quote:

Originally posted by Dom:
In my experience, eco-renovation is a balance between the specific needs of you and your building, the building regulations, listed building status (if any), knowledge of available products, personal skills or availability of trades, timescales - and of course cost!

It's a daunting rite of passage to build up sufficent knowledge and skills to confidently specify (or carry out) the choices that are best for you and your building - and particularly to reject inappropriate or "sales based" advice.

I found the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (http://www.spab.org.uk/) was a good all-round source. Conservation and eco-renovation share a lot of common ground. They're also pragmatic about real-world budgets and the balance between practicality and cost/conservation.

We like SPAB - added to the list - thanks Dom

Any chance of asking them to provide a speaker?

Also useful is a personal network of people travelling the same road (don't be shy of knocking on strangers doors of well executed projects too).

Some very short (10-15 minute?) members presentations would do a lot for networking.

We'll have this in some shape or form

quote:

Originally posted by Sarah Thomas:
As it turns out, now we are probably going to be doing an eco-renovation rather than a eco build from scratch!
The two concepts overlap and we'll cover off what we can So how about where to find potential eco-renovation properties - there's been media coverage regarding empty propeties over recent months.
Suggest in the meantime you contact Empty Homes Agency www.emptyhomes.com who might be able to provide some pointers.Also how about eco-builders and eco-trades people - maybe some one from the green Building Bible or AECB?

Could you have eco-renovation stands too?

Good suggestions - noted