Howarth Timber gave its customers a masterclass in sustainability recently at a series of taster courses held at its Greenhouse in Rochdale.

The Greenhouse, which is located on the site of the Howarth Timber and Building Supplies branch in the town, represents the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and gives customers the opportunity to get a closer look at sustainable products.

The taster courses gave customers the opportunity to learn how to install sustainable products, such as external wall insulation (EWI) and underfloor heating (UFH).

Those who took part in the EWI course were advised how to get the most out of their insulation with the help of experts from sustainable product manufacturer Alumasc. The customers took part in activities during the session and learned about the Green Deal and ECO funding. They were also shown how to install the insulant and base coats and discovered how simple EWI is to fit.

The UFH training session was organised after a customer enquired about installation courses, prompting Howarth to approach plastic piping manufacturer Polypipe. During the UFH course, customers were given an introduction to Polypipe and learned about a range of UFH solutions from the manufacturer’s experts. Polypipe also held a practical demonstration of its solid floor system.

Jay Pickup, sustainability development manager at Howarth Timber, said: “We were thrilled to hold these taster sessions for our customers, to show how they can get the most out of sustainable products. We hope to hold more sessions in the future and plan to organise more training for our staff too.”

“Giving our customers knowledge of EWI and UFH means they are more likely to choose these products for their projects. These taster sessions give a basic grasp of principles, and further courses will help them expand their knowledge and business opportunities.”