As part of The Ideal Home Show, Ireland’s largest and most successful exhibition for home owner’s, ECO Expo provides an unique opportunity for suppliers of energy saving systems, alternative energy and environmentally friendly product to meet thousand of home owners interested in investing in their homes and lifestyles.

The introduction of government grants has stimulated investment by home and property owners in energy efficiency. ECO Expo is the ‘One Stop Shop’ for all home owners interested in benefiting from the grants, cost savings and greener alternatives currently available. 

ECO Expo will provide suppliers and contractors with a unique, cost effective opportunity of meeting thousands of prospective customers on a one to one basis – the way most people still prefer to do business. The exhibition has produced excellent results for its exhibitors despite the current down turn.

ECO EXPO also provides suppliers of environmentally friendly products and services, including alternative energy suppliers and organisations conscious of their social responsibility, with an opportunity to show the Irish consumer how they can benefit from reducing energy cost and a greener environment.

THE BIG PICTURE

With 260 exhibitors in 2009 and an attendance of up to 30,000 visitors, The Ideal Home Show is Ireland’s largest, best known and best attended exhibition for home owners.

The overall exhibition includes a number of ‘Centres of Inspiration’ including

• Free Extension Advice Centre
• B&Q DIY Demos
• Furniture and Décor
• Bathrooms and Kitchens
• Health and Beauty
• Dulux Interior Design Advice Centre
• Festival of World Cuisine

 Extensions & Retrofit

 With the stated government objective of retrofitting up to 1 million Irish homes with high value insulation, the market for companies offering insulation solutions is considerable.

Already significant grants are available from SEI creating considerable new business opportunities for contractors and suppliers. Grant information will be available at the event including:

The Greener Homes Scheme provides assistance to homeowners who intend to purchase a new renewable energy heating system for existing homes.

The Home Energy Saving (HES) scheme provides grants to homeowners who are interested in improving the energy efficiency of their home in order to reduce energy use and costs as well as greenhouse gas emissions. The scheme is open to all owners of existing houses built before 2006. Sustainable Energy Ireland administers the scheme.

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY:

ECO Expo was undoubtedly the busiest sections of the 2008 and 2009 Ideal Home Show. The continued availability of home heating grants together with the recent Carbon Tax will see even greater activity in ECO Expo 2010 for Energy Suppliers, Heating Systems, Energy Ratings, Double Glazing, Heating Control Systems and alternative energy sources such as Solar and Wind Power, Geothermal, Solid, Bio and Renewable Fuels, Heat Pumps, Heat Recovery Systems and High-U Value Insulation.

Suppliers of Oil, Gas, LPG, Electricity and Solid Fuels will have the opportunity to show the savings they offer and how conventional fuels can be used more efficiently.

EXTENSION BUSINESS

 The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland have partnered with the event organisers to provide FREE advice and information to home owners considering the addition of an extension or a major renovation to their homes. At the Spring Ideal Home Show this was inundated with home owners planning extension and with budgets to spend.

TRANSPORT

 Transport is one of the greatest contributors to carbon emissions. Providers of carbon efficient transport alternatives will have the opportunity to show how using a hybrid, electric or low carbon emission vehicles can reduce the commuter and travellers carbon footprint, often reducing costs and always benefiting the environment. Exhibits will include low electric and carbon vehicles, motorbikes, bicycles, public transport, Bio and Low Carbon Fuels

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
The Ideal Homes Show has already had a significant and successful Sustainable Energy Centre of Inspiration. In 2008 the content and scope of this centre was increased by incorporating ECO Expo thereby including solar and wind power exhibits, alternative fuel sources, such as Bio and Renewable Fuels, Heat Pumps, Heat Recovery Systems, High-U Value Insulation and the most sophisticated control systems as well as a wide range of sustainable lifestyle and eco friendly products.

Over 89% of those attending who visited ECO Expo found it to be worthwhile or very worthwhile.

This section will also provide an opportunity to compare the efficiency and carbon generation implications of conventional fuels such as Oil, Gas, LPG, Electricity and Solid Fuels. Suppliers are invited to show how conventional fuels can be used more efficiently.

ORGANIC PRODUCTS
Organic products are by definition eco friendly, less chemicals, insecticides, artificial additives and preservatives reduce the carbon impact of producing the product as well as the volume of pollutants in our environment and our diet.

ECO Expo will provide a forum where organic products, from food to clothing and from packaging to wallpaper can be promoted to a captive audience of enthusiastic customers.