The Builders Merchants Federation has thrown its support behind the Green Home Festival, a new five-day event designed to provide practical advice and assistance to help Scotland become a net zero economy, that will take place from 8-12 August as part of the famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The Green Home Festival has been organised by the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV), an industry alliance that comprises 29 trade associations, employers’ federations and professional bodies that represent Scottish companies active today in the construction, house-building & property RMI markets and of which the BMF is a founder member. The BMF says the Green Home Festival will highlight the important role that construction, house-building and property repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) can play in helping Scotland to achieve its net zero ambitions in future years.
Patrick Harvie MSP, the Scottish Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings will be the Keynote Speaker at the launch of the week-long sustainability event on Monday 8 August. He commented: “This inaugural Green Home Festival is greatly to be welcomed and its organisers, the members of the CICV, warmly congratulated on the initiative.
“The climate emergency is already upon us, and if we’re to stand a chance of preventing its worst consequences we need both government and industry to support a transformation of our homes and buildings. Many of the actions and new ideas needed are being advocated by the expert speakers and presenters over the week-long Green Home Festival programme.”
The Green Home Festival will cover topics such as demystifying heat pumps, building green neighbourhoods, protecting against floods, using sustainable materials, living safely in the future and hitting the road with EVs, with contributions from SELECT (representing electrical contractors), SNIPEF (plumbing & heating businesses), the Federation of Master Builders, and National Federation of Roofing Contractors.
The programme will combine in-person sessions – at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors at 10 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh – and online webinars, with content geared to homeowners, property professionals, housing associations and local authorities. Each session will provide hands-on guidance to help people reduce their carbon footprint and become more energy efficient.
Brett Amphlett, BMF Policy and Public Affairs’ Manager, said: “We are pleased to support the Green Home Festival which will see industry experts share their knowledge and experience to inform and explain the actions we can take to improve the thermal and energy efficiency of homes and workplaces.
“We are encouraging BMF members to attend the online sessions, and hope that many visitors in Edinburgh for the world famous International Festival, will be interested in finding out how to do their bit for net zero at the live sessions.
Full details of each session, including how to book tickets, are available via greenhomefestival.co.uk.
