Designing for the Future – A Forum for Innovation
Seminars, Workshops and Discussion Form at EcoBuild
Plan Expo 2009 - 3 to 5 November, RDS Dublin

Designing for the Future is a two-day programme of seminars, workshops, keynote lectures and discussion forums on how to design sustainable and energy efficient buildings to coincide with this year’s EcoBuild at Plan Expo. The event programme is being designed by a steering group, which includes many of the best minds on sustainability in Ireland today including Professor Own Lewis, Chief Executive Officer Sustainable Energy Ireland; Vivienne Brophy of UCD’s Energy Research Group; Ciaràn O’Connor, Assistant Principal Architect in the OPW with a track record in green design; Tomas O’Leary, MosArt, designers of Ireland’s first Passive House; Professor of Architecture and highly regarded eco-architect Tom Woolley; Jeff Colley, Editor of Construct Ireland. The steering group is chaired by Dr Sandra O'Connell, Editor of Architecture Ireland.

Designing for the Future will offer practical workshops and seminars on how to design towards zero energy buildings.  These workshops will disseminate in-depth understanding of the key principles and techniques in low energy buildings. The greening of existing buildings has been identified as an essential task for the sector and a substantial section of the workshop/seminar programme will be dedicated to retrofitting.

Key-note lectures by distinguished practitioners in Ireland and abroad will present landmark sustainable buildings and highlight the big themes in sustainable design.

A public discussion forum will take place during the exhibition and debate a range of highly topical issues, presented by experts in their field including:

• Renewable Energies for Buildings – Which work?
• Low Energy, Zero Carbon, Passive House Standard Buildings – What does it mean?
• Retrofitting Homes – What role do professionals play?
• New-build vs Retrofitting – What are the challenges?
• Retrofitting Historic Buildings – The Challenge
• Reducing Primary Energy Demand of Buildings through Design – Case Studies

The 2-day conference is organised by Expo Exhibitions and Architecture Ireland.
The event is aimed at professionals in the building sector including, architects, architectural technicians, engineers, energy consultants, BER-assessors, local authority planners and engineers, universities and research organisations, renewable energy product suppliers and installers.

As the Irish construction industry is undergoing dramatic changes, Designing for the Future – A Forum for Innovation at EcoBuild is a timely event to position the strategic importance for Irish society of investing in a cutting edge sustainable building sector. It is an invaluable opportunity for practitioners to learn about the latest sustainable design methods and building technology and for building professionals, contractors and suppliers to come together.

About EcoBuild at Plan Expo
Plan Expo, which runs from 3 to 5 November 2009, is Ireland’s premier construction industry event, running annually for the last 26 years, and the only exhibition to be fully endorsed by both the Construction Industry Federation and The Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland. Now in its third year, EcoBuild represents a fast growing sector at Plan Expo, focusing on cutting edge technology in the area of sustainable building design, renewable energy and retrofitting technology. Eco Build will benefit from a dedicated marketing campaign, product demonstrations and product award scheme this year.