A HOST of festival events are scheduled to celebrate those who help keep homes in south Cumbria green.

Now in its 12th year, the Cumbria Green Build Festival opens on Saturday September 16.

A total of 30 events are due to take place across the county, with the aim of helping people share the ideas and skills that keep their homes, businesses and community buildings energy-efficient.

There will also be the chance for anyone whose property is at risk of flooding, or those involved in responding to it, to learn more about the environmental cost of the clean-up after a flood.

Using support from the Big Lottery Fund, the charity behind the festival commissioned research to find out why cleaning up and refitting buildings after flooding has tended to generate so much waste and cost, and what can be done to reduce it.

Frankie O’Keeffe is green build manager for Cumbria Action for Sustainability, which organises the festival.

She said: “The festival is a great way for people to find out how they can use less energy at home – from small changes like draught-proofing through to a major retrofit or new build.

“As well as showcasing the technologies and methods that are available today, we’re offering a peek into the future of generating, distributing and storing energy. There are some fantastic opportunities for Cumbrians to reap the benefits of these innovations.”

A number of events are due to take place with support and funding from South Lakeland District Council. On Monday September 18, a 1930s house in Ulverston that has been retrofitted for energy efficiency will be open to visitors.

The same day, a bus tour around several sites in the South Lakeland area offers a chance to explore renewable energy, eco-building and sustainable transport. The tour begins at Windermere and calls at Thorney How Independent Hostel, which has biomass heating, electric car and bike hook-ups, a polytunnel for food growing and chickens. It will then move on to Rydal Hall for a talk and turbine tour at its hydro scheme, before a final stop at the National Trust’s fascinating Footprint Building, constructed with timber, stone and straw bales using traditional methods.

The following day, food growing and sustainable living are on show at Laya Point Permaculture at Ulpha, near Broughton. The former school site has been transformed with raised vegetable beds, a wildlife pond, compost zone, forest garden, ducks, bees and a timber-framed workshop with a living roof.

South Lakeland will also host one of the festival highlights on September 22, the ‘Transforming Energy in Cumbria’ event headlined by Tesla, world leaders in battery storage and electric cars. The full line-up is available at cafs.org.uk/events and those who are interested in any of the events are invited to book by calling 01768 210 276.

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