feeds the underfloor heating throughout the house, as well as solar panels, triple glazed windows throughout, and they have an electric car with an EV charging point installed. “We are trying to be very efficient,” says Ian. They had several problems with the heat pump but having finally had it reprogrammed recently, they now get a “faultless service,” says Ian. “One of the first problems was they supplied the wrong sort of water tank. A new one was fitted in January, but we still had problems, it’s only recently it’s been reprogrammed.”
The couple had a set budget, but needed their 20% contingency. In fact, says Ian, “I think we went to about 40%!” “There were certain things we had to give up.” One was an MVHR system, but they discovered they would in any case have to install ducting for a full extraction system on the lower floor, having previously been told extractor fans would suffice. “Building Control said no, it had to be more significant,” explains Ian.
The entrance is at the upper floor level, which
is where the open plan lounge, dining room and kitchen are. Off this area is a utility room, and the master bedroom. Downstairs are two further bedrooms, one of which is currently used by their son, a study, store room and plant room. When it came to choosing interior fixtures and fittings, the couple were inspired partly by American house styles. “My wife’s brother lives in the US, and we’ve visited and were actually quite inspired by the houses he’s lived in; that was the way we wanted to live,” Ian says. “We didn’t want a fake ‘olde worlde’ look, it would
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www.sbhonline.co.uk
Sustainability was really important for the pair, and they installed an air source heat pump which feeds the underfloor heating throughout the house
have looked awful in this particular setting. It was to be in keeping with a modern house so it had to be a modern design.” One area they struggled with was sourcing tiles. “We looked at so many and they were basically white, beige or grey. Then we were recommended somewhere local, JW Ceramics, by the kitchen company – they had a vast selection in various colours, they really were first class.” The kitchen company, Alexander, were also local and, says Ian, were “very good and came well recommended. They tailored it so that it fits in very nicely.”
Although passionate about installing the latest eco-friendly technology in order to live as sustainably as possible, the couple drew the line
nov/dec 2021
IAN’S ADVICE
“Don’t think it’s going to go smoothly all the time. Be prepared for things that go wrong that require you to reconsider things that you wanted to do. We would have liked to do other things but we couldn’t afford it in the end so we had to compromise.”
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