Progress in Practice | Passivhaus Designers and Architects

Passivhaus curious? 💡🏡 Join our upcoming short webinar with Hannah Dixon, Chartered Architext and Certified Passivhaus Designer, exploring the Passivhaus approach to retrofit and low carbon buildings. 📍 online, 21 May 2026 17:30-18:30 🔗 in bio! This webinar is in partnership with the Feel the Benefit Home Assessment Services Hub from Greater Manchester Combined Authority. #passivhaus #sustainablelifestyle #sustainablehomes #homerenovationideas

We are really looking forward to hearing about EcoCocon's straw bale system at our next event in Manchester. A natural building system designed for mass production! Grab your free ticket on Eventbrite (link below) AECB Greater Manchester - Wall System Designed by Nature (EcoCocon) - Sponsored by Ecological Building Systems Wednesday 20th May George Mikurcik from Ecological Building Systems will be talking about EcoCocon's straw bale prefabricated construction system. The EcoCocon innovative wall system is revolutionising construction by making the best of natural materials while ensuring healthy, comfortable, and energy-efficient living at the same time. This event is kindly being hosted at BDP (Building Design Partnership Ltd) Manchester's Office. /e/aecb-greater-manchester-wall-system-designed-by-nature-ecococon-tickets-1987135368379

#retrofit #energyefficienthomes #timberwindows #timberdoors Recent project undertaken in collaboration with @stoichomesuk @progressinpractice

Architects AEW and BPD will talk about place based decarbonisation as a holistic approach to retrofit, decarbonisation and placemaking. Place Based Decarbonisation is about applying systems thinking to weave together a holistic approach to retrofit, decarbonisation, placemaking and regenerative design. Ste Garlick and Peter Bartley will be sharing their views on place-based decarbonisation and how BDP and AEW Architects are applying this thinking in practice, including a Case Study from AEW’s Industrial Place Based Decarbonisation Strategy at North Moons Moat Industrial Estate, Redditch. There will be drinks and nibbles to start and the opportunity to ask questions to our speaker after. Followed by a trip to the pub for people who make it that far. Join us on Wednesday 25th March 2026 at 17:00 at AEW Architects Office for an exciting evening filled with networking opportunities, informative presentations and discussion about sustainable building practices. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out in the industry, this event is a great opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals in the AECB Greater Manchester Group. #aecb

🏡 The Feel the Benefit Home Assessment Hub is now live! Launched yesterday by Andy Burnham at the Greater Manchester Green Summit, the new portal gives residents across Greater Manchester access to independent home energy advice and retrofit assessments. If you’re looking to make your home warmer and more energy efficient, you can get personalised, practical advice about potential upgrades here, whatever your budget or circumstances. We're part of the team delivering this service, alongside experienced local building professionals from Greater Manchester-based social enterprises, co-operatives and small companies - including @peopleretrofit , @B4Box , @progressinpractice and @snuggenergy To learn more or get started, visit: / @greatermcr

Has everyone caught up with Guy Martin’s House Without Bills on @channel4 ? We have enjoyed watching him shine a light on Passivhaus projects and the benefits of low energy housing.   We all know how much deep retrofit projects can save energy and reduce bills but there were also some easy wins highlighted that we can all change in our homes, on the best way to close curtains, blinds and using draught excluders under doors.   We were luckily enough to visit the Stretford EnerPHit project, that featured on the programme, last year as part of the @passivhaustrust Open Days, and see the work in progress site.   Big congratulations to @progressinpractice and @myzsagroup for a great project and achieving EnerPHit certification!

So there you have it ! Our first TV appearance. It just shows our hard work and passion in building better energy efficient homes is starting to pay off for us. We would love to be involved in more of these projects and look forward to growing our knowledge in this sector and helping others improve their homes. Well done to Progress in Practice Ltd ,Myzsa Group . We are so grateful for allowing us to take part in this project and giving us this opportunity. What a fantastic effort from all involved. #guymartin #housewithoutbills #retrofits #passivhaus #energyefficienthomes

Grab your tickets for our next in person event on Wednesday 25th February at 4pm. Professor Richard Hull from the University of Lancashire will be talking about the fire toxicity of construction products. We are really looking forward to his technical presentation which focuses on material composition and fire conditions influence the toxicity of the smoke for a range of construction products. There will be drinks and nibbles to start and the opportunity to ask questions to our speaker after. Followed by a trip to the pub for people who make it that far. See you there! /e/aecb-gm-fire-toxicity-of-construction-products-tickets-1980397603543

A few highlights from some very special projects I worked on last year. Thank you to every client who trusted me to document their work. Looking forward to what we’ll create together in the year ahead! 1 - Lower House 2 & 3 - The Hepworth 4 & 5 - New Balance Running House 6 & 7 - Puffy Cafe 8 & 9 - Copper Beech 10 - Playing with Fire 11 & 12 - Knoll Showroom 13 - Maharam Showroom 14 - JUNK 15 - NaughtOne

Grab your eventbrite tickets for the AECB GM webinar on Wednesday, 17th December 2025 at 12:00pm. CPD - Back to basics, introduction to UK Retrofit Standards Unsure what performance standards to aim for in your retrofit project? Or perhaps you’re looking for a clear overview of the wide range of retrofit standards used across the UK? The wonderful duo, Angela Connelly and Hannah Dixon, will be presenting an overview of key UK retrofit standards, including: - AECB CarbonLite Retrofit Standard, - Passivhaus EnerPHit Standard - Building Regulations Part L - PAS 2035 - PAS 2038 - Net Zero Carbon Standard This session is ideal for anyone seeking clarity on retrofit guidance and is perfectly suited for logging CPD time under the ARB Environmental Sustainability Criteria. Q&A will be led by Stephen McCusker Speakers: Angela Connelly - Senior Lecturer, Manchester School of Architecture. Trained social scientist and passionate advocate for climate and environmental issues. Hannah Dixon - Director of Progress in Practice. Architect, Certified Passivhaus Designer, and AECB Certifier. Gain clear, comparative insight into the major UK retrofit standards Understand how each applies to retrofit projects Ask your questions live during our dedicated Q&A session Don’t miss out—sign up today and secure your place! /e/aecb-gm-cpd-webinar-back-to-basics-introduction-to-uk-retrofit-standards-tickets-1976730296529?aff=oddtdtcreator

After lots of excavation and 80 cubes of concrete poured we are finally at roof height. Nice to see the job taking shape now!

AECB GM NEXT EVENT - 5.30pm on Thursday 16th October 2025 Our next event will focus on embodied carbon and circular economy principles through the perspective of Structural Engineers. We have Sara Londsale and Matthew Efford from Buro Happold sharing their experience on designing structures to lower the embodied carbon of projects, including the reuse of steel. Get your tickets here 👇 /e/aecb-gm-circular-economy-embodied-carbon-a-structural-perspective-tickets-1693395464419?aff=oddtdtcreator This promises to be a really fascinating event, with plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion. It is always a good crowd, so when we say there'll be networking, what we actually mean is a chance to have good conversations with interesting people (who may or may not be relevant to your business!). Join us for pizza and drinks at the Sand Bar after!🍕 🍺