EcoStyle UK

EcoStyle has created a new Property Flood Resilience (PFR) Model for Flood Re.

The model will help Flood Re raise awareness of how residents can protect their homes from flooding, and also to demonstrate measures that can be retrospectively fitted after flood damage under the ‘Build Back Better’ scheme, to mitigate against future flood damage.

Flood Re is a joint initiative between the UK government and insurers, with the aim of making flood insurance cover more widely available and affordable to householders at risk of flooding.

The model is a second, longer version of EcoStyle’s existing PFR Model, but with the addition of features such as a permeable driveway, SuDS (tree pit and rain garden), wheelie bin storage shed, raised vegetable bed, suspended armchair and raised coffee table. Other new additions include an electric car with charging point, and a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel on the roof.

EcoStyle’s educational Wind Turbine Kit features in a video by The Engineering Mindset.

The video ‘How Wind Turbines Really Work: An Astonishing Technological Masterpiece’ explains why most wind turbines have three blades, why the height of the wind turbine is important, the turbine blades’ speed of rotation, and how wind turbines generate electricity.

The EcoStyle Wind Turbine Kit features at 08:30 where different blade angles are tested to see the effect on the voltage generated. The kit also features at 10:20 when different number of blades are tested to determine the optimal quantity.

The Engineering Mindset was started in 2015 by its founder, Paul Evans. Paul’s mission is to help educate about technical engineering topics through short, simplified tutorials.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf875eOVrVI

Living With Water asked EcoStyle UK for a model that shows ways in which residents can take simple actions to mitigate surface water damage and to bring the benefits of sustainable drainage to life.

Lynnsey Pilmer, Communications and Engagement Manager for Yorkshire Water said: ‘Having the SuDS Model to take to community events and schools has been invaluable to the way we engage with residents.’

‘Over the past three years we have engaged with over 6,000 residents, using the SuDS Model at community events, scout groups and schools to educate around the risk of flooding we face in Hull and East Riding.

‘We have used the model to have quality conversations with communities about their flood risk and what they can do to become more resilient.

‘Flooding and flood risk can be a difficult conversation to have with anyone - whether you have been flooded directly or indirectly - but interactive, relevant tools such as the SuDS Model have helped us raise awareness, educate communities about the work we are doing and increase the number of flood warning sign-ups over the five years that we have been using the model.’

Read the full case study here: https://www.ecostyle.co.uk/news/living-with-water-suds-model-case-study

EcoStyle’s Property Flood Resilience (PFR) Model was on display as part of the Environment Agency’s Innovation Hub at the Flood and Coast Conference and Exhibition 2023.

Running from 6-8 June 2023 at the Telford International Centre, the conference is hosted by CIWEM - The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management in conjunction with the Environment Agency, The Rivers Trust and the Association of SuDS Authorities (ASA).

This annual event is an opportunity for those involved with flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) to share ideas and knowledge.

EcoStyle’s Simon Hall visited the conference on Wednesday 7th June: ‘It was great to have the opportunity to speak to users of the PFR Model, and to learn how the model has helped them to deliver their PFR awareness-raising campaigns within the community.’

More information about the conference can be found on the CIWEM website: https://www.ciwem.org/events/flood-and-coast-conference-and-exhibition-2023

EcoStyle UK has just delivered a SuDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems) Model to the Environment Agency’s Flood Resilience Team North East in Newcastle.

The model will help the team demonstrate how SuDS can help households manage surface water.

EcoStyle’s Simon Hall gave a training session on how to use and maintain the model, and also had the opportunity to learn more about the team’s outreach activities.

The team works across the North East region to provide information on flood resilience, run school and community workshops and events, and helps those at risk of flooding to create flood plans and flood groups.

We have just completed the filming of a new video of the EcoStyle Surface Drainage Systems (SuDS) Model.

EcoStyle’s Simon Hall presented the model, which is designed to help explain what SuDS are, and to demonstrate how they help reduce surface water flooding, improve water quality and enhance biodiversity.

The video will be available on YouTube and Vimeo in mid-March 2023.

EcoStyle is celebrating an important milestone – its 20th anniversary! The company was officially registered in England and Wales on 6th November 2002.

The past 20 years provided the opportunity for the company to develop its expertise in designing and manufacturing interactive educational products, focussing on renewable energy and water-related issues.

EcoStyle’s Managing Director Simon Hall reflected on the company’s achievements to date:

‘EcoStyle has established itself as a designer and manufacturer within the educational interactives sector. The company has strived to build a reputation based on well-designed, high-quality products, supported by exceptional customer service.

‘We have developed a strong network of respected UK and international educational distributors, supplying schools, colleges and universities around the world.

‘We have built strong relationships with exceptional suppliers, ensuring the high quality of materials used in the construction of our products. We have been using many of our keys suppliers since the very beginning.’

What is next for EcoStyle? Simon Hall anticipates an exciting but challenging journey ahead:

‘We will continue to raise awareness of our existing products, and are also looking forward to developing a range of new products to meet our customers’ specific needs.

‘There is an urgent need to continue to educate about the dangers of climate change and to mitigate the effects that we are already experiencing. EcoStyle will continue to do its utmost to provide demonstration models that help educators to deliver their message in an engaging, effective and memorable way.’

EcoStyle UK was invited to support one of the University of Bedfordshire's ‘STEPs into STEM’ days, held at the university’s state-of-the-art new STEM Building. The aim of the programme is to give students the opportunity to meet a range of local STEM companies, while raising awareness of STEM careers.

EcoStyle’s Simon Hall ran two interactive wind energy education sessions with pupils from Luton schools including Icknield High School, The Stockwood Park Academy, Challney High School for Boys, Chiltern Academy, and All Saints Academy in Dunstable.

Working in small teams, pupils had the opportunity to experiment with EcoStyle’s Wind Turbine Kit, using floor-standing electric fans as a wind source.

Pupils investigated different blade numbers, blade angles and gear ratios to determine the optimum configuration to achieve the highest voltage output. Each team then presented their designs and explained the rationale behind their decisions.

Simon is an alumnus of the University of Bedfordshire, graduating in 2001 with a first-class honours degree in Product Design.

Simon said: ‘I’m very grateful for the invitation to support my university, and to have this opportunity to engage with local schools. It’s incredibly satisfying to see our products in use, and to see pupils’ enthusiasm while learning about renewable energy. I hope that the STEM day has inspired some students in their choice of career path.’

EcoStyle UK has been a proud member of the Made in Britain campaign since 2015. The membership organisation is for companies who manufacture products within the UK, and commit to maintaining the highest quality products possible. Here EcoStyle’s Simon Hall discusses the benefits of using the Made in Britain product directory to promote the company’s products:

The value of the Made in Britain Product Directory……

Simon Hall of EcoStyle UK on the benefits of the Made in Britain Product Directory: “The Made in Britain Product Directory is a valuable additional ‘shop window’ for our business. Our product listings in the directory are prominent on Google, either appearing on the first or second page of search results. It is great to be able to include multiple images and also to embed our YouTube product videos in the listings. There are also two powerful calls to action: a web link directly to purchase products from our online shop, and our company phone number. We intend to maximise this membership benefit by ensuring that all of our products are included in the product directory.”

Find out more about EcoStyle and their products here: https://lnkd.in/g5vx5dM5

EcoStyle Ltd's Simon Hall recently met with Eng. Marwan Torman, Director of Educational Technology at the Ministry of Education, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The meeting was organised for EcoStyle by the Department for International Trade (DIT) team at the Embassy in Amman.

The discussion enabled Simon to learn more about the state education system in Jordan, and to identify opportunities and challenges.

Eng. Torman had the opportunity to test EcoStyle’s Renewable Energy Kits, and Simon explained how the kits could be used within the schools’ curriculum.

EcoStyle aims to run a pilot education programme in a cross-section of schools in Jordan, with the goal of working with the Ministry of Education to offer renewable energy and climate change education to schools throughout the country.

Simon said: 'It was a great privilege to meet with Eng. Torman, and I look forward to maintaining our connection.'