THE benefits of energy-efficient homes are to be extolled during special events starting next week.

The Cumbria Green Build Festival begins on Saturday, September 16 and features 30 events, visits, workshops and even bus tours, designed to share the ideas and skills needed to make homes, businesses and community buildings more eco-friendly.

“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,” said Green Build manager Frankie O’Keeffe, from Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS), the charity behind the festival, now in its 12th year.

The first event is a chance to view a home being built to the low-energy ‘Passivhaus’ standard near Milnthorpe, on September 16.

A 1930s house in Ulverston that has been retrofitted for energy efficiency will be open to the public, on September 18. That same day, a bus tour will offer a chance to explore renewable energy, eco building and sustainable transport. The tour is to begin at Windermere and call at Thorney How Independent Hostel, which has biomass heating, electric car and bike hook-ups, a polytunnel for food growing and chickens. Rydal Hall will be the next stop for a turbine tour at its hydro scheme, then on to the National Trust’s straw bale and timber Footprint Building.

The next day, food growing and sustainable living are on show at Laya Point Permaculture at Ulpha. This 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.

Community projects take the spotlight on September 18 with a talk and tour at the hydro installation at Killington Reservoir.

That evening, during a visit to the refurbished Stainton Institute, visitors will learn how custodians of the 17th century hall overcame challenges with heating, ventilation and energy efficiency.

Looking to the Eden Valley, events will include a bus tour on September 22 calling at the Eden Insulation factory and one of the homes it constructed – the first certified Passivhaus in Cumbria.

Most events are free but advance booking is essential for many. For more, visit cafs.org.uk/events or call 01768-210276.