From 29 April to 7 May over 71,000 visitors attended Grand Designs Live at London’s ExCeL, enjoying hundreds of carefully curated brands, innovative cost and energy saving solutions, and a myriad of informative and educational talks. Over the 9-day show hosted by Kevin McCloud, over 1,500 free expert advice sessions were held across Ask an Expert and the Green Living Advice Zone powered by OVO Energy highlighting solutions for zero-carbon living.

Grand Designs Live has always had innovation, environmental, and sustainable development at its heart, and Kevin McCloud said,

“Fifteen years ago, at this very show, we started talking about Heat Pumps as the exciting new thing, like mythical tech. Today we’ve got the major brands here selling them, government grants for installations, and bags of advice in our live expert advice centres on how to choose and use a Heat Pump in the home. Who knows what the next 15 years will bring, Green Tech is an evolving and fascinating area and we’re already giving young graduates the opportunity to showcase extraordinary ecological and low-carbon ideas through supporting Green Grads. I find it exciting and energising to be involved with the forefront of change.”

In the Green Living Advice Zone powered by OVO Energy the most asked questions revolved around solar panels and heat pumps. Giving an insight into the priorities of visitors to Grand Designs Live Mat Moakes, chief commercial Officer, OVO commented,

“It’s been an exciting week speaking to people in the Green Living Advice Zone, helping to answer questions and give advice on decarbonising the home – on everything from solar panels to heat pumps. Visitors were keen to understand the process for setting up EV chargers at rental properties, how much they might need to pay for solar panels and – the most important one – where to start in their zero-carbon living journey.”

Mini Grand Designers

This year, to celebrate the architects of the future, Grand Designs Live and Kevin McCloud tasked pupils in Year 7 at Prendergast Ladywell School in Lewisham with becoming ‘Mini Grand Designers’ by designing houses that they would love to live in, including elements of recycled materials. The 9 shortlisted entries have been displayed at Grand Designs Live with the Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice winners announced on Saturday 6 May on the Grand Designs Magazine Theatre at London’s ExCeL.