I thought it would be interesting and motivational (to me at least) to keep a record of my Green Living journey. The first step on this journey began when we bought our current house and received our first utility bills!

We moved here in 2010 and the EPC Certificate had an Energy Efficiency Rating of E48 and an Environmental Impact of E43. At that time we hadn't much of a clue about energy efficiency, airtightedness, solar panels, insulation, etc. We just wanted a house that was large enough to hold my family (me, wife, two kids) and both my parents (in a separate 'granny annexe'). However, when the utility bills started coming in, we soon became experts!! :)

The EPC certificate was as follows:

Very Interesting !

I have already started comparing it with mine !

gg

How does your energy usage compare to the EPC?

Posted By: SteamyTeaHow does your energy usage compare to the EPC?

It' was probably about right, though it doesn't take into account the massive amounts we spent on wood and coal for the two 20 year old multi-fuel stoves. The house was freezing cold, and having moved from a modern new build, it was a real shock to the system. We sat around in coats and blankets in the first few winters (and early spring/late autumn). I'm smiling now remembering how we used to hum the Darth Vader theme tune as we wandered about with our blankets round us like capes. :D

Posted By: gravelldWell done and looking forward to reading. But let's not forget the 'limitations' of EPCs (especially using RdSAP) as a reliable assessment tool.

I totally agree with your point about EPCs, they're a blunt tool, but the only one I have to provide a rough comparison from 2010 to now (and beyond).

I was a bit worried about the limecrete after seeing the infamous grand design episode, and because we were doing the work in winter. However, as the slab was indoors and we put a thermostatic heater in there (perched on a window Sill), everything went well. The slab hardened well (NHL 5) and my worried brow relaxed.

I had to insist that the builder waited a few weeks before starting work on laying the UFH pipework and screed, which he wasn't happy about, but that's what the lime floor designer/supplier (Ty Mawr) suggested.

The designer worked out that the floor would give us a U value of 0.25 W/sq.m/K, which was the target for Renovated Thermal Elements back in 2010. The table below provides u values for thermal elements in 2010.

Have similar to do with my listed building. While doing the Lime mortar course at Ty Mawr they told us about this construction so I have it approved for when we put in the UFH. The planners have insisted that if we find stone flags they can be lifted but relaid in the same position. Having had a quick investigation it seems a layer of bitumen has been laid over flags so I am not looking forward to the job. Just on the UFH I was looking to include in the screed both water and electric. Has anyone done this with this floor construction.

Posted By: Pile-o-StoneIf the flags are crappy once you take off the bitumen, I'd be tempted to quietly put them in the garden as a patio or as a pathway.

could they not simply be relaid, but upside-down ?

far less effort !

gg

Its like a red bitumen I have already taken it off in the hall quite easily and revealed a flag stone 6 foot by 4 foot so now desperate to find out what is underneath it. Lost cellar ? Priest hole ?. Just cannot decide how to do it as it will be so heavy. I have a local stone cutting company that have made mullions and window side panels for use so I think if we can lift them we should not have a problem.

Posted By: djh

Posted By: renewablejohnIts like a red bitumen I have already taken it off in the hall quite easily and revealed a flag stone 6 foot by 4 foot so now desperate to find out what is underneath it. Lost cellar ? Priest hole ?. Just cannot decide how to do it as it will be so heavy.

http:///newforum/extensions/Vanillacons/smilies/standard/shocked.gif" alt="" title="" >That will be heavy! It won't be a priest hole because they wouldn't have been able to open and close it. Maybe there's a vampire buried under it?http:///newforum/extensions/Vanillacons/smilies/standard/devil.gif" alt="" title="" >

The slab next to the large slab has two grooves I presume for a pair of hinges so I will investigate.

We have the old and new EPC for our now nearly completed project.

We have overdone the insulation in the loft, double glazed, limecreted (plus Glypor insulation) the ground floor, added a Conservatory with insulated floor round 50% of the downstairs (i.e somewhat insulated the walls). We removed the entire NE gable wall and replaced with a super insulated extension as a replacement. Sealed all the walls between the floors, replaced the doors with new ones which don't let the outside in (unless open). Used LED lighting throughout. Removed Victorian fireplaces, lined chimneys plus insulation and added external air supplies to 2 woodburning stoves and use a woodburning range as cooking and kitchen heat.

The old EPC was F31 and it is now ....... wait for it ........ F37.

We could get to D64 apparently if we added solar PV, solar thermal, a wind Turbine, and insulated the external walls. Which we'd do, except we get no sun for 7 months of the year, live in a National Park in a valley (Wind Turbine), and the House is a restored Victorian gem relying on new lime work to breath!

We would like to install a pico hydro system as we have a small river, but as we are in the middle of an SSSI this might be difficult.

We are self sufficient in wood, and will have planted 500 new trees by the end of the month, and use 1ton (£250) of pellets per year for hot water and heating (which isn't ever on).

The house is now toasty rather than wet, drafty, cold and running on oil.

Take home message - EPC's are not really very useful!

Very interesting. EPCs are never a true representation, its a box ticking exercise.

Project #2 - Warm roof for the 'Granny Annex' and main house.

Both properties have vaulted roofs, where the ceilings are attached to the underside of the roof. A measly attempt to insulate these roofs was made during the original conversion - there was 30mm of polystyrene tiles between the rafters.

On the 'Granny Annex' we were restricted on roof height because of the way the lead flashing cut into the main house. We therefore couldn't put insulation above the rafters. On the main house we could add to the roof height, but didn't to go too high as we were worried about aesthetics with the stone walls ending quite a way before the roof tiles started, with a thick band of cement covering the insulation.

The makeup of the two roofs were as follows:

Annexe: 100mm celotex between the 100mm rafters and 50cm below. 3 double glazed roof windows.
Main : TLX Gold multifoil insulation on top of the rafters, 75mm air gap, 25mm celotex between rafters and 100mm celotex beneath rafters.

The annexe roof was a neat job and we are happy with it. In retrospect I think I would have used the TLX gold on this roof as well as we would have had just about enough clearance for the counter-battens. Generally though we are pleased with the roof.

The main house roof is a totally different story. We went with a 'mate' who was a lot cheaper than the contractor we were using to renovate the annex. Unfortunately they were bodgers who 'forgot' to tape up the TLX seams, then lied about doing it when I reminded them to tape up the seams. We discovered this one winter when the roof leaked because the snow sat on the roof so long that the melt water moved up the roof tiles, through the (un-taped) TLX foil (and attached membrane) and into the roof space. They also replaced broken tiles (I had to source some reclaimed stone tiles to replace these) and the celotex insulation was seemingly cut with a bread knife with gaps you cut put your finger in.

I was working away from home while all this went on, something I'd never do again. I just wish I had not gone for the cheap 'mate rates'. Of all of the various jobs we had done, this was the worst, one of the most important and the one that (still) causes the most grief and annoyance.

Notwithstanding the poor craftsmanship, the roof is a million times better than what was there before it, and it is much quieter and warmer in the bedrooms as a result.

Posted By: Peter_in_Hungary

Posted By: Pile-o-StoneI was working away from home while all this went on, something I'd never do again. I just wish I had not gone for the cheap 'mate rates'. Of all of the various jobs we had done, this was the worst, one of the most important and the one that (still) causes the most grief and annoyance.

In my experience expensive does not guarantee good it just guarantees expensive - to guarantee good I have found you have to be on site and watching.

True, but we shouldn't have to stand over someone just to make sure they do their job properly. Is there no professional pride, especially if the work is for someone you know. Lol, as you can tell, I'm still bitter about the whole thing

Plus, even if trades are doing their best, 'best' is only relative to what they know. In Pile-o-Stone's case, those guys might have been told before that "small gaps won't make a big difference". Which re-iterates the watch-them-like-a-hawk ethos.

Isn't it odd that the requirements for cavity walls on refurb are less than other walls? Well, you can imagine there's some sort of lobbyist/"stakeholder input" reasoning for it, but no good reason.

Great stuff, keep it coming.

Know the feeling. I have been 6 months doing a bathroom mainly because no bathroom specialist would touch it being Listed with a floor level lower than the rest of the house. Builders didn't have a clue about lime mortar and lime plaster or windows direct into stone mullions. Thankfully now done and onto the next task.