• Bookstore

Now in its 5th year, Ecobuild is now the biggest event in the world dedicated to sustainable design, construction and the built environment comprising 800 exhibitors, 30,000 visitors and offering over 100 free conference and seminar sessions (delivered by 500 speakers) and more than a dozen interactive attractions.

It's free to enter (you can register on their website, or turn up on the day) and has everything you could possible want from such an event.

The attractions include renew which tackles sustainable refurbishment head-on to show how existing housing and non-domestic buildings can be transformed, cost-effectively, into low and zero carbon buildings.

If you're interested in using natural materials, then you will be interested in the natural materials attraction will be for you.  The inherently sustainable properties of locally grown timber matched with inspiring contemporary design, have led to an emerging interest in new oak frames for houses, small scale projects, and public buildings. The Natural Materials attraction focuses on working with English green oak to build traditionally jointed frames which can be insulated and clad to produce a highly thermally efficient envelope.

Numerous models will illustrate a variety of post and beam configurations helping visitors to visualise various frame designs, each with accompanying technical drawings to show how the design process evolves.

There will be live demonstrations every day, showing the making of peg and timber nails use to hold the joints of traditional timber frame buildings.

There will also be a demonstration of the use of lime for rendering and plastering, wood fibre boards for insulation and cladding and the making and assembly of cob bricks.

If you really want to go experimental, then you should check out the GreenSCIN exhibition.  See scores of examples of uncompromising, high performance eco materials including surfaces made from recycled yoghurt pots, interiors made from sustainable, organic plant fibre cloth and 'hero' materials such as the strong, lightweight and renewable Kirei Board made from sorghum stalks.

GreenSCIN also explores prototype technologies with the potential to push boundaries in building design such as 'Acoustic Cloak' which wraps around a building and diversifies sound waves, allowing them to re-group on the other side of a divide without distortion.

Beside the attractions Ecobuild will also be hosting more than 100 free seminars, covering the following topics:

• Making micro renewables work
• Water wise
• Regulations revealed
• Road to zero carbon
• Refurbishing Britain
• Urban planning & public realm
• Performance matters
• Innovation & efficiency

If you're interested in debate, you will also be interested in the special guest speakers who come with their varied and sometimes controversial views on eco-buildings. Speaking on Thursday 5th March, London Mayor, Boris Johnson joins a raft of high-profile speakers in the Arena , including Alastair Campbell on marketing sustainability, Michael Portillo on the single most important factor in reducing global carbon emissions, and Germaine Greer stirring up debate by asking "Do eco buildings have to be ugly?"

They will join John Beddington, Bjorn Lomborg, Dan Cruickshank, Tony Juniper, Sunand Prasad and more, participating in debates, interviews and keynotes covering design, politics, science, philosophy, art and the environment. Sessions will be hosted by the best in their field, including James Naughtie, Matthew Parris, Mark Lawson and Roger Harrabin.

Visit the Ecobuild website for more information.