150 people met at West Suffolk College on the 14th of April to discuss how to design and construct low energy buildings. They included representatives of all aspects of the construction industry from architects and planners to builders and installers.  The participants had 13 interesting workshops to choose from, with topics ranging from insulation and ventilation to bio-mass and micro CHP.

The opening address was presented by David Daniels and focused on overcoming the barriers to low energy houses. Refurbishment and the enormous challenge we face in the existing buildings stock was a topic that was raised on several occasions during the day.

At the end of the day a plenary was organised with all 13 workshop presenters and Build with CaRe partner Dr Bruce Tofield of University of East Anglia. They were asked the question if you could wish for one thing to increase the energy efficiency in buildings in the UK, what would it be?   In summary, this was their response:

- Make funding and information easy to access; today there are too many financial schemes not working together.
- Increase the demand for new build low energy houses.
- There is a confusion of standards; we have to be more defined in where we're going.
- Change the mindset of payback time.
- Spread information and make sure people know that there are good options.
- Refurbish the whole buildings stock to a minimum standard.

On the following day a one day workshop was organised, led by Swedish passive house architect Anders Linde. Twenty participants from Build with CaRe partners West Suffolk College and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council had the opportunity to learn about the basic elements of passive house construction and explore different design features that have an impact on the energy use for heating in buildings.

Organiser David Frost at West Suffolk College was very happy with the number of participants.

The participants in the workshop had to use both practical and theoretical skills to solve the tasks given to them.