Carbon Co-op

EcoHome Lab: Monthly meetup and skill share
2018-09-13 17:30 - 20:30 (Europe/London) | Plant NOMA, Redfern Street, Manchester, GB
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Now in our regular monthly slot – every second Thursday of the month at MadLab (https://madlab.org.uk/). A hangout for people taking control of their home energy usage and generation. We use open-source hardware and software to gain a better understanding of energy in our homes, how to make the best use of the energy we generate and reduce energy wasted.
This is a CarbonCo-op (https://carbon.coop/) initiative working close together with OpenEnergyMonitor (https://openenergymonitor.org).

Topics will include:
• Home energy monitoring.
• House energy performance assessment
• Sensors – electricity, gas, temperature, humidity, air quality…
• User interfaces, dashboards
• Smart houses and automation
• Aggregation of data sources
• Taking the power back! – Making better use of the surplus power we generate
Who is it for?
• Anyone with skills in physical electronics, web development or programming who wants to use that knowledge to reduce energy and carbon!
• There will be open space for small groups to focus on adding new sensors or hacking the user interface, there will always be a ‘newbies’ group for people interested in finding out more.

Beginner's Guide To Retrofit - Sep 2018
2018-09-12 18:30 - 20:30 | URBED (Urbanism Environment and Design) Ltd, 10 Little Lever Street, Manchester, M1 1HR, Manchester, M1 1HR, GB
Learn about energy efficiency and making home improvements
What: What do we mean when we talk about energy efficiency and retrofit? In this short, beginners guide we explore basic ideas and concepts, helping you get to grips with how you might reduce energy bills, improve your property and make your home a little bit greener.
For: householders interested in energy efficiency and domestic retrofit, new Carbon Co-op members, housing association staff, housing co-ops and landlords.
How you will benefit: gain a better understanding of retrofit, whether it is relevant to you and advice on your next steps.
Knowledge required: None
Trainers: Jonathan Atkinson and Aneaka Kellay, Carbon Co-op
Cost: Free for both members and non-members

This bi-monthly introductory evening to retrofit takes place on the second Wednesday of every other month. See below for 2017/8 dates:
13th Sept 20178th Nov 201710th Jan 201814th Mar 20189th May 2018– summer break – 12th Sep 201814th Nov 2018

A Beginner’s Guide To Retrofit is a part of Carbon Co-op’s Home Energy Training Programme, see more at carbon.coop/training

Carbon Co-op - celebration, info day and AGM
2018-06-30 10:00 - 13:00 | Real Junk Food Manchester, 85 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6EQ, Manchester, M1 6EQ, GB
How can I get support for my retrofit project? Where can I get advice on electric vehicle chargers or batteries? How can I help influence action on climate change in Greater Manchester?
On the morning of Saturday 30th June 2018, we’ll be running a celebration event, marking the work carried out by Carbon Co-op in the past year, showcasing our work for the year ahead and asking members what they want to see from us.

There will be lots of opportunities for attendees to gain new knowledge and expertise, ask those burning questions about new technology or projects and share stories and experiences.
The morning will include talks and discussions on:

Our new four year retrofit programme for Greater Manchester
New ‘smart’ technologies including electric vehicles and batteries
Our training programme and upcoming events
Energy democracy and how citizens can influence local and national government
Greater Manchester Community Renewables talking about their latest share issue
Plus lots more!

We will also hold our annual general meeting for 2018, with a chance for members to review our latest accounts, stand for election to the board and vote on board members.
Members who cannot attend the meeting can log in to the AGM via the internet. Click on the relevant ticket and we will send you details in advance of the day.
The morning will end with a celebration meal freshly prepared by the Real Junk Food company.
The event is open to all but non-members need to pay to cover the cost of the meal. If you’re not a member you can join Carbon Co-op.

Routes to Retrofit - June 2018
2018-06-28 17:30 - 2018-07-12 21:00 | URBED, 10 Little Lever Street, Manchester, M1 1HR, Manchester, M1 1HR, GB
Turn your designs into reality, learn how to procure domestic retrofit works.
Thurs 28th June and 12th July 2018, 5:30pm – 21:00pm
*Earlybird tickets end 31th May 2018*

“Excellent course, gave me a lot of info that I didn’t know I needed… made me think about how important the planning phase is and has spurred me on to learn more.” – Participant 2017Looking for a retrofit contractor, architect or professional? This course shows you how.
Description: This ever popular course, taught by experienced industry professionals, supports you to navigate the construction industry, make the most out of your budget, learn to be a discerning customer and how to be a good client.
For: Householders already aware of what improvements they require, seeking to commission retrofit architects and contractors. Ideal next step after a My Home Energy Planner assessment.
Benefit: Gain an understanding of the importance of the planning phase and common problems you may encounter. Fnd the right retrofit contractor at the right price.
What you will learn:

To considering objectives, priorities and getting the best result.
Balancing time, cost and quality
Regulations, approvals, and consents
Which ‘professionals’ are needed – selection and appointment
Selecting and appointing builders and using contracts
Examining common pitfalls and avoiding them
Getting the most for the resources you have available
Exchanging ideas and energy with like-minded people – & sharing the pain!

Knowledge required: Understanding of retrofit basics, an understanding of your retrofit improvements*Trainers: Marianne Heaslip, URBED and Bill Taylor, Taylor Armitt Consulting.

Routes To Retrofit is a part of Carbon Co-op’s Home Energy Training Programme, see more here: carbon.coop/training

*NB the course is for householders who are already aware of what improvements they require and are looking to take things to the next step, i.e. commission contractors etc. If you are unsure of what needs to be done to make your house energy efficient please commission a Carbon Co-op whole house assessment. Equally, these seminars are not for suppliers or contractors or professionals who offer services in retrofit design and delivery – householders are attending these seminars in order to receive impartial advice not sales pitches and we are happy to separately offer CPD services for professionals.
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SEMINAR CONTENT IN DETAIL
Your brief: your aims, priorities, budget, scope of works and expectations. Your team: who might be involved, when, and communication. Existing condition: where are you starting from? Funding options: what is available, possible combinations and restrictions. Time, cost and quality: getting the balance right, understanding risks and mitigating the energy efficiency ‘performance gap’. Regulations and approvals: planning, building regulations, party walls, health&safety and responsibility. Appointing Professionals: which professionals – their roles, examining quotes, forms of agreement, quality control and communication. Choosing and appointing builders and contractors: appropriateness for scope and type of work, culture and communication, tender and selection processes and aftercare. Scheduling works: Whole house vs step-by-step, packages of works. Contracts: Forms of contract, risk management, defects, warranties and aftercare.

Trainer bios:
Marianne Heaslip, URBED marianne@urbed.coop, @marianneheaslip
Marianne is a chartered architect with interests in urban design, sustainability and participative design. She holds an MSc in Advanced Environment and Energy Studies from the Centre for Alternative Technology, and is a Certified Passive House Designer. Marianne has experience in both new build and retrofit projects at a range of scales, with a particular focus on low-energy and sustainable design. She worked on two of the pioneering TSB ‘Retrofit for the Future’ projects with the lessons learned through this work applied in her role on the Carbon Coop’s retrofit ‘Community Green Deal’ programme. She is currently working on a number of retrofit and refurbishment projects across the North West – including as a member of Terrace 21 cooperative in Granby, Liverpool, where she plans to live.
Bill Taylor – MD of Taylor Armitt Consulting bill@taconsulting.org
Bill is the MD of Taylor Armitt Consulting and has been working in affordable housing for over 30 years. With qualifications in Town & Country Planning and Housing Policy, he has held development and asset management roles to Director level in several housing associations, where he developed an interest in co-operative housing and social enterprise. He formed his own consultancy in 2009. Bill focuses on enabling energy efficient improvement of housing, advising companies on business strategy and tendering, issues around Corporate and Social Responsibility, and adding and demonstrating Social Value. Bill has worked extensively with Fusion21 (a social enterprise he helped to establish in 2001), developing of their ‘retrofit’ offer for social housing and the wider market. This provides procurement frameworks and client advice on funding, energy efficiency and resident involvement. It adopts Fusion21’s proven training and employment model to encourage clients and the supply chain to develop the workforce that will deliver retrofit into the future. Bill is a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor and a Green Deal Advisor. Bill also advises housing associations on development issues, from strategy and policy though to processes and delivery. He also assists housing associations, consultants and contractors with procurement issues. His work in social audit involves advising on delivering, measuring and reporting on ‘social value added’ and he is a Social Accountant and Auditor with the Social Audit Network.

Carbon Co-op carbon.coop, @CarbonCoop
Carbon Co-op is a community benefit society made up of householder members seeking to make radical reductions in their household energy usage.Membership costs £35/year, for more details and to apply visit: https://carbon.coop/user/register

Introduction to Off-Grid Power Systems - Jun 2018
2018-06-23 10:00 - 16:00 | URBED, 10 Little Lever Street, Manchester, M1 1HR, Manchester, M1 1HR, GB
A practical, hands-on course in designing and building off-grid power systems.
*Note venue change

Description: The key concepts for designing and building off-grid power systems. Discussing the value of off-grid systems, sharing knowledge on how to build your own system to power lighting or electronic devices.
For: Anyone with an interest in renewable energy and generating and supplying their own power, building off-grid power systems, automotive or marine power applications.
Benefit: Gain theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
What you will learn:

Key concepts in the supply of electricity and basic electrical theory.
Key concepts in the design and specification of off-grid power systems.
How to size a basic off-grid power system involving PV panels and a battery.
Basic specification and selection of components.
Assembly of a basic off-grid power system with PV panels and batteries.

Existing knowledge required: Some familiarity with basic electrical theory will aid understanding but is not required.
Trainer: Ben Aylott, Carbon Co-op
Works in the areas of energy systems, he has a masters in Solar Energy Engineering from the European Solar Engineering School and experience in designing and building real world off-grid power systems in a variety of contexts.
Cost:

Member early bird – £40
Non-member early bird – £50
Member standard – £55
Non-member standard – £70

Early bird rates until 26th May 2018.
This training is a part of Carbon Co-op’s Home Energy Training Programme, see more here: carbon.coop/training

Flood Resilience and Retrofit
2018-05-19 10:00 - 13:00 | Hebden Bridge Town Hall, 39 St George's St, Hebden Bridge, HX7 7BY, Hebden Bridge, HX7 7BY, GB
Improve the flood resilience and energy efficiency of your home.
This bespoke session designed and delivered by Cumbria Action for Sustainability offers practical guidance on building materials and methods to choose when refurbishing a building at risk of flooding or extreme weather. Relevant for those interested in building weather resilience, dealing with damp, getting homes back into use after flooding and improving energy efficiency.
Who is this training for?
This training is for householders who live in flood risk areas. You will need to have a basic understanding of how your home is constructed and the potential extreme weather risks that affect it.
How you will benefit?
Gain knowledge on how to best approach refurbishing older buildings for effective flood and extreme weather resilience and energy efficiency.
What you will learn:

How water gets in to a building
Materials used in building and how water can affect them
Appropriate approaches for flood resilience with energy efficiency

Trainer: Emma Greenshaw, CAfS
Emma has 20 years’ experience in the environmental sector including several years as environmental manager in the construction industry. Emma currently advises on renewable energy schemes, energy audits and efficiency in community buildings, and is author of ‘Refitting your home to cope better with flooding’ and an online retrofitting tool.
Cost: Sliding scale £2-£30
Pre-course reading
If you would like to advance your learning before the event you can look at the CAfS factsheet: Refitting your home to cope better with flooding.

This training is a part of Carbon Co-op’s Home Energy Training Programme and has been supported by Pennine Community Power.

Principles of Retrofit - May 2018
2018-05-13 10:00 - 16:00 | URBED, 10 Little Lever Street, Manchester, M1 1HR, Manchester, M1 1HR, GB
Understanding heat and moisture in your home

Description: Confused by talk of U-values and ‘breathability’ in buildings? Keen to understand how you can improve and insulate your home to make it warmer, whilst avoiding unintended consequences? Want to know enough to avoid being bamboozled, but don’t want to become a specialist? Then this course is for you.
For: Householders planning refurbishment works who would like to develop a better understanding of basic technical principles in energy efficiency and retrofit.
Benefit: Will help you to decipher some of the language used by professionals, and better understand the key considerations in ensuring a successful retrofit.
What you will learn:

Heat transfer mechanisms and U-values.
Properties and application of insulation, thermal mass, air-tightness, and ‘breathability’.
Understand key performance risks – cold bridging, leaks, indoor air quality and moisture.
Specification concerns – context and criteria.

Existing knowledge required: None
Trainer: Marianne Heaslip, URBED
A chartered architect with interests in urban design, sustainability and participative design. She holds an MSc in Advanced Environment and Energy Studies from the Centre for Alternative Technology, and is a Certified Passive House Designer. She worked on pioneering TSB ‘Retrofit for the Future’ projects with the lessons learned through this work applied in her role on the Carbon Coop’s retrofit ‘Community Green Deal’ programme.

Details
Course dates:
Sat 25th November 2017
Sat 10th February 2018 – RESCHEDULED: Sun 13th May 2018
Sat 15th September 2018
Cost:
Member early bird – £40
Non-Member early bird – £55
Member standard – £50
Non member standard – £70
**Early bird tickets end one month before the training**
Please bring a packed lunch.

Beginner's Guide To Retrofit - May 2018
2018-05-09 18:30 - 20:30 | URBED (Urbanism Environment and Design) Ltd, 10 Little Lever Street, Manchester, M1 1HR, Manchester, M1 1HR, GB

DIY Retrofit for Homeowners - Apr 2018
2018-04-28 09:30 - 2018-05-12 16:30 | M3 Industries, ARTWORK 95 Greengate, Salford, M3 7NG, Salford, M3 7NG, GB
Understand retrofit theory, learn practical skills and how to manage risk

“The course exceeded my expectation by miles! Gained so much knowledge. Really good structure, especially learning the theory before the practical parts. Really in-depth teaching, especially around risks involved.” – Participant 2016
Description: This 3 day course tackles the key areas of fabric upgrades applicable to most homes. Includes airtightness works and insulation, covering basic measures such as draft-proofing, moving on to more advanced subjects such as floor and wall insulation. The focus is on teaching principles through practical examples.
For: Homeowners who want to carry out some or all of their own improvements. Handy-people interested in learning more about retrofit.
Benefit: Gain practical knowledge and confidence to undertake home improvements with an understanding of potential risks and how to mitigate them.
What you will learn:

What is a thermal bridge and why do they matter?
Practical hands-on skills
Learn the right tools for the right job
Delivering results on a budget
Airtightness and draught-proofing techniques and materials
Underfloor, wall and loft insulation

Detailed course information.
Knowledge required: No DIY experience required or previous knowledge needed.
Trainer: Dan Chaplin, Think Building Energy
Has more than 10 years of experience in domestic refurbishment and retrofit, with a proven track record of delivering quality, award winning buildings. Having worked in a variety of roles, from operational site work through to project management and technical specification he has strong insight into all aspects of the subject. Dan has a particular interest in the risks that exist around retrofit and has worked with Leeds Beckett University on this.
Dates+times:
28th, 29th April and 12th May 2018
9:30am – 4:30pm every day.
Cost:

Member early bird – £240
Non-member early bird – £300
Member standard – £280
Non-member standard – £350

**Early bird rates until 31st March 2018**
Bursaries available, email info@carbon.coop for more.

This training is a part of Carbon Co-op’s Home Energy Training Programme, see more here: carbon.coop/training
