A CONFERENCE that will look at how green energy installation can help building companies out of the current slump is to take place next week.

Constructing Excellence in the North East has team up with Northern Architecture to organised Retrofit the Region Conference, which is being held on September 15 at the Newcastle Marriott Gosforth Park Hotel.

The day-long event will look at the areas such as making adaptations and upgrades to existing property stock in order to reduce the level of CO2 emissions generated, the use of materials sourced from sustainable resources and making long-term cost savings for the homeowner.

Key speakers from the industry will include BRE, National Refurbishment Centre, Energy Saving Trust, Newcastle City Council, Gentoo, _space and many more.

Retrofitting is likely to become more commonplace due to the Government’s Green Deal carbon emission reduction programme.

Under this initiative, people will be encouraged to take measures to make their homes more energy efficient by being able to access loans to finance work such as the fitting of loft insulation, condensing boilers, draught proofing, solar panels and double glazing.

Catriona Lingwood, chief executive of Constructing Excellence in the North East, said: “The environmental efficiency of new builds is well- established.

“Now attention is turning to existing buildings.”

To book places for the ‘Retrofit the Region Conference 2011’ contact Leanne McAngus on 0191 374 0233 or email Leanne@cene.org.uk.