(Freeepc.baysoft.co.uk, 2016)
The above two graphs have been produced using EPC software as used in industry usingthe houses specifications and dimensions to produce two reports one on the left showing the current energy efficiency and the green arrow showing the energy efficiency upgrades installed and the performance there after.
The graph on the right is the co2 emissionschart, the concept is that by introducing these measures that both co2 emissions will reduce and energy consumptions will reduce resulting in a more energy efficient home.
Scoping of the problem 20%
The property is a traditional brick built semidetached property with a pitched slate roof over ground and first floor.
Period of construction
The period of construction is Victorian originally and has largely remained in original state –apart from the addition of a gas central heating and hot water system which has recently been included, and the addition of aconservatory to front of the property.
Problems with this home, and this period of construction.
The current construction thus according to modern energy efficiency standards (as with most construction of this date) falls behind current and expected standards.(Epcregister.com, 2016)
These standards and the house’s efficiency on whole are measured by an energy performance certificate, this report assumes an efficiency rating based on the size and current features as being a G ,this has been determined from measurements taken at the property ,(a copy is enclosed in this report above) .The advantage of the epc report is a holistic and all-encompassing approach as opposed to just isolating individual features, The properties were originally designed to be heated via strategically placed wood and coal burning fireplaces generally placed in centre of a room and connected to a chimney .
Challenges
These properties were aerated via the chimneys, specially placed air vents and the materials in general used in the construction were conducive to air circulation (Periodproperty.co.uk, 2016) ,this of coarse was designed to work in a symbiotic process as the house was heated by wood and coal burning stoves that could produce upwards of 3,4,5 kw of heat per room, obviously a house with 3 or 4 fires burning simultaneously as was common in Victorian days and would thus have needed significant air replacement ,and airflow.
Years later these houses ,and due to their excellent construction qualities are challenged with modern heating and energy consumption constraints, thus the strategic and intelligent approach to upgrading this house will be suggested.
A further challenge faced in this retro fit recommendation is that the property is located in the historic country park of Dunham Massey and thus is subject to environmental protection, and the rural original appearance of this property from the outside and of the other properties in the surrounds.
Many technologies and materials to increase energy efficiency are recent inovations,and thusintroducing them into this building whilst maintaining the historic look is challenging, an almost invisible or internal only approach may be required, or an unchanged or ‘invisible ‘external change.
As such and as part of a suggested solution other examples of external and internal technologies will be explored in this report such as solar panels in various forms, underground heat source pumps ,various internal insulations (although these have been tried previously by the client without success-it remains to be seen in what format these were tried or tested)
The Internals
Porch
Description
The porch is constructed of a brick base of approximately a meter in height, and upvc windows around this rectangular brick base, with a pitched slate roof.one radiator that is fed off the gas central heating system is located inside thisconservatory. The door isa upvc unit.
Recommendation
A test hole is to be inserted in the roof to determine whether or not a layer of insulation was laid during the construction of the conservatory.
If none is found.A small loft hatch will need to be created in the ceiling of the conservatory toaccess the apex space and a layer of 300mm Mineral wool is to be evenly spread throughout the floor plate of the roof.
Desired result
This will limit heat loss from the conservatory, it will further create a cushion of warm air inside the conservatory to repel any loss of warm air from the inner home into the conservatory. Also the conservatory will act as a ‘decompression chamber’ between the warm home and the colder outside temperatures.
Entrance hall
Description
The entrance has a wet patch on left hand side on entry, this is creating a cold bridge, from the penetrating moisture, and from a thermal view point will be cooling the house.
Recommendation
The source of the water ingress here is lack of sufficient drainage, and capillary rising action of the water.
Stop water ingress by creating sufficient drainage outside and re pointing with chemical treated cement or silicone system to water proof and block rising action.
Internal walls
18-25 % of heat loss can occur through walls, the current construction of the walls will allow this range of heat loss, and a fabric first approach to this retro fit will require some form of insulation.
Two types of wall insulation are recommended here.
Internal insulation
This process involves installing insulation on the inside of the property, generally the profile consists of 2-5 inches of a mineral wool and or foam boards that are covered with a decretive finish that can be plastered or papered to match the inside of the house.
Advantages of internal insulation
Cheaper than external insulation
Easier and cheaper to install –can be installed one wall at a time
Disadvantages
Intelligent vapour control layer should be installed, to tackle the loss of breathability of building fabric
A single nail driven by residents can disturb the system.
External insulation
This process involves attaching the insulation materials to the outside of the home, encasing and enveloping heat inside, generally the insulation material is attached to the outside brick or masonry face, the foam insulation board is then covered over, however in this scenario a host of external finishes are available from custom brick finishes to rain screens, thus potentially making this a perfect choice to compliment the environmental protection policy an example of this would be in the form of a skin of Victorian brick finish in the same colour and dimensions as original brick.
Advantages
Improves weather protection
Provides noise insulation
It’s easier to take care of thermal bridges such as exposed concrete frame or window sill
Preserves the value of the thermal mass of the walls in regulating temperature inside
Disadvantages
If there is not sufficient roof overhang, the top of the extended wall must be sloped, weatherproofed, and guttering fitted
May need planning permission – ask the planning department (conservation area)
Downpipes and other projections, or service entry points, must be dealt with
The damp proof course and window trickle vents must not be covered
(Superhomes.org.uk, 2016)
Proof of this trailed technology
The above system was trailedby Saint Gobain at Salford Energy House project amongst other technologies in that test, extracting the results on that project and applying them here would produce excellent results in this environment (YouTube, 2016)
Internal walls
The internal walls on a whole contribute to heat loss, by not being insulation the house on a whole.
A trialled system by suer homes creates section members of insulation that is battened onto the wall
A further trial used in this research was the super homes energy upgrade in Camden town, over 5 tons of carbon savings were made between the use of high efficiency double glazing and the internal wall insulation.
(Solid Platform Ltd, 2013)
The picture above shows a thermal image showing the heat loss of a non-externally insulated property experiences versus an externally insulated property.
It can be seen them in the thermal image above and the accompanying scale on the bottom of the photo, the house on the left externally experiences temperatures in the 2-4 degree © range ,this shows the house is warming up the outside walls from an inside out approach.
In the second picture ,the house on the right ,the envelope of insulation keeps the heat contained inside the house and the external temperature is -2,-3 –this shows the heat is not escaping the envelope as the insulation is keeping the he
at inside. In the first building survey it was identified along the two entrance rooms (lounge 1) that damp matches were found, these were measuring 15-
25% on the damp meter, with black spots and mould spore growth Thus for this reaso
n excavation will be required t
at inside. In the first building survey it was identified along the two entrance rooms (lounge 1) that damp matches were found, these were measuring 15-
25% on the damp meter, with black spots and mould spore growth Thus for this reason excavation will be required t
o repair this, and from an economic standpoint whilst a water proof m
embrane or damp coarse is being inserted into the wall. This insulation measure can be added
embrane or damp coarse is being inserted into the wall. This insulation measure can be added
Three homes of similar Victorian construction were upgraded with internal insulation this was documented and demonstrated inIntroduction to internal insulation: a visit to three homes(YouTube, 2016).
Floors, underfloor heating
While the floors are up its economically viable to install underfloor heating, it is planned that this system will tie into the gas central heating system of which a new energy efficient will be suggested later in this report, and whilst in most install ions wall mounted radiator can be controlled, in this scenario the internal temperature of the house can be thermostatically controlled.
The current floors are a solid system, probably a concrete construction, which traditionally was poured over building waist and debris, the point being here is that a cold bridge exists between the house temperature being warm and the cold ground temperature that is now bridged into the house.
In traditional built Victorian homes joists run across under the floor boards which acted as an insulation barrier by having a gap of air between the ground and the floor of the house-here that gap and thus that insulation is missing.
Up to 14% of a home’s heat can be lost through the floor
RECOMENDATIONS
It is recommended that the floor be investigated to see if it is indeed joists, if so insulation boards can be placed in between the joists.
If itis hard floor then it is recommended to dig up between 5-7 inches and insert a layer of insulation to specification.
It’s also worth considering an coil type underfloor heating that is connected to the gas central heating system, this must be connected to a central thermostat that will digitally monitor the temperature and reduce the heating output if required ,thus reducing excess gas consumption, reducing bills, and carbon emissions.
(Bing.com, 2016)
The above two diagrams show the two options to retro fit insulation into the house, one an over the solid floor approach, the other in between the joists system by Kingspan.
This diagram shows the scenario if the floor is found to be solid (this was not ascertainable as no floor coverings were lifted),it is suggested that a underfloor heating system be installed, here as can be s
een the coils of hollow plastic pipe are coiled around the surface area, this is connected to the gas central heating system, where the hot water is pumped to the required area of the house ,this is wired
to a digitalthermostat
een the coils of hollow plastic pipe are coiled around the surface area, this is connected to the gas central heating system, where the hot water is pumped to the required area of the house ,this is wiredto a digitalthermostat
A digital thermostat such a this model shown will ensure that the boiler is producing only enough output the reach the desired temperature, with the other added efficiencies in this report
Kitchen
The kitchen has not been ignored, rather it is incorporated in the suggestions of the other houses upgrades which are dealt with in this report, factors such as gas central heating and wall insulation would equally apply to the kitchen.
The outhouse (show picture here)
A small outhouse has been built as an extension to the kitchen
The challenges in this room are a draughty door and single glazed windows.
Recommendations
It is recommended to double glaze these windows.
Replace the door with a new UPVC door.
The roof space is recommended to install a layer of mineral wood insulation.
Results
The outcome will be an insulated outhouse.
This will reduce any heat loss from the kitchen to the outside.
Again as in the vestibule conservatory the insulated outhouse will act as a buffer zone to protect the heat loss.
Current boiler. (pictures)
It is recommended that the current boiler is replaced with an A rated boiler, the additional expenditure will be recovered with the reduced heating bills over time, so this system pays for itself
(This is Money, 2016)
WINDOWS
Current systems
The current windows throughout the house are a mix of single and double glazed units.
No standard or kite marks were seen on any of the windows (suggesting they are not of high performance standard)
The conservation area would prohibit the installation of new upvc windows in a white frame, it is assumed that the current window systems are not insulating and thus as effective as could be expected.
Treacle slits-treacle slits were not seen on any of the windows, this feature is essential for airflow and would be recommended on the new sash style upvc windows that would be made of real wood
Double Glazing vs Triple Glazing
Triple-glazing is often marketed as a better option than double-glazing. While it’s true that triple-glazing does offer some benefits, it may not be the best or most economical solution for you.
Triple-glazing is what enables window manufacturers to achieve U-values of 1.0 and better. But such U-values are really only of benefit where they fit into an overall energy saving build, such as in a low energy house or a passive house. Where windows are being fitted into a standard build or as part of a refurbishment project then double-glazed units offering U-values as good as 1.1 are preferable. And other benefits such as noise-reduction and solar control can be included in double-glazing for less than the cost of a standard triple-glazed unit.(Broxwood.com, 2016)
Therefore in this scenario it is recommended that since a holistic approach is being taken to the house as a whole and triple glazing that can achieve a quoted 1.o u value.
It must be noted that the windows are too installed into wooden sash window frames.
Recommendation
The recommendation is an installation of wooden frame windows with double glazing units set into the timber window frames, this solution allows the efficiencies of double glazing ,whilst also safeguarding the environmental aspects as these windows have by appearance been restored to the original specifications of the house as when it would have been built.
(Beenergysmart.co.uk, 2016)
Roof
As identified in the building survey part A, a few loose slates were identified
Openings on the front (located on the border between the neighbour ) whilst evidence of bird droppings (potentially bats) is not the principle concern of this survey the point being openings are allowing convection and thus cooling to occur reducing temperatures, and negating any roof insulation technology’s. The holistic approach to the roof is to seal all visible openings to stop water ingress and air penetration by replacing or sealing in place with tack nails any required slates. Sealing any openings under the gulley’s as pictured.
The roof currently has un-evenly laid mineral wool, this is causing a large amount of heat to escape through the roof, and an uninsulated roof can cause leakage of up to 20% of heat loss from a home
Additionally there is no sheeting between the slate and the wooden last, this would have limited the escape partially, butit’s missing on one side of the roof.
Recommendation
Mineral wool to a thickness of 300mm is recommended to be evenly spread throughout the loft space. This will act as an insulating blanket containing the internally generated heat within the building structure.
Summary
The house has been upgraded in an intelligent and complimentaryfashion, single glazing has been suggested to be replaced with double or triple glazing ,the environmental protection factor has be achieved by using period sash wooden formedwindows. The roof has had all loose slates and gaps sealed and the internal spaces of both the porches in the front and rear of the house insulated with mineral wool loft insulation. The roof as had a new layer of wool insulation installed.
The wet and mould spore ridden walls have been internally lined with insulation material, this again has overcome any potential external prohibitions on insulating the property external (although a perfectly viable external option has been suggested.
Additionally a new energy efficient a rated boiler has been recommended to replace the existing boiler, this is connected to the radiators, a digitally thermostatically controlled thermometer and a suggested underfloor coil type heating system.
The new energy efficient home, will now be a lower carbon producing and lower energy consuming home, this will be complimented the digital system that has many features as described above.
Loose slates/openings
References
Anon, (2016). .
Anon, (2016). .
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Thank you so much for sharing this great blog.
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