My Barn Conversion

A recurring topic that has kept popping into my consciousness over the past few weeks has been that of financial incentives to encourage of adoption of green technology in buildings. Firstly, in relation to the incentives that are available in the UK from the government. I’m interested in an air-source heat pump to provide anContinue reading Cash Incentives for ‘Green’ Installations

One of the cornerstones of energy efficient, healthy, sustainable building design, the PassivHaus standard aims to provide comfortable year round living conditions through minimal energy expenditure. These aims are achieved through: An effective passive solar design that will provide the necessary heat gain (heating). To manage the heat gain: …very highly specified insulation, …near completeContinue reading PassivHaus

A term often heard, but of rarely understood, just what does it mean? Some definitions: “within ten years every new home will be a zero-carbon home“ Gordon Brown, then Chancellor, in pre-budget report 2006. When asked for further clarification, a zero-carbon home was defined as one that does not contribute to global warming – hardlyContinue reading Zero Carbon House

Despite the various pieces of tinkering and potching that I’ve committed over the past months, I never really felt that we’d made a real start on conversion of the barn. That is until the last couple of weeks when the wall came down. As dramatic as it sounds, the wall coming down entailed the removalContinue reading One small step….

One of those frequently occurring eco-building terms, thermal mass is often mentioned but rarely defined. The thermal mass of a building is an assessment of the ability of its internal fabric to absorb and store thermal energy. Through absorption of heat, the temperature of a material increases – the amount of heat that must beContinue reading What is Thermal Mass?

Whilst a little late in the day for our barn (it was built 100+ years ago) the orientation of a building to the sun and the suns relationship with the buildings windows, doors and other openings are the focus of passive solar design. Through effective passive solar design we seek to harness the power ofContinue reading Passive Solar Design