Event Archive: 2011 Traditional Buildings Conference | Cumbria Green Build | Energy efficiency & renewable energy for your home, business and community

MAJOR PARTNERS

Traditional Buildings: Adapting to a Low Carbon Future

A partnership event from CAfS, the Heritage Skills Initiative and the Churches Trust for Cumbria

30th March 2011, Rheged

An excellent day at Rheged brought over 120 people to hear keynote speeches by Roger Curtis (Historic Scotland) and Alan Gardner as well as workshops on a wide variety of topics concerning retrofit of traditional buildings – specifically stone Cumbrian dwellings, including churches. The key points from the main sessions were:

• Need to understand how your house works and how it will be used

• Traditional old buildings aren’t as bad as we thought

• Use new technology sensibly and appropriately

• Aim to stop excess moisture and drafts

• We can maintain the beauty of our traditional buildings and stay warm.

The latest research from Diane Hubbard on ventilation and air permeability, and from Carolyne Rye from SPAB on U values (measured in situ) helps towards intelligent retrofitting and operation of traditional buildings. Better understanding of good design features and wise choices of insulation will allow the walls (made of stone) to breath. Heating bills can be reduced by simple, cheap measures such as thick curtains and blinds.

A big thank you to all who arranged the conference, and organized the volunteers. Thanks to the speakers who inspired us to value and work with our beautiful traditional buildings, with advice on how to stay warm and not spend a fortune.

View the conference video here

Agenda and seminar listings 30th March conference

30 March 2011 Traditional Buildings presentation links