SUSTAINABILITY
Homeowners who have retro-fitted their own property include Paul and Ann Barbara Brenells, aged in their 60s, from Stoke Newington, north London. The couple had lived in their four-
bedroom mid-Victorian terraced house for 28 years, when they realised they couldn’t go on living in the property in the condition it was in. “We’d patched our home over the years,”
said Mr Brenells, “and a backlog of jobs had build up. Our children had left home, and we came to the realisation that we would have to either sell up and move, or completely renovate the house. We like where we live and so we decided on the latter option.” Armed with a knowledge of ‘green’ issues
build up over a number of years – and having visited the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in West Wales – the Brenells decided to employ Building Doctors, a firm of architects who specialise in retro-fitting older properties, to project manage the renovation. Mr Brenells said, “We decided to
incorporate many green features, such as solar panels to supply hot water, improved insulation and double glazing to prevent heat loss, a sedum roof to reduce rainwater run-off, a rainwater collection system to be used for watering the garden, and an efficient gas boiler.” The renovation required was so drastic
the couple moved out of their home for nine months while the building work was completed. Nash Condular of Building Doctors, said,
“Since the occupants of the house had moved out for the period of the build, executing the construction process proved to be relatively uncomplicated. “Some jobs were trickier than others.
For example, lining internal walls with insulation is messy and dusty, but gives great results. Getting the builder’s head around how to fit these products is tricky. Simply giving builders a specification is not worth it, as it can lead to confusion.
CASE STUDY – TOM AND YVONNE CLYNE’S HOME IN LONDON
home also received new kitchen units, WC and bathroom. The photovoltaic panels on the roof supply electricity at no cost to the resident, with the surplus being fed into the national grid. The solar thermal panels provide hot water to the solar cylinder. The innovative project is
the result of a partnership between specialist social housing contractor United House, the Sustainable Energy Academy, Parity Projects, Camden Council and the National Energy Foundation. John Doggart, Chairman
New ways of insulation – especially for solid brick walls – are much needed. WHISCERS (Whole House In-Situ Carbon Energy Reduction Solution) is a revolutionary process for retrofi tting internal wall insulation in hard to treat solid walled properties. The new process uses laser scanning to measure the dimensions of a room, off-site insulation board cutting and installation with residents in situ. (Residents would need to vacate their home while most internal wall work in undertaken.) The fi rst WHISCERS
installation was recently undertaken at an existing three-storey Victorian
terraced house in Bertram Street, Camden, London. The residents – Tom and Yvonne Clyne and their three young children – continued to live in the property throughout the works. The internal wall insulation, combined with low-carbon techniques, has greatly improved the energy effi ciency of the home and the retrofi t is expected to deliver a 77 per cent carbon reduction. As well as internal wall
insulation, further eco measures installed in the Clyne’s 100-plus year old home included vacuum glazed sash windows, a heat recovery ventilation unit and photovoltaic and solar thermal panels. The
External cladding can help some homes.
We find by actually fit the first few pieces for them really get the message across.” The Brenells invested a little over £200,000 ex-VAT on their eco-renovation. They have found their eco-installations have saved them money. Mr Brenells said, “The improved insulation makes the house warmer, and in the summer months we generate 3kw from the two solar panels we have on the roof. Right now all our hot water is provided by solar thermal. Our bills are much reduced.”
of the Sustainable Energy Academy, said, “We have developed WHISCERS to be faster, better and cheaper than conventional insulating systems. With low mess, little noise and small disruption, as well as being able to insulate a room in under two hours with residents in place, WHISCERS is an ideal way of retrofi tting solid wall houses that are Hard-to- Treat into homes that are Easy-to-Heat. “These measures are
estimated to reduce fuel bills by an average of nearly £600 a year. This is an impressive 64 per cent fuel cost saving and a very impressive 77 per cent carbon emission saving compared with the house before retrofi t started.”
Next month’s article will discuss domestic energy generation from renewable sources: solar, wind, ground and air source heat, biomass etc.
Gordon Miller is the Co-founder and
Sustainability & Communications Director of membership organisation Sustain Worldwide (
www.sustainworldwide.com).
Do you have any views to share?
www.propertydrum.com/articles/greendeal1
PROPERTYdrum NOVEMBER 2011 21
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