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The Active Building Centre (ABC) is a centre of excellence whose mission is to promote improved understanding and increased commercialisation of low carbon construction and renewable electricity generation, storage and distribution solutions within and between buildings, and to develop cutting-edge technologies to integrate these solutions into intelligent network systems.

ABC is creating an independent national centre that convenes industry, academia and government to enable the deployment of Active Buildings. ABC is developing its programme of work to become the trusted, go-to expert on both sustainable construction and retrofitting of green technologies, backed up by accreditation standards and education programmes.

An Active Building supports the wider energy system by intelligently integrating renewable energy technologies for heat, power and transport – technologies that capture energy, manage and control its use, store energy as well as share intelligently over time and with the local grid.

This presentation will first introduce you to the principles of Active Buildings before illustrating those principles in action through current ABC developments, impending research and technology deployment as well as a virtual tour of two existing Active Building Demonstrators.

This event is organised by ICE Wales Cymru W Wales & Swansea City Club and is co-badged with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) and Constructing Excellence in Wales (CEWales).

Speakers:

Hywel Lloyd

Government Relations Manager, Active Building Centre (ABC)

The ABC has been established to help deliver and prove the case for Active Buildings; that support the energy system by integrating renewable technology for heat, power and transport. Hywel leads on ABC’s political engagement and influencing, identifying the key pathways to change in policy across both the energy and construction sectors; and engaging the key actors in both sectors, be they political or civic service.

Hywel is a non-exec at the local authority network, UK100; and has previously worked with a range of local and national government bodies as they address the issues of climate mitigation and adaptation. He served as a Specialist Policy Advisor to both Rt Hon Hazel Blears and Rt Hon Hilary Benn, a role that included oversight of the Zero Carbon Homes and Eco Towns policies.

Simon McWhirter

Head of Engagement, Active Building Centre (ABC)

Simon oversees external communications and engagement with government (UK, devolved and regional / city leadership), industry and the public. Within that he leads on policy development and partnerships to make the case for a rollout of Active Buildings nationwide and beyond.Prior to ABC, Simon spent six years as Head of Communications and Sales for HAB Housing, an innovative, multi-award-winning housing developer, where he had responsibility for the strategy and implementation of the outward-facing components of the business. Before that he ran his own campaigns consultancy including work as Director of the Grand Designs Great British Refurb Campaign and as an advocate in the United Nations environment programme, campaigning for progressive global climate change and sustainability targets.

Simon also spent five years at the global conservation charity WWF, leading their work on the sustainable homes agenda – during this time he sat on the UK government's 2016 Zero Carbon Task Force, Wales’ Low and Zero Carbon Hub, the Sustainability Board of BRE Global, and the board of the Existing Homes Alliance.