Grand Designs Live to showcase sustainable home improvements

Thousands of housing professionals will gather in Birmingham this weekend for the UK’s leading homes show, Grand Designs Live. Visitors will have the opportunity to test a number of innovative eco-friendly products.

The event, which runs from October 4-6 and is held at the NEC in Birmingham, is expected to attract over 50,000 visitors. 

It will feature a unique ‘Echo Tech House’, which exhibits four rooms of household high-tech systems and appliances that save money, electricity and energy.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to try out a variety of innovative green products such as the electric car Renault ZOE, a shower that recycles water and an outdoor gym that generates usable electricity from human energy.

The event is based on the Channel 4 show Grand Designs. Broadcaster Kevin McCloud will host the event, meeting fans, chairing debates and sharing his experiences.

Blue & Green Tomorrow’s Guide to Sustainable Homes 2013, which was released on Tuesday, will also be showcased at the event by the Ecology Building Society. 

The guide explores issues such as low-carbon homes, the green deal, self-build, different ownership models, empty homes and the overall sustainability of the housing market.

Contributors and interviewees include the Passivhaus Trust, Superhomes, YouGen, the UK Cohousing Network and HAB Housing – self-build and sustainability specialists co-founded by McCloud.

Further reading:

World Green Building Week to focus on health benefits of sustainable buildings

Government risks ‘losing momentum’ on sustainable homes

Government consultation on zero-carbon homes welcomed by industry

The Guide to Sustainable Homes 2013