Andy & Sue, Rossendale

Bank Nook is an idilic site and an inspiring project - it's well worth a visit!

Andy and Sue have been creating a sustainable, comfortable and beautiful home for over 40 years. They have thought carefully about how to use the natural resources on their land to create energy and keep warm! They have taken care of the natural environment, managed water, solar and land resources while maintaining a low carbon foorprint and increasing biodiversity.

Andy is a fountain of knowledge and always happy to discuss energy efficiency and sustainability. More recently he has learnt lots about managing water resources due to the summer drought.

Bank Nook is a detached 1750 stone built cottage, 250 metres high on West Pennine Hills, 115 sq metres.

See more about the project on this video: Andy Hamilton - 38 Years in to a 40 Year Project

Timeline

• 1977-1979 2000 trees planted. Now yielding over a ton of firewood each year and rich ecology. Natural water supply developed. Improved 1994 and 2013.
• 1977-1995 Insulation on East side of the house, Conservatory built on south side for solar gain, etc
• 1995 Installed water source Heat Pump with underfloor heating beneath stone flags
• 2009 Highly insulated extension built on North side
• 2010 Installed Air Source Heat Pump (£6,000 approx)
• 2011 Installed PV panels on purpose built shed with integrated Greenhouse
• 2012 - 14 Pavadentro and Hemp Lime insulation installed on West Side (£6,000 for 30 sq metres).

Now close to carbon neutral for heating if 2,000 kWhrs from PV panels taken into consideration. Performance of Heat Pump measured by Mitsubishi, as Bank Nook is a Mitsubishi test site. Full details in paper, and presentation by Andy Hamilton, and energy audit by Nick Parsons.

Travel information

Find detailed travel instructions here.

Accessibility

This home is not wheelchair accessible.

Additional information

Retrofit Performance: The Bank Nook Case Study (DOC, 104kB)
Map - directions (PDF, 169kB)