SPACES Study Day 2024 - Retrofit - Net Zero Carbon (NZC)

Delivering Net Zero Carbon (NZC) is the biggest challenge we’ve ever faced, and if ever there was a time to  pull together, share knowledge, experiences and network it must be now. Put simply, we don't have time to  just learn from our projects, the clock is ticking, years are passing and we have to start learning from each other if we stand a chance of saving our planet.

Our expert speakers will be covering a diverse range of areas to help you successfully deliver net zero carbon retrofit projects. As well as main stage speakers, there will be breakout sessions so you can choose themes important to you. And there will be a roundtable debate and discussion.

Our main stage speakers are 

• Dr Joe Jack Williams (Keynote, Partner, Researcher Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios)
• Dr Laura Mansel-Thomas (CIBSE Vice president, Partner Ingleton Wood)
• Crawford Wright (Head of Architecture and Design at Department for Education)
• Marc Routledge (Technical Services Manager, Government Property Agency)

You can see the full list of speakers and topics here

Below, are just some of the subjects and topics being presented at this years study day (this will increase over time),

• Net Zero beyond the quick wins will provide options to navigate the multi-faceted and complex decisions to come and will cover portfolio screening, carbon triage, roadmap-layering, funding, interventions and delivery.
• Exploring cutting-edge advancements in ventilation design aimed at maximising both thermal comfort and energy efficiency in buildings,
• Making the right early design decisions in relation to embodied carbon
• Sharing lessons learnt from Neighbourhood led retrofitting at scale in Balsall Heath, Birmingham - delivering more than just decarbonisation.
• Passivhaus and Heat Networking -  Heat pumps, mixed ventilation heat recovery, space heating, DHW control strategy and hybrid plant rooms,
• Ensuring a building’s long-term carbon emissions remain low becomes more dependent on the durability, longevity, recyclability, and effective maintenance regime of materials used within a building - the sustainable benefits of a natural hardwood flooring
• Simple solutions for poor acoustics in classrooms/SEN  including retrofit,
• Department of Education - Talking about the Education Estate
• How LETI can help you deliver NZC
• Materials, An Environmental Primer (New RIBA publication) will be explained by one of the editors and how it help designers understand the environmental repercussions of their material choices
• Heritage buildings - learning lessons from retrofitting
• Government Property Agency talking about project experiences.

Evening Networking BBQ & Drinks - Wednesday 10th July 7pm

The Wednesday evening before the Study Day, join us for a BBQ and drinks at the University of Reading. It is a great chance to network with other delegates/speakers in a relaxed and friendly environment. Typically we have around 50/60 attendees in the evening. You can purchase a ticket to the pre-event BBQ here: https://www.thespaces.org/event-details/spaces-pre-study-day-bbq