House Design Online

(Source: Cultivate.ie)

Wednesdays from 7th October to 11th November | 7.00 – 9.00pm

€180 (10% reduction Cultivate and ÉASCA members) | To book call: 01-6745773

This course uses Patrick’s popular book, The Energy Efficient Home, as the core reading. By the end of this series participants will have the confidence and knowledge to make the big decisions in managing a new build or renovation. Dr Patrick Waterfield is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Energy Institute. He is the author of 14 conference and journal papers and numerous periodical/magazine articles.

Session 1 | Site and Built Form – Microclimate, Passive Solar Design

Session 2 | Construction and Renovation – Materials, Insulation and

U Values

Session 3 | Features and Elements – Windows and doors, extensions,

conservatories, sunrooms and attic conversions

Session 4 | Heating and Ventilation Systems – Hot Water, under floor heating, heat pumps and natural and mechanical ventilation

Session 5 | Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency – Solar thermal, solar PV, biomass, wind, lighting appliances and best use of

daylight

Session 6 | Energy Rating and Wider Environmental Issues – Water Saving, Recycling, Building Regulations and Energy Auditing

Hemp Symposium, Kenmare, Ireland 2009

The site has recently been updated with new information on the speakers giving presentations at the Symposium.

The Symposium will offer a broad insight into the wide ranging possibilities of the Hemp Building

system and the contribution hemp materials can make to the world of Low carbon and Natural building.

As we search for ways of reducing our CO2 emissions and addressing the issues of energy peak and food security, Hemp is proving it has a lot to offer to the production of resources.

The 1st International Hemp Building Symposium will highlight the innovative ways in which hemp materials can be used to make Hemp Fibre insulation, Hempcrete made of Hemp-lime or Hemp-clay, and Hemp Plasters, together with the design, construction and the lifestyle benefits of living in such buildings.

16-18th September 2009 in Kenmare Bay Hotel, Kenmare. Co. Kerry, Ireland.

• Presentations

• Talks

• Demonstration

• Q & A Sessions

• Displays

• Networking & Education

For More information – click on picture below

For more information - click here

Inrtoduction TO Renewable Energy Course
With CREDIT Dundalk

This course is delivered by staff from the Centre for Renewable Energy at Dundalk

Institute of Technology and is directed at those who are interested in becoming familiar with renewable energy and those wishing to install a renewable energy system in their home or small business. (more…)

The Complete Cob Course- Learn to handsculpt your healthy and affordable house from natural materials

A 9 day workshop with Ulrike and Thomas Riedmuller,Paul Dillon and Joanne Forsythe, associates of Cob Cottage Company.

The Hollies Centre for Practical Sustainability, Castletown, Enniskeane, Co. Cork, Ireland

June 6th-14th.

Cost: € 750

For more Information CLICK HERE

Introduction to Strawbale building.
A 1 day course that covers strawbale building history and it’s place in contemporary design and build, introduces the environmental and health benefits of strawbale buildings, and will give you practical knowledge of how strawbale is used in design and construction.
It also includes an overview of the next steps to becoming a strawbale builder
July 6th, August,19th, September 4th and 16th, October 14th, November 4th and 18th, December 15th

Course Location: Hope Mill, Crescent St, Todmorden, OL14 5HA, UK

For more information see AMAZON NAILS

Workshops Basics of Cob Building 7 day intensive workshop – Morayshire, Scotland

Inspire yourself and tantalise your senses during a week connecting with the earth at a beautiful rural location in Scotland. During the week you will discover how it’s possible to use the ground beneath your feet to sculpt your own cob building.

During the week you will be helping to sculpt a small building with stone foundation, cob walls and roundpole timber living roof, the structure will be completed with lime and earth plasters . You should leave the course with all the skills necessary to begin a small earth-building project of your own.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

.

Hemp Lime Construction – Public Talk with Professor Tom Woolley

Eco Minimalist Houses and Building Using Natural Materials

Another in an interesting series of talks by the Cultivate Centre takes place at the Cultivate Centre on Monday evening, June 8th 2009.

Professor Tom Woolley who is a professor of Architecture at the Graduate School of the Environment at the  Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales will deliver a public talk entitled “Eco Minimalist Houses and Building using Natural Materials”.

Hemp lime is a composite construction material that can be used for walls, insulation of roofs and floors and as part of timber-framed buildings. It provides very good thermal and acoustic performance, and offers a genuinely zero-carbon contribution to sustainable construction. Hemp masonry is breathable and is able to absorb and emit moisture, leading to much healthier buildings. This talk explores the current and potential uses of hemp lime in Ireland today.

For more information please click here

Led by ‘Amazonails’ Strawbale building experts this course will look at the history and use of straw bale buildings, different techniques, planning considerations and how to build. There will be practical workshops on the load bearing method, plaster and render preparation, and lime and earth finishes.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

Centre for Alternative Technology,  Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9AZ, UK

ONLY A FEW PLACES LEFT SO BOOK NOW IF YOU WANT A PLACE!

This course is suitable for builders, architects and anyone who wishes to undertake the refurbishment of an existing building with minimal environmental impact both on-site and in use.
It accepts that 99.9% of us are never going to design
and build our own eco-houses, and outlines best practice (and the compromises involved) in eco Refurbishment.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

ECO LIVING FESTIVAL
JUNE 6th/7th 2009

The first Eco Living Festival will take place on the weekend of June 6th/7th at the Drummsna Community Resource Centre, Drumsna, Co. Leitrim (on the N4 near Carrick on Shannon).

The weekend event will have a packed program, with many speakers from across the country, as well as demonstrations, local produce stalls, nature walks, field trips and hands-on permaculture gardening practice in store.

It will be the showcase event for Permaculture Ireland this year, where we offer the public many positive solutions to global problems – solutions that can start in our own homes and backyards.

With admittance pricing at a meagre €5 Euros (€10) and many sustainable living ideas to be had, who cannot afford to come along to our Festival?.

Peter Cowman BArch.,
Director

Living Architecture Centre

A unique opportunity to learn some practical natural building skills and have a holiday experience of a lifetime would be an Eco Holiday at the Boghill Centre at the foot of the Burren  in beautiful North County Clare on the West Coast of Ireland

The Boghill Centre is a residential activity centre situated off the beaten track, in a natural bog land setting between Lisdoonvarna and Kilfenora. SEE www.boghill.com
Although it is only two miles from Lisdoonvarna and four miles from Kilfenora it has a quiet and secluded atmosphere, making it the perfect place to relax and unwind.

They are running a series of Eco Experience weeks during June, July and August 2009.  This summer the series of Eco Experience weeks will centre around Cob building.   Cob is an ancient building material that has been used for construction since prehistoric times. It is made by mixing clay-based subsoil with straw, sand and water. This earthen mixture is then ladled onto a stone foundation and trodden onto the wall by workers in a process known as cobbing.

For more information click … ECO EXPERIENCE WEEKS

An important starting point in designing and building your own home is a visit to self-build exhibitions which are happening in most towns.

The Self-Build -Entend & Renovate show is happening at the Galway Racecourse, Ballybrit.

There will alsobe a full programme of seminars delivered by professionals from the construction industry covering topics such as Building Energy Rating, Planning Permission and Passive Housing.

If you are thinking of building or renovating, the Seld Build shows which are held at different venues  throughout Ireland over the year.  You get the chance to talk to a number of suppliers in the one place. It’s also a good place to haggle.

If you have a sketch or a plan bring a few copies along.

For more information click … SELF BUILD – RENOVATE & EXTEND 2009

The Energy Show 2009 Organised by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) will be held at the RDS Main Hall, Dublin

This business to business event is a must for anyone with a professional interest in or responsibility for energy use.

Registration for the Exhibition has now closed. You can register on the day. Entrance is free to the Exhibition on production of trade ID.

Now firmly established as the showcase event for Ireland’s energy sector, this year’s event follows the highly successful format of previous years. A cutting edge technology and trade exhibition with leading Irish and European product and service suppliers will showcase the very latest in energy innovation offering visitors a unique experience in seeking low energy solutions for buildings and the opportunity to engage those experts leading the energy sector both here and abroad. (more…)

Location: CELT (Centre for Environmental Living & Training)

Bealkelly Oak Woods, Tuamgraney, Co. Clare – 9th & 10th May 2009

Traditional Skills & Heritage Crafts incl youngsters courses (8yrs +).
Courses include:

• Herblore
• Sugan Chair
• Greenwood Furniture
• New Course! Fishing for Beginners
• Dry Stone Walling
• Woodcarving
• Silversmithing
• Felting
• New Course! Tool Restoration
• Natural Building
• Basketry
• Blacksmithing
• Spinning & Weaving
• Coppersmithing
• Stonecarving
• Woodcrafts & Felting & Rustic Art for 8-14yrs

For More Information: Contact CELT

Cost: €150/€100 15 euro annual membership
See:     www.celtnet.org for detailed info & online booking
Email: info@celtnet.org
Tel : 061 640765

Next Events: 11/12th July & 19th/20th September

CELT Centre for Environmental Living and Training
Main St, Scariff, Co.Clare, Ireland
www.celtnet.org info@celtnet.org Tel: 061-640765

Two independent 1 1/2 day courses with Thomas and Ulrike Riedmuller
Dates:Sat/Sun April 25th/26th and
June 30th/31th at The Hollies
Cost per course:€100

For great outdoor fun and the real Italian taste these wood fired Bread and Pizza Ovens built with Cob are hard to beat. Learn how to build your own in just 1 1/2 days from firebricks, clay, sand, earth and straw. After this course you’ll be equipped with enough skill to go home and build your own in the garden and cook in it.

For More Information Check out THE HOLLIES

Venue:                                              The Organic Centre in Rossinver, Co Leitrim

Course Date:                                   17 May 2009
Instructor:                                     Phil Wheal
Course Fee:                                    €90.00

When it comes to designing our gardens, many of us settle for creating spaces that rigidly define areas into vegetable, flowers, fruit etc. and then select landscaping plants from a limited range of uninteresting species used in conventional landscape design that do little either aesthetically or productively.
Blending elements of permaculture, organic and conventional garden design this course aims to help you plan and create a garden that integrates the practical and aesthetic, using a wide range of plants and materials. Whatever your budget or size of garden, from a smallholding to an urban backyard you can create a productive, low maintenance space that can fulfil the gardener and artist in you.

For More Information THE ORGANIC CENTRE

Venue: The Organic Centre in Rossinver, Co Leitrim

Course Date: 24 May 2009
Instructor: Peter Cowman
Course Fee: €90.00

Peter will explain various techniques including economics, planning, passive solar design, alternative energy systems, the use of timber and other natural materials as well as self build.

Peter is the originator of the “living architecture” concept and believes that “our homes engage us on a physical as well as an emotional level”.

Special attention will be paid to ‘mortgage-free housing options’

For More Information. Click THE ORGANIC CENTRE

Sustainable Design with a special focus on the creation of affordable, mortgage-free dwellings

• Venue: Carraig Dulra in Glenealy, Co Wicklow

Course Date:
16 May 2009
Instructor:
Peter Cowman

The workshop will allow students to understand the process involved in creating a sustainable house design. Peter will explain the inspiration behind the development of the Econospace, his design for a low-cost, self-buildable sustainable shelter. Then he will focus on the practical aspects of its construction.
Price: €90.00

For More Information CLICK HERE

How to build a Low-Cost, Planning-free, Sustainable Space In Your Back Garden

The Ecoshop, Meridian Point, Church Road, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

(Beside SuperValu car park, 2 minutes from DART station & buses)

Course Will be presented by Architect/Teacher/Writer
Peter Cowman B Arch. Director of The Living Architecture Centre and originator of the ‘Living Architecture’ concept

For More Information Click Here

Converting your Home for Sustainable Living on a shoestring.

The Ecoshop, Meridian Point, Church Road, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

(Beside SuperValu car park, 2 minutes from DART station & buses)

Course  Will be presented by Architect/Teacher/Writer
Peter Cowman B Arch. Director of The Living Architecture Centre and originator of the ‘Living Architecture’ concept

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

Date: Monday 27th April, 2009

Location: Tipperary Institute, Thurles, North Tipperary

Price: Free but booking essential by Friday 17th of April

Booking:                              Tel. 01 674 5773

More Information CLICK HERE

Organised by Cultivate, Tipperary Institute, The Village, Irish Rural Link and Carnegie Trust

Supported by COMHAR, the National Sustainable Development Council, Dublin City Council, Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government, Sustainable Energy Ireland and the Carnegie Trust

Over the last couple of decades policy makers have tended to regard Irish rural communities as dependent on urban centers rather than as drivers for change. This conference brings together stakeholders from a wide variety of sectors to explore how we can work together to build resilience in a future of energy, climate and economic uncertainty.

What are the actions and positive changes we will need to make to enhance the quality of life of our communities? How will we provide livelihoods and strong rural economies? How will communities of the future provide for their food needs? What are the opportunities for sustainable transport and how will we heat and power our communities?

What do we do to engage people to address the ever more complex problems facing us today? All of this will require for us to work purposefully together to build resilience in these challenging times.

10.00 Registration

10.30 Opening

Representative from North Tipperary County Council

Conversation Starters

10.35 Towards Sustainable Rural Communities
Ciaran Lynch – Tipperary Institute

10.45 From Vulnerability to Resilience
Prof. Peader Kirby

10.55 Regional Food
Helen Lawrenson – Falkland Centre for
Stewardship, Scotland

11.05 Rural Transport
Seamus Boland – Irish Rural Link

11.15 Break

11.30 World Café (view YouTube clip about World Café)

“Given where we are at, what are you already doing to build resilience in your communities?”

12.00 World Café plenary

13.00 Lunch (not provided)

Conversation Starters

14.00 Entreprise, Livelihoods ands Jobs
Ben Whelan – Cultivate and the Village

14.10 The Power of One Community
Seamus Hoyne – Tipperary Energy Agency, Paul Allen, Centre for Alternative Technology and Zero Carbon Britain

14.30 Planning For Rural Sustainability
Bridget Kirwan and Catherine Corcoran,
Tipperary Institute

14.50 Education and Training for Local Resilience
Davie Philip, Cultivate and the Village, Michael Kenny NUIM

15.10 Break

15.20 World Café (view YouTube clip about World Café)

“How do we work together now to build resilience in our communities”

Beyond The Talking Shop

16.20 Making the Transition

Chris Chapman, Change Exploratory and Nick Wilding, Carnegie Trust