We had successful start to our SECHURBA project when representatives from all 13 partner organisations attended two day's of meetings here in Shrewsbury on 9^th and 10^th of September.  

Delegates learnt about each other's organisations and were shown presentations on the areas to be studied.  These ranged from a historic castle in the Province of Piacenza, Italy, to small communities along the black sea coast of Bulgaria,  and parts of Szentendre near Budapest in Hungary.  We were also shown presentations on the iconic buildings of National Theatre of Rhodes and the City Hall in Copenhagen.

Partners were then given a tour around historic Shrewsbury town centre (lead by SABC Conservation Officers), and visited St Alkmund's Church to see the PV's installed on a Grade 1 listed building, plus timber framed buildings in Shrewsbury and some local residences which had agreed to be studied for the project.

A tour around MEA's offices showing a sustainable refurbishment of a Victoria building was also included.

There was clearly much to be learned and shared between the partners - many of them  specialists in the field of conservation.  From University College Dublin we were fortunate to have Prof Owen Lewis talk about energy use in historic buildings, and Architects from Italy's Centre for National Research who showed innovative examples of integrating renewable energy technologies into buildings without damaging cultural aspects - see photos of PV micropanels mounted on louvers.

Another delegate represented an energy consultancy from Denmark who was able to tell us about biomass use in district heating schemes that power 50% of Copenhagen's city centre heating.

The work now begins to start detailed mapping of the areas to be studied, and partners will meet again in March 2009 in Denmark.

For more info on the project contact Nicole on 01743 277109