Free workshops will inform and educate on cutting-edge sustainability techniques and technologies.

ReallySmartHouse, a pioneering and award-winning project aiming to stimulate low-carbon economic growth, has announced a series of free-to-attend workshops on a variety of sustainability topics for built-environment SMEs in the East of England. With the aim of reducing carbon emissions from new and existing properties, the workshops will also inform companies and local authorities on the benefits of working within the burgeoning green economy. The project is headed by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council in partnership with South Essex Homes and London-based architecture, innovation and sustainability consultancy The Facility.

Despite being of critical importance to the future of the environment, in tough economic times, sustainable practice is often pushed down the agenda due to short-term cost issues and a lack of understanding of its benefits. Offering a long-term perspective, the ReallySmartHouse workshops provide the skills and knowledge needed for SMEs to operate successfully and profitably in the green business sector with each session covering a key area of importance.

Running until December 2013, the workshops will focus on topics such as ‘Local Government Procurement’, ‘Marketing & Business Development’, ‘Building Information Modelling’, ‘Sustainability and The Green Deal’ and ‘Environmental Management and Smart Houses’ and will feature celebrity experts such as engineer/inventor and TV presenter Dick Strawbridge and gardening TV personality Tommy Walsh offering their insights. As well as gaining a competitive edge, companies which complete 12 hours of training will receive a ReallySmartHouse accreditation as well as the opportunity to attend the ReallySmartHouse Awards ceremony in January 2013.

A house becomes ‘ReallySmart’ when it employs state-of-the-art technology and practices to dramatically increase energy-efficiency, saving money on bills for tenants, making homes warmer and increasing the building’s overall lifespan. The ReallySmartHouse project is being led by Southend Borough Council to install these technologies in social housing, demonstrating to the wider world how thinking “really smartly” can offer long-term financial and environmental benefits to individuals, businesses and local authorities.

With expert strategic advice provided by Southend Borough Council and part funded by the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) , The Facility will provide the creative architecture, innovative engineering and imaginative solutions to put the aims of ReallySmartHouse into action. ReallySmartHouse currently operates in the East of England but has shared good practice throughout the public and private sectors.

Jacqui Lansley Head of Procurement, Commissioning and Housing at Southend Borough Council said: “Small and medium sized enterprises are key to driving the economy in our region. That is why Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and the ReallySmartHouse project are committed to stimulating low-carbon growth by encouraging SMEs to take advantage of sustainability training and green business opportunities. The project is not only aiming to give a boost to this vital sector of industry but also to have a real-world and long-lasting impact on the environment as well. We are delighted that the European Regional Development Fund has engaged in the exciting project, enabling a brighter and greener future for all.”

Oliver Schenider, Managing Director of The Facility said: “It is a sad and short-sighted state of affairs when sustainable development is deprioritised for reasons of cost. By empowering SMEs in the East of England to operate in the green business economy, ReallySmartHouse is aiming not only to improve the lives of tenants, but to show the industry what is possible in terms of sustainable retrofit.”