, hinges, handles, etc, make the uni_one® Timber/Aluminium Composite Window, one of the best designed – and thus, increasingly popular in London and beyond.

Every imaginable opening type and the smoothest of Patio gliders are all awaiting your inspection!

Copies of the 2016 uni_one brochures and further information is available from Uniform Architectural Ltd on 01275 217227 email: enquiries@uniform-arch.co.uk or by visiting the company’s website at www.uniform-arch.co.uk.

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Zedfactory to unveil groundbreaking solution to homes shortage at Ecobuild

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Industry renowned architects and pioneers of the zero carbon agenda, Zedfactory, are set to unveil a groundbreaking solution to the housing shortage at Ecobuild. The solution claims to require no land whilst offering zero energy bills and the ability to relocate the property in the future, providing next generation future proofing.

The Government has pledged to build 400,000 homes over the life of this Parliament and there is currently little sign of that being delivered. In addition, as towns and cities expand, buildings are being demolished as a result of them no longer being suited to requirements. There needs to be an alternative visionary on how this will happen and Zedfactory believe they have found a solution.

Founded by Bill Dunster, OBE, Zedfactory are well-renowned as leaders in the field of zero-carbon design and development. Offering the full range of architectural services, from master-planning and design of large-scale ‘eco villages’ to one-off individual building commissions, the company has a unique track record of pioneering Zero (fossil) Energy Development (ZED) buildings in the UK.

ZEDfactory collaborates with the best global industrial partners to deliver replicable new construction industry solutions to assist timeless problems ranging from zero carbon urban design, architecture and product design in many climatic zones at a wide range of densities.

By looking at the way in which towns and cities grow and how the needs of their occupants change, coupled with unrivalled expertise in the creation of low energy buildings, Zedfactory have created a solution that could change the way the UK builds new homes.

ZEDliving – which will be exclusively unveiled at Ecobuild – is an affordable urban lifestyle solution that creates homes that require requiring no land, have no energy bills, no carbon footprint and help to reduce air pollution.

“If an affordable and low risk future powered by renewable energy is now possible, it is irresponsible not to provide it given accelerating climatic change,” commented Bill Dunster. “ZEDliving offers this. We are refining the zero carbon agenda and making it economically viable today by our homes being capable of having net zero annual energy bills. This offers a tangible benefit to everyone affected by rising fuel prices.”

“We are thrilled that Zedfactory have chosen Ecobuild to unveil ZEDliving, a unique solution to the delivery of future homes,” commented Martin Hurn Ecobuild Event Director. “Zedfactory has a reputation for delivering architecture that challenges and inspires. Their new solution looks set to continue this trend.”

Zedfactory will be exhibiting on stand number E4220. For further information about Ecobuild 2016 which takes place from 8th to 10th March at London’s ExCeL, please visit www.ecobuild.co.uk.

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Ecobuild joins forces with the Job Show to help meet construction industry skills gap

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In response to an industry-wide skills shortage, Ecobuild, the UK’s largest show dedicated to construction and energy, has launched a partnership with The Job Show™, the nationwide quality recruitment and careers event, to create a construction-focused job show which will run alongside Ecobuild on the last day of the show, 10th March at ExCeL London.

The Construction Job Show™ in partnership with Ecobuild has been designed to bring together employers of all sizes and disciplines with the very best would-be employees, and is built on The Job Show’s proven track record of uniting talented individuals with fantastic career opportunities, creating connections that benefit both parties.

For construction industry companies, the show gives them the opportunity to recruit their next generation of workers, ensuring they have the manpower – in terms of both capacity and competency – to meet growing, post-recession workloads and address any emerging skills shortages.

Jobseekers will be able to take in a wide variety of potential employment options and take their first steps to a career in fields as diverse as engineering and architecture, surveying to project management.

Martin Hurn, Ecobuild Event Director, said “With The Construction Job Show™ we have responded to industry demand to provide a dedicated space that will go some way to addressing the current skills shortage affecting the construction industry. With the recent news from Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) predicting an additional 232,000 job roles being created over the next five years, we believe this skills gap will be a core topic being discussed on day three of Ecobuild, which has a conference programme dedicated to Next Generation.

“The industry is changing at a pace never experienced before and as such there’s never been a wider range of opportunities available for those looking to embark on a career in construction across a wide range of disciplines.”

Victoria Clarke, Co-founder and Director of The Job Show™ said “We are delighted to launch The Construction Job Show™. As a dedicated ‘sector’ driven recruitment event we believe we can offer an excellent forum to showcase industry job roles as well as Apprenticeship and training opportunities for our generation of the future.

“With the increasing demand for new recruits across the construction industry, the timing of The Construction Job Show™ is excellent, being staged on the last day of Ecobuild, an event that already gathers the leading construction companies together.”

The Construction Job Show™ will be held in the South Gallery Rooms on the last day of Ecobuild 2016 on Thursday 10th March. For more information about the event or to book a stand space please click here or telephone Victoria on (01733) 555717 or mobile 07804 735856.

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 Ecobuild to provide food for thought with provocative next generation conference

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A programme on next generation thinking delivered by some of the most influential and innovative figures in the construction industry has been announced by Ecobuild. The conference takes an inventive look at the materials, practices and thinking which could shape our future living, from creating a swimmable commuter route on the capital’s canal, to smart buildings which operate without human intervention.

As well as providing an intriguing and highly provoking glance at the future construction of buildings and surrounding infrastructure, the programme, which is being hosted on day three of Ecobuild, offers a host of imaginative solutions on the question of how best to nurture talent within construction.

Among speakers giving their forthright, expert – and at times – provocative views include David Hancock, Head of Construction at the UK Cabinet Office; Andrew McNaughton, Director of Engineering at Tidal Lagoon Power; and Sam Martin, Director at Exterior Architecture.

One of the conference’s many stimulating presentations features a talk on the Thames Deckway by Anna Hill, founder of Space Synapse. Proposed as a first step in reinvigorating the River Thames’ role as a major movement corridor, this £600 million scheme could provide a floating cycle path from Battersea to Canary Wharf. The Deckway is seen by some as a delightfully unconventional solution to London’s deep-seated traffic and pollution problem.

With the capital in mind, the LidoLine is another real next generation idea being floated during the programme. It examines a proposal to transform London’s Regent’s Canal into a swimmable commuter route. This environmentally-friendly and healthy alternative to the bus would take the form of a clean basin being inserted into the canal, allowing swimmers to journey safely to work alongside boats.

The day’s conference programme will be rounded off with the final of The Big Innovation Pitch. Delivered in partnership with Marks & Spencer, The Big Innovation Pitch is an opportunity for companies to pitch innovative building products and solutions in the hope of becoming a potential supplier to the retailer. The finalists will give their final pitch to a panel of judges under the careful watch of host Rachel Riley from the Gadget Show and Countdown.

This lively session might just generate a revolutionary idea or concept to change the UK building industry. For further information about Ecobuild 2016 please visit www.ecobuild.co.uk.

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Evinox Energy to Exhibit at Ecobuild in the District Energy Pavilion

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Evinox Energy will be exhibiting in the District Energy Pavilion at Ecobuild, taking place from the 8th to the 10th March at the ExCeL London. Ecobuild is the leading exhibition and conference for the UK construction and energy market, attracting over 40,000 industry professionals from across the entire supply chain. This year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever, focusing on market priorities such as housing, infrastructure, technology and innovation.

The District Energy Pavilion will provide visitors with the opportunity to meet with a selection of suppliers and industry experts all in one area, and includes a comprehensive, informative seminar programme, featuring the latest information about efficient heat networks.

We specialise in communal & district heating systems, and manufacture our own range of modern heat interface units (HIU’s), designed with efficiency and end user comfort in mind. We will also be presenting a seminar in the District Energy Pavilion at the exhibition, where we will be discussing efficient heat network design and management.

Visit us on stand E4280 to find out more about our metering & billing solutions for communal & district systems, and smart control technology. Our systems combine effective HIU control with excellent after-sales end-user support and flexible metering and billing services, ensuring the building owner has a hassle-free, efficient development and residents enjoy a comfortable and relaxed place to live.

We look forward to welcoming you at the event. You can register now to attend the exhibition for free by visiting www.ecobuild.co.uk.

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