Following our recent successful master class in October 2023 I would like to share some of the feedback. How to build a cost effective Eco home is a hot topic and people were very engaged.

We can arrange bespoke times and resource is for groups that want to come to experience a similar session and we  set up specific dates when this master class runs throughout the year. If you are interested in attending one of these or would like your own private session for your colleagues please do get in touch.

Feedback from attendees on our Hockerton Housing Project Master Class:

Dear Simon
Thank you all so much for a truly eye opening and inspiring day…..
I cannot think of any improvement that was needed, though I should have kept a photo of your data spreadsheet showing how economical the project has been.

I read that HHP can assess your house for heat loss and energy saving £160 upwards I think.   Please can you suggest if our house is beyond help, though if you think it worth reviewing I would be very interested.

Very best wishes Graeme 

Hi Simon,

Apologies for not getting back to you! I was away last week and haven’t caught up with emails yet.

It was a great day and much appreciated. Really enjoyed meeting other like minded people.

Hopefully speak soon.

Many thanks
Dan

 

Dear Simon
>
> I feel terrible that I’ve neglected to thank you so, so much for a
> wonderful day again at HHP, long before today. …..
> I so enjoyed your latest presentation and felt it was right up to the
> moment, which feeling, it was clear was shared by all.
>
> A huge thank you too to Deb (I hope this reaches her!) for yet another
> wonderful Hockerton Feast! Utterly delicious and SOoo nutritious!
>
>
> With all very best wishes from us all
>
> Nick

 

Hi Simon!

Hope you’ve had a great weekend.

Absolutely fine to share emails around – not a problem at all! It would be really interesting and useful to stay in touch with some of the others from the course!

All positive feedback from my end – I think it was so good to have the opportunity to meet others from various backgrounds whilst also going through the learnings. Having cross sections on the walls was useful to put the information you’d given into context; as was the tour of the site, particularly the house itself! 

Overall I really enjoyed the day – there was ample opportunity to ask questions and the Pilgrims Barn case study was fascinating!

Thanks and chat soon,

Bea

Hi Simon,

In terms of feedback, I thought the day was really well structured and I must say, as a complete novice with all this, pitched at a great level. I found it very engaging, and accessible and thought you created an atmosphere where people weren’t put off from asking questions! 

The combination of the theory, the data and seeing it all in practice is very compelling. I’ve been talking the hind leg off quite a few friends ever since and haven’t been able to shake the idea that TikTok and Instagram reels would be a great tool for sharing the Hockerton story and principles. I find it both baffling and depressing that the major developers haven’t enlisted your services and continue to build such poor-performing housing stock.

Thanks again to you and the team at Hockerton for such a good day. 

All the best,

Chris

P.S. Before I forget, the lunch was absolutely on point too!!

So if you want to come and lean about how to build very cost effective eco home that meets the current building regulations easily and perform far better than most as the cost to build is such good value – click here.

I am moving on from my lecturing duties at Nottingham Trent University. There is now an opportunity for someone to take on this fulfilling role and the universities advertisement for it is below. Click for further the vacancy details. Please contact HHP if you want to discuss my experience of the work. Simon Tilley.

Nottingham Trent University

Hourly Paid Lecturer in Renewable Energy Technologies

Brackenhurst Campus

Job reference: 011117

Location: Brackenhurst Campus

Closing date: 11/12/2022

Salary : See special conditions

Employment type: Hourly paid/casual staff

Team: Environmental Science

School / Directorate : School of Animal Rural & Environmental Sciences

Get directions

Special Conditions: £44.45 per direct teaching hour. This includes the following elements: teaching, preparation and marking of the scheduled programme of work. (A flat rate of £17.78 will be paid for completing one of the above elements of the schedule.)

The School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences is an exciting multi-disciplinary environment for learning, teaching and research. We are seeking hourly paid lecturers for a range of courses within the Environmental Science Department.  Our portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate courses comprises subjects such as Horticulture, Geography, Conservation, Food Science and Environmental Science.

We are seeking to appoint an Hourly Paid Lecturer in the following area:

Renewable energy and energy policy

In addition to appropriate knowledge and experience, you should possess excellent communication and presentation skills and a willingness to contribute flexibly to teaching and associated duties on undergraduate courses in this area.

We need skilled lecturers to support students through delivery of a range of courses. You will work under the direction of the Head of Department and Course Leaders to deliver high quality teaching and learning to undergraduate students. Duties will include preparation, delivery and marking of work. You will be expected to deliver lectures and practical sessions, seminars and tutorials and may be asked to contribute to other areas of the School’s activities.

You will be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and have the ability to communicate ideas of a complex or technical nature to students effectively using a variety of teaching methods, have detailed knowledge of the particular subject area through significant teaching, and / or relevant industry experience.

If you have any specific queries in relation to these positions, please contact: Julia Davies 0115 848 5242

Interviews: Given the nature of these roles, interviews will take place throughout the year. The Head of Department or nominated colleague will be in touch following the submission of your application.

​​​​​​​Please note this role does not meet the UK Border Agency requirements for sponsorship. The University is unable to apply for sponsorship for any applicant not eligible to work in the UK and therefore we cannot progress applications from candidates who require sponsorship under the Points Based Immigration System.

Renewable Energy HPL JD & PS

On 27 February we are holding our one day masterclass on the experience and learning from the development of Hockerton Housing Project.

The day offers a unique and practical insight into the delivery of the Project, covering its efficient design, energy systems, autonomous water services and proven performance. You can find the booking form at the bottom of this post, or here.

Why should you attend?

This event will be of particular interest to developers, self-builders, landowners, planners, architects, buildings services engineers, and other building professionals.

Delegates will gain:

• an appreciation of the practicalities of building sustainably.
• an understanding of strategies and technologies for ultra low energy building and ‘zero heating’ design.
• a comprehension of the differences between high thermal mass build and lightweight timber frame construction.
• knowledge of the potential solutions and strategies for delivering a zero carbon and autonomous development through renewable energy technologies, and water systems (collection and waste), and how they can be incorporated into buildings.
• an insight into what it is really like to live in eco homes and to live sustainably.

Attending this event can contribute 6.0 hours towards your CPD requirements.

Programme

A lunch is included, please let us know any dietary requirements when booking.

The Tutors

Nick Martin

Nick Martin (BEd), a founding Project member, has a unique experience and knowledge of energy efficient housing. Nick led the build of the home of Prof. Brenda and Dr. Robert Vale, an autonomous townhouse with ‘net zero CO2’ emissions, delivered through low embodied energy, power from photovoltaic arrays and passive solar heating. Nick Martin then commissioned Dr. Robert Vale to design a rural hamlet of 5 earth sheltered sustainable dwellings to similar energy and environmental performance standards. Nick supervised this self-build project from August 1996 to Sept 1998.

Nick Martin now undertakes a range of related consultancy work, including new designs for ultra low energy housing and performance monitoring, as well as being directly involved in new eco-building projects. He is currently developing a 7 home ultra low energy affordable housing scheme in Hockerton.

Simon Tilley

Simon Tilley (M Eng, C Eng, M I Mech E) joined the project in 1995, after a background in Mechanical Engineering. This included spending two years in working for Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in Namibia.

He manages the HHP water & energy systems, including most recently the installation of an additional 6kW solar PV array. He lead the development and installation of the village Vestas v27 wind turbine and currently manages its operation. He undertakes a range of consultancy work and leads the Project’s educational work. Simon was also an Open University Associate Lecturer for the “Energy for a Sustainable Future” course and now lectures for Nottingham Trent University on Innovations in Energy.

Testimonials

 I thoroughly enjoyed the day and it was very encouraging talking to people who had practical experience rather than just a grasp of the theory. Simon’s presentation on the principles was as clear as any I’ve seen, and the detailed discussion about construction and procurement challenges from Nick gave a practical edge to the day that you rarely get at other events.

Rob Annable, Architect, Axis Design Collective

 The response was overwhelmingly positive. All felt that they had learned a great deal, it was great to see how enthused the staff members in the party were. 

Paul Ellis, Chief Executive, Ecology Building Society

My main reason for visiting was that it’s easy for us industrialists and academics to sit behind our desks pontificating on low-energy housing,but to visit the people who have actually DONE it is invariably refreshing,and is always a good thing to do as a ‘professional sanity check’.

Dr Neil Cutland, Cutland Consulting Ltd

Terms and Conditions

Terms and conditions can be viewed on our website.