Posted here following a request from the AECB. I do not know any more about these events than is written below so contact them directly using the info here if you are interested please.

Are you unemployed, self employed or working for an SME? If so then you are eligible for a generous subsidy on the popular AECB courses. You will receive a £400 subsidy off the two day courses and £200 off the one day course.

Do you live or work in any of the following counties: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex? If so there are subsidies so you will only need to pay from only £49 plus VAT for those in SE (due to grant aid). I am afraid that as this funding is from the SEEDA (South East Development Agency) it does only apply to those that are based in the south east counties identified above. As a special concession they are allowing some of the courses being held outside the SE to be attended by those based in the SE as these courses are currently limited.

Understanding the Passivhaus standard, principles and methodologies 10 May 2010 Bristol, Ramada City Hotel
This course is aimed at the design team who are working towards AECB or Passivhaus Design Standards. It introduces the principles behind the Passivhaus Planning package (PHPP) so that designers understand how this low energy design software will analyse their designs to a more stringent level that is currently done in the UK. Armed with this knowledge, designers and clients will be better equipped to maximise their chance of success in providing low energy buildings – and having them certified.
Costs (excluding subsidies referred to above)
AECB Members: £249 + VAT
Non-members: £299 + VAT
Includes lunch and mid session refreshments


Using the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) to design low energy buildings 11-12 May 2010 Bristol, Ramada City Hotel
This practical hands-on course will provide energy consultants, technical building designers and architects with the skills necessary to achieve low energy and CO2 standards using the PassivHaus Planning Package (PHPP). Delegates require a working knowledge of MS Excel, the ability to read building plans and some knowledge of typical UK construction methods. Delegates will need to bring a laptop with a copy of the PHPP software (available from www.aecb.net) pre-loaded prior to the course.

Costs (excluding subsidies referred to above)
AECB Members: £499 + VAT
Non-members: £599 + VAT
Includes lunch and mid session refreshments


Thermal bridging 13 May 2010 Bristol, Ramada City Hotel
This practical hands-on course will provide energy consultants, technical building designers and architects with the skills necessary to minimise the effect of thermal bridging when designing low energy and CO2 buildings to AECB standards. The course uses the conventions from the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) from the German Passivhaus Institut, but also shows how to derive psi values for SAP calculations. Delegates require some previous knowledge of calculating heat loss from buildings (including knowing what a psi value is), a working knowledge of MS Excel and the ability to read building plans and knowledge of typical UK construction methods. Delegates will need to bring a laptop and are requested to pre-load a copy of the free software Therm 5.2 and the associated manuals.

Costs (excluding subsidies referred to above)
AECB Members: £249 + VAT
Non-members: £299 + VAT
Includes lunch and mid session refreshmentsnts


PLACES LIMITED - BOOK NOW (full details at www.www.carbonlite.org.uk/carbonlite/training.php or email sally at aecb.net if you are interested in a subsidised place)

I asked the course organisers to edit the text above to make it clearer why the subsides are only for those businesses in the SE.

Hope this helps.