Eric, Salford

Energy Saving Improvements

‘Big’ insulation works

Internal wall insulation with capillary block on outer leaf, loft insulation, pitched roof insulation, suspended floor insulation (and resolving moisture risk issues due to high water table), ventilation installed (MVHR), airtightness (did at the time but not properly understood so house is not as airtight as it needs to be). 

Glazing upgrades

Double glazed argon filled throughout, one Velux. 

Lighting systems and electrical appliances

All CFL or LED lights.

Heating system upgrades

New boiler.

Renewables: heat

Not yet - currently investigating options for ASHP (limitations here on space, nowhere to put cylinder).

 

Water management 

Sink/bath/toilet designed to limit water use.

Background and motivations

What motivated you to make these measures?

House was damp, dark and in need of renovation when I bought it - windows were single glazed with rotting timber so needed replacing, that's when I started researching options and the retrofit grew arms and legs from that point onwards...

Why did you choose these particular measures?

After reading the Energy Saving Trust's website advice online, along with some books I bought. 

What did the work entail for you? Did you do works yourself or hire someone else? How did you find and choose a builder/supplier? 

All insulation/airtightness and MVHR was done by myself. Contractors in for knocking through walls, all electrics/plumbing, windows/doors. 

What difference has these measures made in your home (e.g., reduced energy use, saved money on bills, more comfortable)? If you track any changes quantitatively, how do you do this? 

Much less humid (lot of humidity previously via crawl space), much more comfortable (fewer draughts), less energy used. I set the thermostat to 20 deg C all year and have data for kWh used.

What key dos and don'ts would you pass on to someone considering these works?

• Don't use non-vapour-open insulation internally on solid walls - if I'd do it again, I'd use wood fibre. 

• Don't do insulation of any sort without a good airtight layer on the warm side and windtight layer on the outside (unless you want the insulation to not perform). 

• Definitely worth doing ventilation - gives good air quality and regulates humidity (very good for drying clothes in winter). 

• Probably replace suspended timber floor with a solid one if the crawl space is damp/humid or has high water table as can't guarantee long term moisture content of joists over time for all parts of crawl space otherwise. 

• Do carry out a design for MVHR before purchasing/installing!

Relevant links

https://superhomes.org.uk/homes/eric-fewster/ 

 

http://www.coldproof.co.uk/about/past-projects-testimonials/ 

Additional information

(PDF, 955kB)