Ecobuild - claimed to be the world's biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment - is back at London's ExCeL between 20 and 22 March
Ecobuild is bigger than ever. More than 1,500 suppliers will be exhibiting, creating the biggest showcase of sustainable construction products you'll see anywhere.

Ecobuild says it puts innovative products in context through its information programme, 'making a visit exceptionally good use of time'. There's the three-day, three-stream conference sponsored by the UK Green Building Council, that tackles macro themes such as Beyond construction: achieving a sustainable future, Making sustainable construction happen and Design, architecture & sustainability. Renowned commentators at this event include Sir John Beddington, Monty Don, Janet Street Porter, Greg Dyke, Tony Juniper and Angela Brady, covering topics as diverse as Growing out of trouble - how social enterprise can help restore society, People and the planet and Collaborative consumption.

A topical addition to the programme for 2012 is an 'Olympics special' hosted jointly by the Construction Products Association and BRE in which Construction Minister Mark Prisk and Peter Bonfield, adviser to the Olympic Delivery Authority on materials procurement consider how, having delivered 'the greenest games ever', the learning from the development of the Olympic Park can be put to use in other developments.


Later, chief construction adviser Paul Morrell, UKTI CEO Nick Baird and Atkins CEO Uwe Krueger discuss the platform the Olympics legacy will create for UK businesses to apply this learning to international projects, and build further the UK's world-leading reputation in sustainable design and construction.

More applied is Ecobuild's seminar programme, which delivers practical advice from experienced practitioners through over 130 sessions including Energy & innovation in buildings, Better through BIM, Buildings in use, Future energy and Sustainable by design.

Visitors looking to get their hands dirty can do so at a dozen or more live attractions - literally in the case of Ecobuild's Natural, traditional... sustainable which demonstrates cob wall building alongside straw bale construction and carpentry techniques.

Elsewhere on the exhibition floor Renewable Heat Focus sponsored by Vaillant gives daily talks and one-to-one advice on how best to benefit from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) plus a showcase and working models of the latest technology including solar thermal, biomass and heat pumps.

Renew, sponsored by Knauf Insulation, provides practical advice on one of the most important aspects of achieving an energy efficient building - a highly insulated, air-tight building envelope through daily live demonstrations covering: making hard to treat buildings more energy efficient, solid wall insulation, internal wall insulation, insulating lofts and floors, party wall insulation and cavity wall upgrades.

Ecobuild's Solar hub sponsored by Solarcentury demonstrates how the installation of solar PV still offers attractive rates of return via the UK Feed-in Tariff, despite adjustments to the Government's incentive scheme through a series of talks and presentations, plus one-to-one advice.

Visitors will get practical guidance on how to specify the most appropriate system for the best results, maximise the return on investment, reduce carbon emissions and mitigate rising energy costs, as well as being able to see a range of solar innovative systems from on-roof, to semi-integrated to fully roof-integrated products, and feature the latest technologies from leading modules manufacturers.

Continuing the solar theme, SolarZED by ZEDfactory puts affordable solar-powered transport at the heart of sustainable development, and challenges received thinking on the provision of high density public transport provision by proposing zero carbon personal transport as a viable option.

In addition to the main programme, Ecobuild's exhibitors and partners will be offering a variety of events including the TRADA timber tours, the BREEAM awards, sessions from UKTI on international opportunties, and a programme of sessions in the UK-GBC's 'big tent' on the exhibition floor.

It's all free to attend when you register at www.ecobuild.co.uk, where you can also create your own itinerary using Ecobuild's online planner.