HHP Master Class - A Practical Case Study of Sustainability

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Hockerton Housing Project Master Class – a practical case study of sustainability

• Background

• Why you should attend

• Programme

• Next Dates

• CPD

• Venue

• Terms & conditions + BOOKING

• Testimonials/Feedback

• Publications available for sale during event

• Presenters/guides/facilitators

Background

The Hockerton Housing Project (HHP) is an innovative residential sustainable development in the village of Hockerton near Southwell, Nottinghamshire. The architects were Professor Brenda Vale and Dr Robert Vale, whose own ground-breaking home in Southwell provided much of the inspiration and know-how for this project. It was completed in September 1998 after three years of planning and 18 months of construction. They have been designed as one of the first zero energy residential systems in the UK reducing life cycle energy to a minimum and are amongst the most energy efficient, purpose built dwellings in Europe. Maximum use of benign, organic and recycled materials has been made in the construction and the development is designed to be, to a large extent, self-sufficient. The houses are earth covered and have passive solar heating without a space heating system. Wind turbines and photovoltaics provide all of the energy required to run the homes and a community building. The water and sewage system is self-contained. Since completion in 1998 Hockerton Housing Project has established itself as an exemplar of sustainable development locally and nationally, providing a unique 'real-life' experience of living sustainably. 

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Why you should attend

This event will be of particular interest to developers, self-builders, landowners, planners, architects, buildings services engineers, and other building professionals.

Delegates will gain: 

• an appreciation of the practicalities of building sustainably
• an understanding of strategies and technologies for ultra low energy building and ‘zero heating ‘design
• a comprehension of the differences between high thermal mass build and lightweight timber frame construction
• knowledge of the potential solutions and strategies for delivering a zero carbon and autonomous development through renewable energy technologies, and water systems (collection and waste), and how they can be incorporated into buildings.
• an insight into what it is really like to live in eco homes and to live sustainably.

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Programme

This programme is only a guide with approximate timings. HHP reserves the right to vary the programme

Attendance at this events is limited to 15 delegates, to ensure a truly interactive and worthwhile event for all participants

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NEXT DATES

• 23rd March 2006

• 27th April 2006

To check availability of places for specific events - see http://www.hockerton.demon.co.uk/guidedtour/booking.html

CPD

Attending a HHP event can contribute towards your CPD requirement. This event can count towards 6.0 hours of CPD (this excludes time for lunch)

You may wish to discuss with your professional body – many other visitors have used visits to HHP to meet their CPD requirements, including RIBA & CIOB members.

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Venue- Sustainable Resource Centre (SRC)

To meet the growing need from visitors, a new learning resource centre has recently been completed, the Sustainable Resource Centre (SRC).

The new facilities include a:

·        A dedicated audio-visual room

·        Seminar facilities

·        Permanent exhibitions.

The building itself has been built to similar high environmental standards as the homes, including meeting autonomous, zero heating and zero CO₂ standards.

 “The SRC will be an inspirational centre and act as regional catalyst for sustainable action, offering improved facilities and more extensive activities for a wide range of interest groups.”

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Terms and Conditions

Cost

·        Students                                                                                   =  £50 + VAT = £58.75

·        Individuals, and non-VAT registered organisations                          = £75 + VAT = £88.13

·        Businesses, local authorities and VAT registered organisations         =  £99 + VAT = £116.33

This compares with £100-300 (+VAT) for similar events run by other organisations

Your booking will be confirmed once payment has been received. Bookings must be accompanied by a cheque payable to ‘HHP Trading Ltd’. Directions and further practical details will be sent to you with your booking confirmation. TO BOOK CLICK HERE

Events may be cancelled by HHP with 5 days notice whereupon guests will receive a full refund or offered an alternative date.

Cancellations

Any booking fee paid will not be refunded unless written confirmation is received at least five working days prior to the event, substitute delegates are welcome.

HHP reserves the right to vary the programme and cancel the event in case of insufficient bookings.

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Testimonials

 “This housing development represents a truly innovative approach to constructing new homes using sustainable techniques. The project employs local people, uses locally produced materials where possible and considers how best to protect the local environment. It is this holistic approach which is needed to achieve sustainable development – and I congratulate everyone concerned”

(Mr. Raynsford, Construction Minister, speaking at the launch of the project, Oct 1998)

 “Projects like this show that there are alternatives from the dominant way of life that causes so much damage. As people come and see, listen, learn, and understand that green technologies deliver in better ways, they would like some as well – to help live a more sustainable life.”

(Charles Secrett, Director, Friends of the Earth, May 1999).

 “Thanks for hosting us - we had a great day and the feedback from the crew was great.  Most of them found the HHP part very inspiring and have taken the 'can do' attitude back to their respective workplaces.”

(David Zammit, Science Museum, Jan 2005)

Feedback from Master Class delegates

I thought the day spent with you guys was excellent and very informative. In this current age of lightweight construction, it was compelling to see a thermal mass structure that actually works. The calm conviction of all of you (without being too precious of your beliefs, which is what one often finds) was very refreshing and it generated an atmosphere in which all topics could be explored. For me, the more fundamental nature of the project ~ its spirit, I suppose, was far more valuable than any design detail.  It was very inspiring.  Good to hear about consensus design as well ~ it’s actually not as easy as it sounds is it! The cost of the class was less than the train and taxi fare to get there ~ very good value!

(Richard Sabin, Green Light Construction Ltd, May 2005)

 "I found the day interesting and useful.  I am most impressed with the integration of building, renewable energy, community and growing that you have achieved - and your dissemination effort. It was good to compare notes with others with similar interests. The cooks should be congratulated. I thought the day was good value."

(Jon Broome Architects, Sustainable Construction Consultants, May 2005)

"I had a great day at Hockerton and have brought away many valuable ideas about how Willmott Dixon Housing can deliver more sustainable developments."

(Gareth Rondell, Sustainability Manager, Willmott Dixon Housing Ltd, Sept 2005)

“I thought the day was fantastic, from the personal greeting in the car park to the depth of understanding and passion of your team and the breadth of experience represented in the audience, there was a real sense of collective purpose. From my perspective the level and content of the material you presented was spot on, but I am not an expert. I did wonder beforehand about it being billed as a 'master class' and whether I would be completely out of my depth. I also thought that what was OK for me might be too shallow for the other 'experts' in the audience, but on reflection your project is so broad that the slice you cut through was spot on for everyone. In terms of value for money, I think you could charge significantly more. I have experienced less exciting, uninformative CPD with crap catering (your coffee was great and the lunch delicious) for 3 times as much.”

(Tony wheeler, New Blue Door Ltd, Sept 2005)

“It is good to see so many issues and problems addressed in reality rather than just reading about the theory. It has certainly given me plenty of food for thought in designing my own place.”

”The event was well managed and good value for money. Excellent food. I also appreciated the warts and all honest approach to things that had not worked and surprises that had been unexpected bonuses. It is also rare to get user feedback on post occupancy and how the buildings work for different social groups i.e. families, couples, home working, commuting."

 "Thanks Nick and all of you for a great day - would love to keep channels open for appropriate future links & cooperation."

 "We would like to thank you for a fascinating tour and such warm hospitality"

 "An excellent and useful day"

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Publications available for sale during this event include:

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Presenters/Guides/ Facilitators

Nick Martin

Nick Martin, a founding Project member, has a unique experience and knowledge of energy efficient housing. He first became interested in the early 1990’s after acquiring a 25-acre site just outside the village envelope of Hockerton, in rural Nottinghamshire. Combining his interests in renewable energy and low impact developments he set to work on various concepts leading him to the earth-sheltered option. In the meantime he won the tender in 1993 to build the home of Prof. Brenda and Dr. Robert Vale, the UK’s first sustainable town house - an autonomous house with ‘net zero CO2’ emissions, of low embodied energy, deriving power from photovoltaic arrays and passive solar heating. Nick Martin was so convinced by many of the construction principles that he commissioned Dr. Robert Vale to design a rural hamlet of 5 earth sheltered sustainable dwellings, Hockerton Housing Project, to similar energy and environmental performance standards - autonomous and with ‘net zero CO₂’ emissions. Nick supervised this self-build project from August 1996 to Sept 1998. 

Nick Martin is now one of the most experienced eco-builders in the UK. He leads the project consultancy work, including new designs for ultra low energy housing, as well as being directly involved in new eco-building projects. More recently he has been involved with the design and build of HHP’s new eco-community building (the Sustainable Resource Centre) a pair of earth-sheltered homes in Hockerton, a single eco-home, an eco-barn conversion and many eco-retrofits (including involvement in the Nottingham Eco-House).

Simon Tilley

Simon Tilley (M Eng, C Eng, M I Mech E) Simon joined the project in 1995, after a background in Mechanical Engineering. This included spending two years in Namibia. He manages the HHP water & energy systems and a number of key HHP projects, including a DTI Domestic PV field trial. He also leads and facilitates HHP's developments with educational work including running workshops tours and training events. He contributed towards Nottinghamshire Agenda 21's review of energy & construction. Simon was also an Open University Associate Lecturer for the “Energy for a Sustainable Future” course for two years and now mentors his replacement.

More recently Simon has been very involved with the design and build of HHP’s new eco-community building (the Sustainable Resource Centre), provided input into a number of reed bed designs, and acts as one of HHP’s most experienced technical members for consultancy, tours and workshops.

Nick White

Nick White (BSc) Nick has been a member of HHP since the start of the construction of the homes in 1996, and contributed to the self-build. Since 1998, Nick has led the development and marketing of the Project’s on site ‘eco-business’, including guided tours, consultancy and workshops. He coordinates the Media coverage of HHP. In the last few years he has also managed grant funded projects including, ‘The Zero Emission Network’ (BIFFAward), written two guides on sustainable living and written a draft “Sustainable Developer Guide” for Nottinghamshire County Council.

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