My report on reducing the carbon footprint of a 1920's home
This report will set out to discuss the opportunities and challenges regarding the attempted reduction of the carbon footprint of my 1920's built home.
The proposed structure is;
- Introduction
- Background
- The Problem
- Impact Overview
- Options
- Actions
- Conclusions
It will be an ongoing report with a life of its own, and will probably take a number of years to write.
Disclaimer:
This is only my opinion. It does not constitute a recommendation for any course of action or company. This report is, in part, a collection of articles some of which have been written over a decade ago. Such articles may each have their own footer, including a map and globe. Both articles and the report are not intended to be kept up to date. Prices, charges, cost, and values change over time, as do efficiencies and inefficiencies. Technology also changes over time. What was the bees knees may not still be so.
Section 1 -- Introduction
Picking up on recycling's Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, or 3Rs. Which has developed into Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle and then 5rs (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle).
What are known as the famous 5 when it comes to managing waste?
Usually we put recycling on top of everything, but today on the 5 R process, it comes in last. Five actions should respectively be taken if possible before recycling any products. These R’s include: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and finally, recycle. This is an important methodology for businesses to follow to ensure they can reduce waste and boost their recycling efforts. This ultimately lessens the amount of waste that will end up in landfill and will optimise your recycling programs.
I like to add a G to the front of the Rs. That becomes Grrrrr, which is reasonably descriptive of the whole issue. By the way, the G is for Generate, or Generate your own. Whilst it is a steal from waste management it is not a bad fit for reducing ones carbon footprint.
As stated above, this report will set out to discuss the opportunities and challenges regarding the attempted reduction of the carbon footprint of my 1920's built home.
It is intended, in part to be a record of my progress towards a greener home, and my thinking behind it, an also provide food for thought for anyone who choses to read it.
Section 2 -- Background
In this section I will provide some background regarding my interest in the environment.
My career has been in Construction, initially primarily in Roads and Bridges and latterly Railways. My roles, as a Quantity Surveyor, were not specifically environmental but did stray into that area from time to time.
The interest in the environment is not career focused but has been there from a young age and persists today. Not as an activist or as a protestor, but how as an individual I can make small changes to my lifestyle to reduce my impact on the environment in which I live. That can be as little as taking public transport instead of the car where practical or keeping a car as long as possible, as there is a lot of embedded carbon in a car, and prematurely changing and swapping to an electric vehicle would be counter productive in terms of cost and carbon. Or as much as adding as many PV Solar Panels as will fit on my roof.
Little steps of action cumulate to make more change than just talking about the issues.
The start of my interest in the environment
The start of my interest in the environment
The start of my interest in the environment
At a relatively young age I began to have an interest in the environment in which we live.
I am defiantly not an older Greta Thunberg in any way shape or form. Total respect to her.
I was something of a swot at secondary school. I remember a school Prize Giving Assembly where after my name was called and I bounded up the stairs, two at a time, onto the stage. I was later told off, (gently) as it lacked decorum and was not visually attractive. I was tall for my age and somewhat gangly, but in hindsight I don't think that was the lesson.
Fortunately it was not like the Oscars where you have to go onto the stage separately for each prize to be awarded. The prizes were collated, if you were fortunate enough to receive multiple awards, by the person. There was a stack of eleven books for me, one of which was Animal Geography by Wilma George. It had a chapter on Continental Drift, which was the beginning of Tectonic Plates Theory.
Tectonic Plates Theory has grown up a lot since then, and is probably generally accepted. At that time, less than thirty years after it was first expounded, it was all very new.
The reason for selecting this particular book was not Continental Drift as I think this was the first place I read about it. It was because of my interest in animals and their classification. How and why the family groups came about and what separated them.
Whilst the Double Helix DNA discovery was before this book, and 'although scientists have made some minor changes to the Watson and Crick model, or have elaborated upon it, since its inception in 1953, the model's four major features remain the same yet today.' However, DNA in Species Identification was not common until several decades later.
Even before secondary school I had started to collect information regarding animals and how they were classified with the intention of writing a book on the subject. I still have the box of information I collected, all paper in those days. I never wrote the book as there are other books which are much better than I could have done, from more knowledgeable people than a school kid. Also, it has become something of a movable feast as more becomes known about animal families, thanks in part to DNA and also Paleogenomics. For instance is a Hyrax still the closest living relative to an Elephant?
Fortunately, I had some good teachers who were able to expand what they taught based on interest as well the set curriculum. It may have been Mr Baldwin, the Physics teacher or Mr Angel - Geography (Last name from Facebook Group).
I recall being taught at the time that the world is a fragile place and that if the ambient temperature rose by as little as 4oC it would result in a Mass Extinction Event, not that they were called that at the time. Nor the more recent term, Extinction Level Event. (ELE).
This was enough to set me off with both an interest in animals, the environments in which they live, and which we share, and the wider "how is the planet".
That figure of 4oC appears to have risen to 5.2oC or sometimes 6oC. I am not sure how much the latter figure is driven by the politics of providing hope for the future to avoid despair and anarchy, as we are sailing perilously close to exceeding the threshold.
Several decades after I was at school, David's school had a evening lecture about past Mass Extinction Events, and of course a discussion about the possibility of one in the not to distant future due to Global Warming.
To update that somewhat, below is a photo taken when I was at the top of Kilimanjaro in May 1979.
Part of the permanent ice cap and glazier, taken from Gilman's Point. That was than, and this is now, and this. A stark difference!
In August 2014, my son David climbed Kilimanjaro, and here are some of his photos, as a comparison.
There was a benefit. David got all the way to Uhuru Peak, whilst our group only got to Gilman's Point, also known as Gillman's Point. We were told that it would be dangerous to travel the additional mile on to Uhuru because of the conditions. On the return we would not be able to see properly as the cloud was already coming in. They were the guides, and local knowledge knows best. So, yes David climbed higher than I did. Ururu is 5895 / 19341 according to the photo. Gilman's is 5685m / 18652ft according to a similar photo on Google Maps. It was nothing to do with up in 3 days and down in one, just the weather on the day. I think the round trip is now seven or more days.
A smattering of snow and frost, and the warmer jackets have come out. Understandable, it was about 6 in the morning, and just shy of 20,000ft. The difference between May and August, the change of months between his and my trips can not explain the difference in the snow coverage. It is Global Warming melting very very old snow and ice. Permanent, no longer.
Google Maps satellite view. Where has all the snow and ice gone? Admittedly there is some left, but not much.
There are some opinions that the current Global Warming, AKA Climate Change, is the only thing stopping us from entering the well overdue, next Ice Age, but I don't think that is a widely supported view. Why the move from Global Warming to Climate Change? My thought is that Global Warming is what is happening. On average the world is getting warmer. However, that does not mean that we can go down to Brighton and get the Mediterranean experience. The initial consequence of Global Warming is an impact on the climate with both general weather changes, both better and worse, and more severe weather events. Plants can't move easily to accommodate gentle weather changes let alone extreme ones. Animals are more mobile, but not all sufficiently so. Too much change will result in another Mass Extinction Event.
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Memberships
Memberships of environmental organisations
I am a member of;
Click the names to open and see the text.
The World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1961 that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment. It was formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States
I have been a member for many decades, more than I care to remember. I joined when it was still called World Wildlife Fund and was focused on the preservation of endangered animals.
I think their mission is wider than that now and I consider they can be included in this list of environmental organisations.
Follow this link to see a 1 minute video.
Then use their footprint calculator to find your footprint.
This is my result today, 2021.
It is a screenshot, so none of the links on it work.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is a charitable organisation registered in England and Wales and in Scotland. It was founded in 1889. It is a Conservation charity.
The RSPB is the UK's largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home and secure a healthy environment for wildlife.
I suggest you look at the RSPB's Save energy and reduce waste at home. Who knew! Rainwater and greywater recycling together with the PV cells take us firmly into the Dark Green.
The reason for joining the RSPB, I think in the 1980's or perhaps a little before, was my interest in birdwatching. I used to live in Ipswich and I recall going to the shore line before the Orwell Bridge was built and watching the waders. I also remember being on a RSPB Reserve in Suffolk, with my wife to be at the time, reeds all around, camera levelled, and being asked, "Are you taking a photo of a Reed Warbler?" Perhaps he had just heard it sing, and thought I had spotted it. "No, just the Nuclear Power Station. The lighting on it is superb." I don't think he was impressed with that.
Bird watching and photography bring two hobbies together. However, you don't have to go to a RSPB Reserve to get the shots. I took the photo below in our local park.
Woodland Trust
Your text...
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M25
The M25 Motorway
This is a bit of a stretch to include this here.
I should at this point fess up to having been involved in the construction of part of the M25 (Ringway 4 /NOR). It was at the time of building not part of the M25, but became a feeder road. The project was the A405 to Hunton Bridge. The Rickmansworth Bypass was built as a bypass but to motorway standards. When it was changed to a motorway, all that had to happen was green road signs were changed to blue ones. Did it get less protests and less media time by being built as a bypass?
The site compound was at the junction of the A405 - North Orbital Road and A41 North Western Avenue. I was working for Percy Bilton Ltd at the time and left to travel to Asia in 1978.
Upon my return to the UK in 1980 I worked for Cementation Construction Ltd on the M26 and M25 Chevening Junction based in Wrotham, Kent.
Regarding the Ten Square Metres of Surrey, this was a form of protest about the proposed route of the M25. However, the protest failed. Sometimes though, good things come to fruition. The built route was shorter than the protesters preferred route. The M25 has been a victim of it's own success with very substantial traffic flows. The shorter route for so many cars and trucks amounts to very significant carbon and other pollutants reductions.
More recently, projects like HS2 do have an adverse environmental impact, but these are dwarfed by the potential benefits, including environmental gains. Another contentious project is the Lower Thames Crossing. The proposals include cutting through ancient woodlands. Sometimes I would consider that the demolition of housing would be preferable, but this would not be politically acceptable, even if double the number of homes were provided. Even poor housing stock seems to be sacrosanct. It does of course cost more to demolish and rebuild houses, in terms of money, but what of the other costs. It is all a balance, and it is not always clear where that balance point should be. The Kent Messenger (Newspaper) KentOnline has an article about Lower Thames Crossing.
There is a map of the route of Ringway 4 / SOR / M25 here. Covering both the Leatherhead area and M25/M26..
Ten Square metres of woodland in leafy Surrey
Many years ago I read an advert about selling a small plot of woodland near Leatherhead. At the time I did not know where Leatherhead was. Reference to paper maps provided the answer. At the time Leatherhead was the dominant town of the area. Now it is Epsom, and at the time I obviously had no idea that years later I would be living in Epsom.
A phone call to the advertisers and arrangements were made together with details of how to get there from Leatherhead town centre. Another look at the maps to plot a route.
The allocated day arrived and it was not too difficult to find. There were a number of cars parked at or near the gate.
The land hand literally been pegged out into ten metre by ten metre plots. Access was by walking across somebody else's plot, and for other's, across my plot. It was advertised as for recreational purposes, which was my interest.
However, it appears that the reality was somewhat different. At least it was not a scam, fraud. It was an attempt to frustrate the building of the proposed M25 by severely complicating the land purchase process. One owner of a wooded field of ten hectares or one thousand different owners of 100 sq m.
From an anti road perspective it may seem a valid ploy, but in reality it just increases the cost to the public purse. It is very unlikely to result in the road being diverted or cancelled. Much more money will have already been spent on devising the route, and it will already be a compromise of all the different potential routes.
I did not pursue that opportunity to buy some recreational woodland, with questionable access.
In June 1971 the M25 Action Group launched its campaign to divert the 'southern' route away from Leatherhead and instead cut across Brooklands racing track.
The sketch shows a proposed alternative route avoiding the tight squeeze threading between Leatherhead and Ashtead. Instead it proposes to go southward through Norbury Park / Fetcham Downs, skirting Great Bookham, and turning back towards the north at Little Bookham, near the Grange, towards Bookham Common, then re-joining the official proposed M25 line.
It was one of 39 public enquiries the beleaguered motorway scheme would face before it was finally opened some 15 years later.
In September 1973, the group’s campaign tumbled like a clump of tarmac and Geoffrey Rippon, secretary of state for the Environment, rejected its alternative southern route.
The M25 Action Group’s chairman, Sir Ronald Harris, was unequivocal in his response to the secretary of state’s decision.
“One of deep disappointment.”
Arthur Durham, then chairman of Leatherhead Urban Council, was of similar sentiment and chirped that the inspector had given more concern to the peace and quiet of Effingham and Little Bookham than he had to those of Ashtead and Leatherhead.
“They will suffer far worse noise now the northern route is chosen.”
I think it was, at the time, a case of "not in my back yard" than an interest it the environment. However, the M25 corridor between Leatherhead and Ashtead does suffer from a poorer air quality than surrounding areas, not unsurprisingly. Even if current environmental concerns were applied, would a route through Fetcham Downs and Bookham Common have gained traction against the Leatherhead route.
The greater argument is however, for the road on environment grounds. Given the growth of road transport the emissions were destined to inevitably increase. Traffic can be modelled in a similar fashion to Fluid Dynamics. The cleaner the flow the better the outcome. Taking traffic away from normal roads which are already congested and slow moving, and frequently in densely populated areas, and putting it on cleanly flowing motorways has many environmental and commercial benefits, including air quality. Motorways obviously do take space and have an impact on that land and those living around it.
The M25 has it is now apparent been a victim of its own success, creating it's own congestion, but arguably better than putting the same volume on the surrounding normal roads. Consider driving along the A25, perhaps through Dorking or Westerham.
The solution is not to constrain the infrastructure. It is more appropriate to look at the root cause, the amount of traffic and the source of propulsion. Change the culture of the country to reduce traffic and change to electric or hydrogen as the source of energy, to improve air quality and reduce congestion. Return to working close to home. Greater use of public transport and human power, walking and cycling. Changing the patterns of society.
Delaying the building of such infrastructure just delays the realisation of the benefits. A worse environmental impact, and yes sometimes an ancient woodland, or a few hundred homes have to be scarified for the greater benefit of both the environment and society.
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Sand Martins
Sand Martins Saved
Another road building project with Cementation Construction Ltd. This time the A45 Ipswich bypass and then the A12 Copdock Bypass, also near Ipswich. The A45 was the approach to the Orwell Bridge, built at the same time. The route has be re-designated the A14.
Sand Martins nesting in a sand cliff.
The above photo is not one of mine nor of the actual sand cliff but it is indicative of the situation. The above photo, '- Credit: Felix Alred', comes from this site which is an interesting read.
I was working on a road building project near Ipswich in Suffolk as a Quantity Surveyor. One of my responsibilities was the earthworks.
It was not dis-similar to the video below apart from the scrapers of the day were CAT 637, I think the suffix might have been C.
If you are interested in knowing more about scrapers you could watch the video on the link and the specifications can be found here and here. Some photos of old CAT scrapers here.
You may notice from the above video that the scrapers have created a bank or cliff, which appears to be sand.
That is what happened on my site. Nothing unusual in that. It is just trimmed back to form the slope at the edge of the road and then covered in topsoil and planted.
However, we had some opportunist visitors move in. Obviously not deterred by the movement or noise.
There was talk of sheeting over the bank or digging it back to the required slope. Either way, they would become homeless.
I intervened and stated they might be protected. I would look into it.
Other potential nest sites were covered in sheeting to avoid more intrusion.
This all happened before the internet was available. At the start of the job we had lots of bags of coins to feed the local telephone box. Yes a red box, on the corner by the road. No mobile phone, no internet, no instant information.
Fortunately, the office by the time of the incident had had land lines installed.
I made a few phone calls to directory enquiries and then a few more phone calls, including one to the RSPB.
If I recall correctly, at the time, the birds were not protected, but nesting sites were protected, therefore safe.
However, there were exceptions. Construction sites were one of those exceptions.
The location of the site entrance, as it is today, from Google Maps, with no sign of a phone box.
We could of ignored the nesting birds and carried on the works according to the law at that time.
We didn't do that. With some judicial re-planning and changing of sequence, we let them be, but covered the area, as soon as they had left.
Construction does not always have to be hard hearted. We worked with the client to come up with an acceptable solution to all, including the birds.
The Sand Martins left without a thank you, without paying their rent.
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Estimating
RIB
BIM
Carbon parameter
Section 3 -- The Problem
The problem is complex and many fold. However, understanding a problem is key to resolving it, or mitigating against it. There are many techniques available and that I am failure with, including root cause annalist and risk management. However, this problem is easier to describe than it is to solve.
Climate Change
Climate Change
At the risk of repeating myself ad nauseum, whilst I was at school several decades ago, I recall being taught at the time that the world is a fragile place and that if the ambient temperature rose by as little as 4oC it would result in a Mass Extinction Event, not that they were called that at the time. Nor the more recent term, Extinction Level Event. (ELE).
That figure of 4oC appears to have risen to 5.2oC or sometimes 6oC. I am not sure how much the latter figure is driven by the politics of providing hope for the future to avoid despair and anarchy, as we are sailing perilously close to exceeding the threshold. Better science or political will to not give all of the bad news at the first sitting, you can decide.
I will not however, try to explain Climate Change, the reasons for, or the problems caused here as there is plenty of better researched sources of information on the internet.
Suffice it to say that there will be more frequent extreme weather events, which have to be catered for in any decision making process regarding reducing the carbon footprint of a 1930's home. There will also be impacts on the financial implications of those decisions, including fuel cost, taxation, and product costs.
Climate Change also provides the main imperative for wanting to reduce the carbon footprint.
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Old housing stock
Old housing stock
The housing of the UK is the oldest in the world and is being replaced very slowly. As such, it presents unique challenges in making it fit for the future. Below are some global conclusions based on BRE’s experience of 50 years of housing conditions surveys:
- – Targeted policies can have a major effect on housing conditions and performance.
- – Housing improvements are generally one-way gains and will accrue benefits long into the future.
- – Housing repair and maintenance has to be sustained.
- – Tackling poor housing conditions does not have to be expensive and has multiple benefits to society as a whole.
- – It makes economic sense to invest in improving housing rather than pay for the consequences of poor housing through the NHS and other agencies.
- – If you provide sufficient good quality housing, everything else will follow, with proven gains in asset value, health, wellbeing, life chances and economic performance.
- – Build sub-standard housing and you are stuck with it and it will be very difficult to repair, improve or replace.
- – Finally, investments in national housing surveys will pay for themselves time again in well-informed, funded and targeted housing policies that will ultimately deliver social and economic benefits. All the better if these surveys have comparable methodologies and timeframes.
The above is an extract of the BRE Trust Report, the Housing Stock of the UK.
UK Housing Stock
The first port of call on this discussion is the BRE Trust Report, the Housing Stock of the UK.
Extracts
There is a regular call for statistics on the United Kingdom (UK) housing stock, usually to compare them with statistics of other European or world nations. This is, however, not straightforward, as they have to be compiled from the four separate housing surveys of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The four surveys are undertaken over different timescales, with different sampling criteria and survey instruments. Even questions that appear similar are often subtly different. Scotland and Wales do not include vacant dwellings whereas England and Northern Ireland do.
The first house condition survey in the world, using trained inspectors to visit a representative sample of the national housing stock, was undertaken in England and Wales in 1967. At the time, slum clearance was going ahead at pace and new housebuilding was at a historical high. There was a growing feeling that housing renewal should be based on more robust evidence. A sub-committee of the Central Housing Advisory Committee recommended in its 1966 report: ‘Our older homes – a call for action’ that: “a national survey, scientifically designed and carried out by skilled investigators, was necessary to provide reliable data on house condition”, and the survey was the outcome of this.
The survey method was very simple and consisted of a one-page form to be completed by specially trained Public Health Inspectors, Figure 1.1. It was based on a sample of 6,000 randomly selected homes across England and Wales. The results were reported in Economic Trends in 1968.They showed that the condition of the housing stock in England and Wales was worse than expected. There were 15.7 million homes in England and Wales in 1967. Some 40% of these were built before 1919; 25% lacked a basic amenity (bath, wash hand basin, hot water); 19% lacked an indoor WC; 7% were in potential clearance areas; 5% required repairs exceeding £1,000 (around £17,000 at 2017 costs, based on the RPI index, the most relevant index of those dating back to 1967).
The 1967 housing survey was very significant because it provided the evidence base for future housing policies. These included the targeting of slum clearance programmes, rather than the previous ‘scattergun’ approach, and the identification of areas for grant-aided improvement work. It also enabled limited resources for public expenditure on housing improvement to be distributed on a scientific basis.
While the survey methodologies have evolved slowly over the years to ensure comparability of measurement with both each other and what has gone before, improvements in technology have been more dramatic. Data is now collected in the field by surveyors using a paper/digital pen system in England, Scotland and Wales, while Northern Ireland uses tablet PCs. The technology has improved efficiency and data quality and speeded up the reporting process. Headline results from all surveys are published within a year of the end of the latest fieldwork period.
The purpose of these surveys has been to monitor housing supply, conditions, energy performance and fuel poverty, and to direct policies towards continued improvement. The initial problems of unfitness, disrepair and lack of basic amenities identified in the early surveys were targeted with substantial investment programmes in the 1970s and 1980s and have largely been eradicated. During the 1980s, over £1 billion of public money per annum was being spent on Private Sector Renewal, based on the results of the UK national housing surveys. Due to the serious problems identified through the surveys, Wales received a proportionately larger share of the available funding, Figure 1.3.
2.2 Age, type and size of dwellings in the UK
The housing stock of the United Kingdom is very diverse, representing a long history of housebuilding, local building preferences and materials, and policy interventions. Every dwelling type shown in Figure 2.2 is represented in each of the four UK nations but in differing proportions, Table 2.2
Dwelling construction
The great majority of dwellings in the UK are built in the ‘traditional’ way using brick, blockwork or stone and constructed on site. Prior to 1919 the walls would most likely have been solid. Cavity walls gradually became the dominant form of wall construction in the inter-war period with the transition taking place at different rates in different parts of the country. In recent years, there has been a growing number of homes built with timber frames supporting the roof structure, but finished to resemble traditional cavity walls, while larger blocks of flats tend to be built with concrete and steel frames.
2.4 Dwelling heating, insulation and energy efficiency in the UK
Around eight in ten homes in the UK use a gas fired central heating system as the primary method for heating. Among those not using this heating method, electric storage heaters or central heating using oil were the most frequent types, Table 2.3. Northern Ireland has a distinctly different fuel mix from the rest of the UK due to an increased reliance on oil for domestic heat. (Figure 2.7).
Dwelling insulation
Fabric insulation is important in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the housing stock as it acts to reduce demand for heat as well as delivering an improved level of thermal comfort and contributing to affordability of warmth. Insulation levels in the UK have risen steadily over time, driven by building regulations for new build housing and the retrofit of the existing stock. Cavity wall insulation is a common energy efficiency measure. The table below shows that Northern Ireland has the highest levels of insulated cavity walls in the stock at 90% of cavity wall dwellings filled, with England and Wales having the lowest penetration at 68%. Grant programmes and other schemes have had considerable success in driving the take-up of measures such as cavity wall insulation and while potential remains, future savings will have to be sought in other parts of the stock, such as the solid wall stock.
Energy efficiency
The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) is the UK Government’s recommended system for measuring the energy efficiency of housing. SAP is expressed on a logarithmic scale from 1 (very inefficient) to 100 (zero energy cost). The SAP ratings provide a measure of the annual unit energy cost of space and water heating for the dwelling under a set heating regime, which assumes specific heating patterns and room temperatures. The SAP rating takes into account a range of factors that contribute to energy efficiency, which include:
- – Thermal insulation of the building fabric;
- – Shape of the dwelling and exposed surfaces;
- – The materials of construction;
- – Efficiency and control of the heating system;
- – Fuel used for space and water heating, ventilation and lighting;
- – Ventilation and solar gain characteristics of the dwelling;
- – Renewable energy technologies
SAP is not affected by the individual characteristics of the household occupying the dwelling, nor by its geographical location. The SAP methodology is continually updated to reflect new technologies and knowledge. The version used in this report, for comparison purposes, is SAP 20124.
From Figure 2.8, it can be estimated that the average UK SAP for 2017 is approximately 62, which represents a rise of some 17 SAP points since 1996. Wales has the least energy efficient housing stock, despite great improvements in recent years, reflecting its high proportion of older, solid-walled buildings.
This is the end of the extracts from the BRE Trust Report, the Housing Stock of the UK. This is a significant and very interesting report and I thoroughly recommend that you spend the time to read it in its entirety. The extracts are quite extensive, but only represent a small proportion of the whole report.
Combining two Tables/Figures from the report we can calculate that nearly 7 million homes, about 30% of the England Housing Stock are Solid Wall properties which may be considered Hard To Heat
Table 2.2: The UK housing stock | Figure 2.6 Dwelling construction by age (England 2013) | |||
England | Solid walls | Approx Solid walls | Hard to heat | |
Dwelling age | 6,982,230 | |||
Pre 1919 | 4,972,000 | 95% | 4,723,400 | |
1919-1944 | 3,793,000 | 45% | 1,706,850 | |
1945-1964 | 4,582,000 | 10% | 458,200 | |
1965-1980 | 4,689,000 | 2% | 93,780 | |
1981-1990 | 1,895,000 | 0% | 0 | |
Post 1990 | 4,019,000 | 0% | 0 | |
Dwelling type | ||||
Terrace | 6,669,000 | |||
Semi-detached | 6,100,000 | |||
Detached | 4,093,000 | |||
Bungalow | 2,195,000 | |||
Flat | 4,864,000 | |||
Dwelling tenure | ||||
Owner occupied | 15,089,000 | |||
Private rented | 4,789,000 | |||
Social rented | 4,072,000 | |||
Location | ||||
Urban | 19,796,000 | |||
Rural | 4,154,000 | |||
Total dwelling stock | 23,950,000 | |||
Average dwelling size | 94 m2 | |||
Dwelling age | 29.15% | |||
Pre 1919 | 20.80% | 95% | 19.7600% | |
1919-1944 | 15.80% | 45% | 7.1100% | |
1945-1964 | 19.10% | 10% | 1.9100% | |
1965-1980 | 19.60% | 2% | 0.3920% | |
1981-1990 | 7.90% | 0% | 0.0000% | |
Post 1990 | 16.80% | 0% | 0.0000% | |
Dwelling type | ||||
Terrace | 28.00% | |||
Semi-detached | 25.50% | |||
Detached | 17.10% | |||
Bungalow | 9.20% | |||
Flat | 20.30% | |||
Dwelling tenure | ||||
Owner occupied | 63.00% | |||
Private rented | 20.00% | |||
Social rented | 17.00% | |||
Location | ||||
Urban | 82.70% | |||
Rural | 17.30% |
Using the above data and the case study;
Hard to heat | Cost of upgrade | Annual Fuel Cost | CO2 emissions | Cost savings to NHS pa | Annual Benefit £ | Pay back period years |
1770 | 8430 | |||||
895 | 3960 | |||||
4766 | 875 | 4470 | 730 | |||
6,982,230 | 33,277,308,180 | 6,109,451,250 | 31,210,568,100 | 5,097,027,900 | 11,206,479,150 | 2.97 |
The sums of money required are huge but the payback period is very impressive at only 3 years. This is from a economic perspective though as different bodies benefit form the savings. If you only consider the Annual Fuel Cost savings the pay back period of the whole of the Cost of upgrade is just under 5.5 years, whereas the Cost savings to the NHS is 6.5 years.
It would seem to me that given these figures it would be a good investment for the Government to pay for the cost of the upgrade to the housing stoke just to get the Savings to the NHS. Especially, with the scale of purchasing that would involve, within the timescales of COP in Glasgow [The 26th UN Climate Change Conference, November 2021, at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow], that the Cost of upgrade could be kept to a price of £4,766.
From an individual perspective, I think the actual cost of the upgrades listed would be at least four times as much.
In addition to the 'hard to heat' challenge of solid walls, according to the same report, 5,242,000 homes in England have cavity walls as yet uninsulated, 32%. However, there appears to be no information about the proportion of properties which should not have full cavity wall insulation due to the location exposure to wind driven rain.
Before we discuss the impact of rain to insulation, we sound consider the veracity of the report by virtue of the body who produced the above report, the BRE Trust.
From Companies House;
BRE Trust (the "Trust") is a company limited by guarantee (Company number 03282856) and is registered as a charity in England and Wales (No 1092193) and in Scotland (No SCO39320). The Trust was established to provide independent, non-sectorial ownership of the Building Research Establishment, an Executive Agency of the Department of the Environment, when it was transferred to the private sector in March 1997. The Trust is governed by its most recent Articles of Association which were approved by a meeting of members on 6th March 2019. In addition, the Trust provides independent ownership of BRE Group Limited ('BRE Group') which in turn is the owner of businesses resulting from the privatisation of the Building Research Establishment. The Trust protects the independence of BRE Group to ensure that its advice and research remain objective and free from bias. BRE Group continues to have a strong reputation, both nationally and in the international arena, as an impartial and respected consultancy, science and research organisation. BRE Group Limited is the holding company for Building Research Establishment Limited, BRE Global Limited which are established in England and Wales and BRE Global Assurance (Ireland) Limited, a company established and resident in the Republic of Ireland. These subsidiaries in tum are owners of other trading companies in the UK and the People's Republic of China.
I have been fortunate enough to have visited the Building Research Establishment in a work capacity and have faith in their work and this report.
The adjacent map was found on the LABC website.
The possibility of wind-driven rain penetrating a cavity wall depends on the exposure level of the site or building. This varies according to where it is in the country, topography and various site factors.
Following problems with rainwater penetration in parts of the UK in the 1980’s, Approved Document C of the Building Regulations was introduced in 1985 and highlighted where consideration must be given.
The principal change was that the use of full-fill cavity wall insulation was not permitted in areas of very severe exposure to wind-driven rain where fairfaced masonry is used for the outer leaf. However, the rules also reflected the reduced risk where impermeable and rendered outer leaf constructions were used and therefore permitted the use of full fill insulation.
At the time of introduction, the standard cavity width between the inner and outer leaf of masonry was significantly narrower than it is today (often just 50mm). Energy efficiency standards have progressively improved since then and cavity widths have increased to accommodate greater thicknesses of insulation. It is now more common to see cavities wider than 100mm in both new homes and extensions.
It is widely recognised that as cavity widths increase the likelihood of rain penetration reduces.
The rules in Approved Document C have changed to reflect the alterations and in the current 2010 edition it is permissible to build with full-fill insulation behind tooled flush jointed fair faced masonry providing the cavity is a minimum of 150mm wide. However, this is not the case with Warranty provider technical standards where the restriction on full-fill remains.
Old Housing Stock, decarbonisation towards net Zero
It is therefore evident that having an old housing stock creates problems whilst attempting to reduce carbon footprint, both in terms of nationally and individually.
In our quest for a carbon-friendly future, decarbonising some industries is proving far more challenging than others. One of the UK's biggest challenges is home heating, which is yet to be electrified (so unable to reap the benefits of cleaner, greener electricity), and accounts for 14% of our total carbon emissions.
17 million UK homes still use gas boilers, burning tonnes of fossil fuels to stay warm. With over 1.5 million people replacing their boilers every year, there are huge gains to be made, but we need affordable alternatives - hardware that helps us bring the benefits of cleaner, greener renewable energy to these hard-to-reach sectors.
A Guide to Decarbonisation of Heat
Decarbonising heat is key to achieving Net Zero, and innovators have a vital role to play. Here is our overview of the decarbonisation challenge and how we can tackle it through low carbon home heating innovation.
Why do we need to decarbonise heat?
Heating is the United Kingdom’s biggest source of carbon emissions, which are the fossil fuel gases that contribute to climate change.
In June 2019, the UK Government committed to a Net Zero carbon emissions target across the economy by 2050.
How much does heating contribute to UK carbon emissions?
Heating accounts for about 37% of total UK carbon emissions when including industrial processes. The breakdown of UK carbon dioxide emissions from heating is:
Space heating (including a relatively small amount of cooling) = 17%
Hot water = 4%
Cooking = 2%
Industrial processes = 14%.
Of the 17% of carbon emissions from heating (and cooling) in buildings, about 13-14% can be attributed to domestic homes.
Hot water use is significant in the health, hospitality, emergency services and education sectors, driven by demand for washing facilities. Heat demand for cooking and catering is high in the hospitality sector.
Heat is used in a range of industrial processes, from high temperature blast furnaces for making iron through to lower temperature steam in food thawing processes.
Top 5 reasons why decarbonising heat is so hard:
Net Zero targets – under plans to reduce carbon emissions to Net Zero by 2050, certain sectors of the economy will continue to emit carbon that will need to be offset. But that means tougher targets for heating, with most buildings needing to become zero carbon.
Size of the challenge – only about 5% of homes currently have low carbon heating. The UK is dominated by fossil fuel gas – with 85% or about 24.5 million homes heated by natural gas.
No silver bullet solution – low carbon or carbon neutral heating solutions already exist, however a top-down “blanket” solution such as all-electric or all-hydrogen is projected to cost twice (2.28%) or three-and-a-half times (3.51%) as much respectively compared to a bottom-up approach that chooses the best low carbon heating solutions on a place by place basis.
Poor energy efficiency – UK building stock is generally of poor thermal efficiency. Around 2/3 of households suffer from either damp, drafts, or overheating – wasting energy and making home life uncomfortable.
Incentives and workforce – almost half of people (48%) have no awareness of low carbon heating and current incentives do not encourage many households to switch to low carbon heating. For every 100 qualified gas engineers in the UK there are less than two low carbon heating engineers, while 74% of heating professionals were not fully confident in selecting suitable low carbon heating for clients.
What do Net Zero targets mean for heating?
Under the UK’s new 2050 Net Zero carbon emission targets, the Committee on Climate Change expects certain parts of the economy – such as air travel, agriculture and cement-making – will continue to emit some carbon. These emissions will need to be captured using Bioenergy and Carbon Capture and Storage technology or be offset through measures such as carbon sequestration by planting trees.
But for heating, the overwhelming majority of buildings and homes in the UK will need low carbon solutions that enable them to reach near zero carbon by 2050. Though there will be exceptions and some hard-to-treat buildings could continue to be responsible for significant emissions.
What is the size of the decarbonisation challenge?
Currently, heating in the UK is dominated by fossil fuels, with 85% or about 24.5 million homes (and over two million businesses) supplied directly by the mains gas grid. Converting them to low carbon heating over the next 30 years to 2050 is a similar sized task as the switch to central heating – which took 35 years to increase from 30% to 95% of homes from 1970s,
In comparison, 8.6% of homes are heated by electricity generated by traditional storage heaters or modern heat pumps, 4.1% by heating oil, 0.8% by solid fuel, and 0.7% by LPG. In total, around 3.7 million homes in Britain use non-mains gas fuels for their primary heating, with only the Netherlands having a higher penetration of natural gas for heating across Europe.
Yet 90% of people say they prefer their fossil fuel gas boiler to low carbon alternatives and almost half of people (48%) are not aware that gas boilers are a source of carbon emissions.
Extracts from the BEIS report Clean Growth - Transforming Heating.
1.1 Heating is central to our lives. In our homes, we rely on it for comfort, cooking and washing. Businesses need heating and cooling for productive workplaces and heat is integral to many industrial processes. It is the biggest reason we consume energy in our society.
1.2 Heat accounts for over a third of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. Under the Climate Change Act 2008, the Government has committed to reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050 and has recently sought advice from the Committee on Climate Change as to when the UK should achieve net zero emissions across the economy. Meeting our existing Climate Change Act commitments will require decarbonising nearly all heat in buildings and most industrial processes. If we fall short of this, deeper emissions reductions will need to be made in sectors that may prove less cost-effective to decarbonise, such as agriculture.
1.3 Over recent years, lower carbon technologies have provided an increasing proportion of our nation’s heating. Electric heat pumps and biomass boilers are used in many homes and businesses and increasing volumes of biomethane are blended with natural gas in the gas grid. Meanwhile a substantial number of customers, particularly in premises off the gas grid, continue to use direct electric heating systems which have become cleaner as the power sector continues to decarbonise.
1.4 However, heating remains the largest source of our greenhouse gas emissions. Most of the heating in our buildings and industries is delivered by fossil fuels; natural gas remains the predominant source of heating for the vast majority of customers connected to the grid. The prevalence of the gas grid presents a particular challenge to the UK in enabling the necessary shift to low carbon heat. Whichever approaches are taken, the way heating is supplied to nearly 24 million homes, businesses and industrial users connected to the gas grid will need to change. Ensuring this transition is as smooth as possible represents a major national challenge over the coming years.
The Government’s approach to heat
decarbonisation
1.5 The Government has emphasised the central importance of decarbonising heat to achieve our Industrial Strategy and clean growth objectives, as we transition to a low carbon economy. The Government’s approach to heat decarbonisation encompasses a range of programmes and initiatives, underpinned by innovation and “learning by doing”, which aims to achieve:
- a reduction in heat demand, by seeking to:
- – build a market for energy efficiency, particularly among owner occupiers;
- – improve the way businesses use energy, to support delivery of our ambition to reduce business energy use by 20% by 2030;
- – improve the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings via updates to building standards and through the Industrial Strategy Buildings Mission, to halve the energy used in new buildings by 2030; and,
- – work with industry to reduce energy demand through the £18m Industrial Heat Recovery Support Programme and the £315m Industrial Energy Transformation Fund.
- substantial growth in no or low-regrets low carbon heating in the shorter term by supporting the deployment of:
- – heat networks: the Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) is a Government Major Project which will invest £320m of capital funding in heat network projects through grants and loans. This is provided as ‘gap funding’ to leverage around £1bn of private and other investment, and pave the way for the continued growth of the UK heat networks market; and,
- – lower carbon heating solutions: through the Renewable Heat Incentive we are spending £4.5bn between 2016 and 2021 to support innovative low carbon heat technologies in homes and businesses, such as heat pumps, biomass boilers and solar water heaters. We have also reformed the Renewable Heat Incentive to focus the scheme towards long term decarbonisation through greater uptake of technologies such as heat pumps and biomethane. Beyond the Renewable Heat Incentive, our ambition is to phase out the installation of high carbon fossil fuel heating in buildings off the gas grid during the 2020s, starting with new buildings.
- a new long-term policy framework for heat: to bring about and support the national transition required to meet our long-term emissions reduction commitments. This framework must:
- – ensure that appropriate support is in place for consumers;
- – enable the most cost-effective transition across energy industries and infrastructure; and,
- – contend with the uncertainties arising from the multi-decade heat decarbonisation timetable. Advances in technologies may open up new solutions, and economywide developments such as the decarbonisation of transport and power generation may alter the feasibility of others.
This is just a short extract from the beginning of an extensive 136 page report, again worth reading; - BEIS report Clean Growth - Transforming Heating.
I think that the above gives a taste of the scale of the problem posed by having such a large proportion of old housing stock, on a national level. This transfers down to an individual level in terms of the base condition of the home, and the requirements necessary the reduce the carbon footprint.
The above article is mainly extracts from other peoples work and reports, with only a little of my own content. On the one hand I apologise for not writing more but on the other, I do think it is beneficial to use official and available information where it illustrates the problem, and should carry more gravitas than my writings. I acknowledge and thank the people and bodies involved in creating the works from which I have extracted the material, and suggest that you follow the links in the body of the text to read the whole of their reports.
Whether one lives in any of the following old homes, or anywhere in between, we all have to live and die on this one single planet, and eventually, hopefully, in harmony with it.
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Our 1930's home
Our 1930s Home
I don't actually know the date our house was built.
However, it was probably around the 1930s mark according to this website about 'when was my house built' and the BRE Trust Report, the Housing Stock of the UK.
The image is not dissimilar to our house.
A nearby house in its near original or at least un-improved is in the adjacent photo.
The semi on the left hand side appears to have steel Crittall windows or similar. It also has some decorative timber work. The right hand semi has replacement uPVC double glazing.
The house style seems to match the guide.
Family houses that embraced elements from previous eras often found in town and city commuter belts.
These properties are commonly found across the country today.
Some observable characteristics include:
- 2 storeys high, although many have been extended vertically;
- Recessed porches
- Wide bay windows on both storeys;
- Some parts of the building may be pebble-dashed;
- Hipped roof;
- Often found on relatively quiet streets and have garages and off-street parking / driveways;
- Some have maintained original oak parquet flooring;
- Sometimes built in detached form;
- Due to their commonality, it’s relatively easy to ascertain the value of these kinds of properties.
There is however an anomaly regarding this date. We have solid walls.
Cavity Wall Construction History
Cavity wall construction has almost entirely replaced solid wall construction in the United Kingdom.
It evolved in the latter years of the nineteenth century and became common in dwellings in northern and western Britain in the early 1900s.
Its widespread adoption as virtually standard in the construction industry happened throughout the building booms of the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s.
When identifying whether a wall is of solid or cavity construction, something to be aware of is that the presence of headers in the brickwork is not always indicative of solid brickwork.
From the mid-1940s to the mid-1950s, “snapped headers” were often used to emulate English bond in cavity construction.
In the early years the skins of these cavity walls were held together by metal ties made from cast or wrought iron, mild steel or copper.
Most houses built after 1930 have cavity walls. It is very rare for houses build before 1920 to have cavity walls, while most houses built after 1985 will have been constructed with cavity wall insulation built in. Most older houses will have solid walls.
Cavity walls are exactly what they sound like: a wall made up of two ‘skins’ with a gap in between them, known as a cavity. Cavity walls were designed to help prevent problems with damp. The cavity stops penetrating moisture entering the inside of a building, and helps the water drain back out of the wall again. Cavity walls differ significantly from solid walls, particularly in the way they handle moisture and prevent a damp atmosphere.
The Early History of the Cavity Wall
The cavity wall was first introduced in the 19th century, as an alternative to a simple solid wall. Cavity walls became more widespread in the 1920s, and they’ve continued to grow in popularity to this day. The widths of the cavities were originally smaller than they are today, and they were initially without insulation.
Typically, the two skins have always been held together with ties made from metal. These ties used to be made from iron, mild steel, or copper, but such materials were prone to corrosion. Wall tie corrosion was first noticed during the 1960s, and from this point, stainless steel became the material of choice for the manufacture of wall ties. Stainless steel is more resistant to corrosion than the earlier metals, and this helps keep the structural integrity of the building intact for longer.
Whilst our house looks as if it is a 1930s house the above seems to suggest that generally, houses were being built with cavities by 1930.
A proportion of the house is covered with pebbledash and most of rest is render and paint. There is a small area of exposed brickwork which consists of headers and stretchers, which is typical of solid walls.
Coring through an external wall, revels a small jump between two bricks, which for a while made me think it was a very narrow cavity, but inspection of the extracted core confirmed that it was a solid wall.
The EPC register is a public record. EPC standing for energy performance certificate, which contains amongst many other things, information about wall construction, as it has a significant impact of a buildings energy performance.
Checking the register for nearby houses with a certificate revealed that they also had solid walls.
It therefore seems that either the builder of our street were either slow on the uptake of Cavity Walls, or perhaps it was build earlier, and they were early adopters of that fashion of house, which was described as popular in the 1930s.
Maps give some indication but do not resolve the date any further.
Development of Epsom Court
Before delving into the maps of Epsom and particularly Epsom Court I would like to refer you to The Epsom and Ewell History Explorer (EEHE) and the article on Epsom Court.
This site brings together articles covering the local history of the area. The articles may have been inspired by many things including specific suggestions, memories, printed works and of course the internet.
Epsom Court is one such article.
Epsom Court Alias Epsom Lodge or Court Farm, formerly the Saxon manor house of Epsom established upon a Roman site?
The Location It may be conjectured that a Roman road linked the villa and tile-works on Ashtead Common to the site of Epsom Court Farm where Toland, in his letter descriptive of Epsom from 1711, mentioned Roman remains. This would have extended from Woodcock Corner on the parish boundary, proceeding south of the present B280 Chessington Road and Christchurch Road to Clayhill Green. Seller’s map of 1690 indicates a secondary route to Ewell which passed Ashtead’s Woodfield before continuing north of Ebsham Wells and then on by Ebsham Court generally following a line suggested by Reginald White on his map in Ancient Epsom (1928). This way would have crossed a stream which still issues from The Cricketers’ pond at Stamford Green but has been contained in a culvert below Christchurch Road. At some time in history, however, a ford here would have been lined with imported stones (likely to have been flints) to improve the going over clay and so the location became known as Stamford as a corruption of the Old English stan [stone] ford. Then, as a letter in The Times of 31 August 1925 reported, ‘at the back of West Hill House, Epsom, there was a piece of Roman road showing … [which] might only have gone to Ebba’s Hame, the Court Farm, Epsom’. From Clay Hill Green the route continued along the present bridle path, Pound Lane. The supposed Roman road appears on the 18th century Rocque map included later in this piece.
Domesday Book
The article enticed me look at the entry for Epsom in the Domesday Book, a complete survey of England written in AD 1086.
Epsom was a settlement in Domesday Book, in the hundred of Copthorne and the county of Surrey.
It had a recorded population of 44 households in 1086, putting it in the largest 20% of settlements recorded in Domesday.
Land of Chertsey (St Peter), abbey of
Households
Households: 34 villagers. 4 smallholders. 6 slaves.
Land and resources
Ploughland: 17 ploughlands. 1 lord's plough teams. 17 men's plough teams.
Other resources: Meadow 24 acres. Woodland 20 swine render. 2 mills, value 10 shillings. 2 churches.
Valuation
Annual value to lord: 17 pounds in 1086; 20 pounds in 1066.
Owners
Tenant-in-chief in 1086: Chertsey (St Peter), abbey of.
Lord in 1086: Chertsey (St Peter), abbey of.
Lord in 1066: Chertsey (St Peter), abbey of.
Other information
Phillimore reference: Surrey 8,9
The Land was owned by the Abbey of Chertsey (St Peter) in both 1066 and in 1086.
There were 6 slaves in the community of 38 villagers and smallholders.
The value to the lord was £17 in 1086. Compare this to the Tithe Values below.
There were 14 places in the hundred of Copthorne in Domesday Book, of which Epsom was one.
Memory-Map Historical Maps
These maps are predominantly old Ordnance Survey maps which OS sold the rights to Cassini Maps. The historical maps are no longer available to purchase via Memory-Map.
A century on and the railways have arrived, but the area is still predominantly fields or common land. The railway built to the north of Epsom, on the outskirts. Epsom Court clearly visible.
National Library of Scotland Ordnance Survey Maps
Tithes Apportionment and maps
xxxxx
xxxx
xxxx
xxxxx
Measure | Equivalent |
---|---|
144 square inches | 1 square foot |
9 square feet | 1 square yard |
30¼ square yards | 1 perch |
40 perches | 1 rood |
4 roods | 1 acre |
640 acres | 1 square mile |
John Trotter is a landowner in Epsom with 1046 acres 3 roods aka roodes 3 perches.
He is also one of the main recipients of the impropriator tithe in the Sum of £225, the same amount as the Rev. R Parkhurst as another impropriator. Each earning about 25% of the total tithe for the parish of Epsom, £894 5s 10p. The relative income value of that income or wealth is £1,014,000.00 in 2020.
The vicar living from the tithe apportionment is £350 10s 10d.
- John Trotter 626a 3r 9p occupied by himself with tithes of £45 2s 3d to the vicar and £121 13s 0d to himself, as the Impropriator.
- Henry Stone 110a 0r 37p with tithes of £7 5s 2d to the vicar and £21 5s 0d to the Impropriator.
- Thomas Whitbourne 309a 2r 37p with tithes of £26 11s 5d to the vicar and £80 0s 0d to the Impropriator.
The Reverend Fleetwood Parkhurst appears not to occupy tithe land in the parish of Epsom, but is recorded as landowner with a number of different occupiers.
- Rebecca Cooke
Tithe Map with approximate locations of some of the new roads. Temple road first, in orange. Waterloo road, in grey, under the railway, perhaps to provide a greater hight clearance than the Hook Road bridge, previously known as Kingstone Lane of the tithe map. The estate roads in brown. The locations are only plotted by observation of comparable maps, not properly geolocated. The footprint does appear to exceed the underlining plots or fields.
The measured area of the estate is 0.020 Square Miles, which converts to 12.8 Acres. The tithe apportionment for plots 213 and 217 totals 7a 3r 7p. It would be more normal for a development to be built within existing field boundaries.
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B4
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Section 4 -- Impact Overview
The normal way of measuring the effectiveness of an expenditure or investment in a potential project is to look and what you get for your money. Traditionally, it was measured in hard cash, how much money will it cost and how much money will I get back, as savings or returns. Return on Investment, or ROI. Slowly the equation definition has expanded to include other benefits, not just hard cash. Soft benefits were also included. Those soft benefits, which could be anything from safety to additional jobs created, are translated into monetary terms to allow the equation to function. A road job (Road Investment Strategy) with a ratio of 5.7 is more likely to get funding than one with a ratio of 2.0.
Value for Money (VfM)
DfT classifies any investment as having very high VfM if the Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) is greater than 4.0, high VfM if the BCR is between 2.0 and 4.0 and medium VfM if the BCR is between 1.5 and 2.0. Low VfM is represented by a BCR between 1.0 and 1.5 and poor VfM occurs if the BCR is less than 1.0. For projects with a very high and high VfM classification there is a very strong investment case.
In terms of the environment, the measurement tends to be referred to as the Environmental Impact of a Project or Activity. Again, as a narrow criteria, a lot of projects have a negative impact on the environment. Trees have to be felled, or newts moved. However, if you take in all the factors, the overall impact may be positive, justifying the smaller loss for the greater gain. HS2 is an example of this.
Accordingly, this section refers to impact as apposed to Cost Benefit or Value for Money, but it deals with the same issues. Is it worth spending my money on … to reduce my homes carbon footprint.
Cost Benefit Analysis
Cost Benefit Analysis
Normally a project goes through some stages and at each stage there should be some form of Cost Benefit Analysis before going to the next stage.
You can either take that at face value and move on or click to expand a quick course on Project Management. I have been involved in Projects of one type or another for most of my career, so it could be a tedious off topic diatribe or quite informative, depending on your perspective.
Project Controls Overview
Lifecycle
Below is a extract from some documentation on the Association for Project Management website, a Guide to Lifecycle Models.
Just the start of a collection of different models.
When I started my career in Construction on Roads and Bridges, I was working for a Contractor. Stages were simple, Construction and Commissioning. The Projects were executed under a Civil Engineering Contract which allowed for a Certificate of Substantial Completion, which triggers the start of the defects liability period. and a Certificate of Final Completion. When the contract administrator considers all the items on the schedule of defects have been rectified, they issue a certificate of making good defects.
At the end of the defects liability period, the contract administrator prepares a schedule of defects, listing those defects that have not yet been rectified, and agrees with the contractor the date by which they will be rectified. The contractor must in any event rectify them within a reasonable time.
When the contract administrator considers all the items on the schedule of defects have been rectified, they issue a certificate of making good defects.
This has the effect of releasing the remainder of any retention and results in the final certificate being issued.
Building and Civil Engineering contracts are different.
Moving forward, I encountered Design and Build, or Design and Construct Contracts, which adds another element to the mix, making the Stages Detailed Design, Construction, and Commissioning.
I was aware of DBO Contracts, Design Build and Operate and BOOT Contracts, Build, Own, Operate and Transfer.
Working with Client side and Consultant I saw the whole range of Stages. Pre-Feasibility, Feasibility, Design, Design Development, Construction, Commissioning, together with Operate, Maintain, and Demolish.
Between each of the first four stages, i.e. before entering into a Contract which commits to the construction of the Project, there should be stage gates where the Cost Benefit Analysis is reassessed. Are the anticipated benefits still the same? What is the revised anticipated cost now that more is known about the Project and the associated risks. Risk Management is an important part of the evaluation? Is there a positive Return on Investment, and is it sufficient bearing in mind all the complexities of the Project?
Understanding the benefits fully is as important as having a good estimate.
System
Over time it became apparent that Projects were becoming more complex, especially in Railway Infrastructure. The Civils Designer and Signalling Designer need to work together to produce a product that functions as well as it should and could. Civils and Signalling was just an example, there are many other disciplines to add to the list.
When you think about it even a relatively simple road job has a number of design disciplines, even if they are all done by a single specialist roads designer. The object of the project, a new road, is a system. A new factory is a system. A railway is a system.
Hence if you look at a project as a whole system, with various disciplines required to achieve the required outcome, and those disciplines should be integrated to form the whole, much better outcomes can be achieved.
Further, road a rail systems also have to integrate with the remaining network, to function correctly.
System Engineering helps fulfil the holistic system approach.
A useful definition of System Engineering, reproduced in part below, can be found at INCOSE - International Council on Systems Engineering
Systems Engineering is a transdisciplinary and integrative approach to enable the successful realization, use, and retirement of engineered systems, using systems principles and concepts, and scientific, technological, and management methods.
We use the terms “engineering” and “engineered” in their widest sense: “the action of working artfully to bring something about”. “Engineered systems” may be composed of any or all of people, products, services, information, processes, and natural elements.
Systems Engineering focuses on:
- establishing, balancing and integrating stakeholders’ goals, purpose and success criteria, and defining actual or anticipated customer needs, operational concept and required functionality, starting early in the development cycle;
- establishing an appropriate lifecycle model, process approach and governance structures, considering the levels of complexity, uncertainty, change, and variety;
- generating and evaluating alternative solution concepts and architectures;
- baselining and modelling requirements and selected solution architecture for each phase of the endeavour;
- performing design synthesis and system verification and validation;
- while considering both the problem and solution domains, taking into account necessary enabling systems and services, identifying the role that the parts and the relationships between the parts play with respect to the overall behaviour and performance of the system, and determining how to balance all of these factors to achieve a satisfactory outcome.
Systems Engineering provides facilitation, guidance and leadership to integrate the relevant disciplines and specialty groups into a cohesive effort, forming an appropriately structured development process that proceeds from concept to production, operation, evolution and eventual disposal.
Systems Engineering considers both the business and the technical needs of customers with the goal of providing a quality solution that meets the needs of users and other stakeholders, is fit for the intended purpose in real-world operation, and avoids or minimizes adverse unintended consequences.
The goal of all Systems Engineering activities is to manage risk, including the risk of not delivering what the customer wants and needs, the risk of late delivery, the risk of excess cost, and the risk of negative unintended consequences. One measure of utility of Systems Engineering activities is the degree to which such risk is reduced. Conversely, a measure of acceptability of absence of a System Engineering activity is the level of excess risk incurred as a result.
Requirements Management
Similarly, Requirements Management helps deliver the projects objectives. Right from the light bulb moment when a project is born, it starts to have requirements. Frequently those early requirements are not captured and managed within the Requirements Management process, but they should be. Again, take the example of a new road. So the road is the primary requirement. No, it is not. The actual requirement may be to provide cleaner air to a community by reliving congestion on an existing road. Ways of achieving this could be to ban cars and lorries entirely or on alternate days. Another could be to charge a toll, which would be expensive enough to persuade most to take an alternative route. Designing and building a new road is therefore a solution of choice to resolve a problem. This therefore becomes the next level of requirement.
What sort of new road is the next question. The current traffic flow on the old road is a good starting point, both in terms of number or volume, and of type or mix. Heavy trucks, light vans, or mainly light cars. Then extrapolate the current to the future. What future? How long should the road last before being reconfigured or replaced. That duration will become a requirement, it is a factor in what the client wants and needs. How much draw will the new road have? How much additional traffic will the new road pull from existing routes? All of that will provide the capacity. Another requirement. Safety, visibility, potential weather conditions, land take, geography and geology are all examples of further requirements within the hierarchy.
Once a clear understating of the Project objectives are, based on the requirements, an outline estimate can be produced. Together with an outline benefits analysis.
At this time a comparison can be made between the perceived benefits and the probable cost of achieving those objectives. Does that represent good value for money?
Stage Gates
Continuing on from the life cycle of a Project and the natural breaks therein. At the end of each of those stages leading up to construction, the project should have a full health review including the development of the programme, system and requirements as well as of course the cost and benefits. Risk Management and Value Engineering outputs should also be assessed. Just to be clear, Value Engineering is often miss understood and misused to achieve cost cutting, without understating the basic function/cost equation, this should not happen.
Sometimes risks are understated to bring a project within budget, just to move it forward. I had one client tell me to reduce the risk so that he could get the project approved by the Board. He would then accept the Project Cost overrun during construction. That is not appropriate. I did not change the figures.
If all is well and the project is healthy in all respects, having met all the criteria for that particular stage, then, and only then should the stage gate be opened, and the project allowed to proceed to the next stage.
Generally, Stage Gate reviews are internal, with Senior Managers, but sometimes they are external, perhaps with Government bodies.
Either way, no key to the gate, means go back and review, and amend or complete. Try again next time. Or in rare cases, the project is cancelled, and funding pulled.
Whole life costing
Whole life costing, is precisely what it says on the tin.
You can't build a road at half the required thickness for the required capacity, only to have it last a quarter as long. Unless, of course, replacing the road four times as often was cheaper than building it once at the required depth, including the economic cost of four times the disruption. Or otherwise build it poorly, as maintenance and demolition are included in the whole life equation.
This premise alows for better design and construction with greater cost, offset against better performance and cheaper operation and maintenance. However, better construction may result in higher demolition costs as well, but both the duration of construction, and that of demolition are normally dwarfed by the operational period.
On one occasion, we priced for a bridge to be build using weathering steel. this was a significantly more expensive option. However, as it did not need painting, the railway beneath it did not need to be closed to paint the overhead bridge. This had safety implications as well as maintenance cost savings. No requirement for somebody to hang off the edge of a bridge to paint it, and no need to disrupt services whilst doing so. The whole life balance was in the favour of the greater construction cost.
This is a much more holistic view than just looking at the cost of construction.
Whole life lifecycle
Continuing on the theme of whole life, the lifecycle can then be distilled into four distinct phases, with multiple stages within each.
- Preparation,
- Implementation or Construction,
- Operation and maintenance, and
- Disposal, demolition, or remodelling
The project then becomes part of Asset Management, which engenders further holistic thought and processes.
The design then has to consider not only how to build it, but also how to maintain and dispose of it at the end of its usefulness, as well of course how it fulfils the requirements of the operational brief, and how it as a system integrates with the wider system surrounding it.
Continuing with the Asset Management theme, below is a 11 minute auto play presentation, which Ian Gordan and I developed many years ago which became known as Ivan's Process. I subsequently added BIM and BIG Data as I became involved in those. It does have a mention of imbedded carbon, but I suspect if I were still using this presentation, there would be greater emphasis on carbon and environment. Data, both structured and un-structured is immensely important in how we lead our lives today.
I think that should be the end of the very quick run through.
Cost Benefit is also known as Benefit Cost Ratio. The latter puts the words in the same order as the formula, but it is the same process. What will be the Benefits that I get out of spending the money, Cost.
Sometimes the straight cash only Cost Benefit Analysis gives a very poor return, but adding safety, deaths avoided, economic benefits, environmental benefits, social benefits, and reputational benefits, can change a poor investment into an essential investment.
For this exercise I will not be applying the strict investment rules, but a looser, perhaps set of guidelines.
Some projects will be done just because I want to, with no reference to Cost Benefit Analysis at all. Such as the Greywater Recycling and the Smart Home.
Whilst other projects will be rejected because the potential payback period is excessive, otherwise said as the positive impact is to small to be worth the effort and expense, unless it contributes to a larger gain when used to facilitate another project.
The Cost Benefit Analysis can also help to provide the correct order of doing projects, with those with the greatest impact done first. However, that is not the only parameter for deciding the order.
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Strategic Resilience
Strategic Energy Resilience
One of my past titles at work was 'Programme BIM Strategist for Network Rail Western and Wales.' I have written a number of Strategies for various clients.
Let us consider a farmer who has Tesco as a customer. There are other supermarkets. The farmer has the opportunity to increase the amount he sells to Tesco, at a slightly higher price, and with less effort, than he currently gets with his other existing customers.
Should he except the offer?
At a later date, Tesco offer an excusive deal for all his production, but at a slightly lower price.
Should he except new the offer?
A quick aside before continuing this scenario, and a little thought about something quite topical. Was it a good strategic decision to allow Russia to become so dominant in the supply of Gas to Europe?
A little history as well. England's largest forest, Kielder. The first plantings at Kielder were in 1926 when 800 hectares (3 sq mi) of coniferous trees were planted. A further 19,000 hectares (73 sq mi) were purchased in 1932 and today 62,000 hectares (239 sq mi) of forest are under Forestry Commission control. The Forestry Commission, funded from the public purse, purchased land across the country with the brief of establishing a strategic reserve of timber for the nation. This single objective held sway until the 1960s. Since that time, management principles have changed in order to reflect rising awareness of environmental needs and to provide recreational facilities whilst seeking to maintain a sustainable supply of timber. The Forestry Commission was set up in 1919 to expand Britain's forests and woodland after depletion during the First World War.
It was a strategic decision to set up the Forestry Commission not an economic or political one.
So, back to our farmer, tempted with initially higher profits.
From a strategic point of view, is it wise to only have one supplier or customer? 'All your eggs in one basket'?
What would happen to the farmer and his business should something significant change with his relationship with Tesco's. Either a reduction of price or withdrawal as a customer could have a devastating impact on the farmer.
This was just one hypothetical example, with no significance of using Tesco in the example. The same applies to many other supermarkets, and indeed many other industries. There have been examples of catastrophic supply chain failures, demonstrating a lack of resilience.
How does resilience effect energy?
There is an informative site called GridWatch. Yesterday, at time of writing, GB electricity use from all sources was; minimum: 25.504 GW maximum: 42.486 GW average: 33.574 GW
There are pages for CO2 output and Power Grid Frequency in addition to the Fuel type power generation.
Click the GridWatch link to see the information in more detail.
You will be able to notice that CCGT Combined Cycle Gas Turbine, has the largest proportion of the mix of fuels. Partly driven by the 'Dash for Gas' following the North Sea Oil finds.
The meters below, otherwise known as widgets, connect to the data in near real-time. Refresh the page to see the latest readings.
The Coal Strategy
During the 1940s some 90% of the generating capacity was fired by coal, with oil providing most of the remainder.
While more than 1,000 collieries were working in the UK during the first half of the 20th century, by 1984 only 173 were still operating and employment had dropped from its peak of 1 million in 1922, down to 231,000 for the decade to 1982.
Competition from cheap oil imports arrived in the late 1950s and the coal industry began to suffer from increasing losses. In 1960 Alf Robens became the chairman of the National Coal Board (NCB), and he introduced a policy concentrating on the most productive pits. During his ten-year tenure, productivity increased by 70%, but with far fewer pits and a much reduced workforce. In 1956, 700,000 men produced 207 million tons of coal; by 1971, fewer than 290,000 workers were producing 133 million tons at 292 collieries. Despite this, the NCB's coal activities were still running at a loss in 1970, putting pressure on the board to hold down pay increases.
I should point out that not all coal mined goes to electricity generation. There are other uses, including steel production.
The 1972 UK miners' strike was a major dispute over pay between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Conservative Edward Heath government of the United Kingdom. Miners' wages had not kept pace with those of other industrial workers since 1960. The strike began on 9 January 1972 and ended on 28 February 1972, when the miners returned to work.
The strike was characterised by the miners sending flying pickets to other industrial sites to persuade other workers to strike in solidarity, which led to railway workers' refusing to transport coal and power station workers' refusing to handle coal. Power shortages emerged, and a state of emergency was declared on 9 February 1972, after the weather had turned cold unexpectedly and voltage had been reduced across the entire national grid.
The Three-Day Week was one of several measures introduced in the United Kingdom in 1973-1974 by the Conservative government at the time to conserve electricity, the generation of which was severely restricted owing to industrial action by coal miners and railway workers.
In the 1970s, most of the UK's electricity was produced by coal-burning power stations. To reduce electricity consumption, and thus conserve coal stocks, the Conservative Prime Minister, Edward Heath, announced a number of measures under the Fuel and Electricity (Control) Act 1973 on 13 December 1973, including the Three-Day Work Order, which came into force at midnight on 31 December. Commercial consumption of electricity would be limited to three consecutive days each week. Heath's objectives were business continuity and survival and to avoid further inflation and a currency crisis. Rather than risk a total shutdown, working time was reduced to prolong the life of available fuel stocks. Television broadcasts were to shut down at 22:30 each evening, and most pubs were closed; due to the power surges generated at 22:30, the Central Electricity Generating Board argued for a staggered shutdown on BBC and ITV, alternating nightly, and this was eventually introduced. The television broadcasting restrictions were introduced on 17 December 1973, suspended for the Christmas and New Year period, and lifted on 8 February 1974.
On 24 January 1974, 81% of NUM members voted to strike, having rejected the offer of a 16.5% pay rise.
The strike began officially on 5 February and, two days later, Heath called the February 1974 general election while the Three-Day Week was in force. His government emphasised the pay dispute with the miners and used the slogan "Who governs Britain?". Heath believed that the public sided with the Conservatives on the issues of strikes and union power.
On 21 February 1974, the government's Pay Board reported that the NUM's pay claim was within the Phase 3 system for claims and would return miners' wages to the levels recommended by the Wilberforce Enquiry in 1972.
The election resulted in a hung parliament: the Conservative Party took the largest share of the vote, but lost its majority, with Labour having the most seats in the House of Commons. In the ensuing talks, Heath failed to secure enough parliamentary support from Liberal and Ulster Unionist MPs; and Harold Wilson returned to power in a minority government. The normal working week was restored on 8 March, but other restrictions on the use of electricity remained in force. A second general election was held in October 1974 cementing the Labour administration, which gained a majority of three seats.
The new Labour government increased miners' wages by 35% immediately after the February 1974 election. In February 1975, a further increase of 35% was achieved without any industrial action.
The miners' strike of 1984–1985 was a major industrial action to shut down the British coal industry in an attempt to prevent colliery closures.
The NUM's strike in 1974 played a major role in bringing down Edward Heath's Conservative government. The party's response was the Ridley Plan, an internal report that was leaked to The Economist magazine and appeared in its 27 May 1978 issue. Ridley described how a future Conservative government could resist and defeat a major strike in a nationalised industry. In Ridley's opinion, trade union power in the UK was interfering with market forces, pushing up inflation, and the unions' undue political power had to be curbed to restore the UK's economy.
Prime Minister Thatcher expected Scargill to force a confrontation, and in response she set up a defence in depth. She believed that the excessive costs of increasingly inefficient collieries had to end in order to grow the economy. She planned to close inefficient pits and depend more on imported coal, oil, gas and nuclear. She appointed hardliners to key positions, set up a high level planning committee, and allocated funds from the highly profitable electrical supply system to stockpile at least six months’ worth of coal.
In 1983, Thatcher had appointed Ian MacGregor to head the National Coal Board. He had turned the British Steel Corporation from one of the least efficient steel-makers in Europe to one of the most efficient, bringing the company into near profit. Success was achieved at the expense of halving the workforce in two years and he had overseen a 14-week national strike in 1980. His tough reputation raised expectations that coal jobs would be cut on a similar scale and confrontations between MacGregor and Scargill seemed inevitable.
My interpretation
I think that is sufficient to paint the background. From the 1950's UK coal mining had become increasingly inefficient and expensive. The strength of the unions controlled the issues and sustained the problems for years beyond a natural decline. Part of that power was due to, if not 'all the eggs in one basket', most of them. The unions had so much power they were damaging the country and arguably brought down the Government. Over time the Government developed a strategy to be more resilient, both in terms of power diversity and stockpiling. The next time the miners went on strike, they lost, and they struck the death knell for the majority of the UK coal industry. The opposite of what they were fighting for!
The Wilberforce Report may have concluded the correct level of remuneration for the work, conditions, and risks associated with coal mining, but the end product was not worth the cost of extracting it from the ground. At one time one could have argued the strategic importance of power self-sufficiency, but along came North Sea Oil.
Offshore production, like that of the North Sea, became more economical after the 1973 oil crisis caused the world oil price to quadruple, followed by the 1979 oil crisis, causing another tripling in the oil price.
Consider the situation at the beginning of this example, almost total reliance on coal for the generation of electricity, and compare that to the diversified and varied snapshot of GB Fuel type power generation production above.
Another source of similar data, including further graphics.
A Government source of data can be found at 'DUKES chapter 5: statistics on electricity from generation through to sales.' Including this DUKES 2021 Report, of which the image below is part. It further indicates the diversification of fuel sources.
What is the relevance to Homes?
Possibly an interesting discussion about national Strategic Resilience, although successive governments, of any rosette colour, seem to have forgotten, or put aside, any thought about Strategic Resilience Planning, but what is the relevance to my home, or homes in general.
Storm Arwen leaves 30,000 homes without power five days on from lashing UK.
Energy suppliers have said 30,000 homes remain without power following the damage caused by Storm Arwen, after thousands of people spent a fifth night without electricity.
It will be at least the end of the week – seven days after the devastating storm – before electricity is restored to some, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) has warned.
...
"Clearly, Storm Arwen was an event the likes of which we haven’t seen for certainly 60 years since the record starts."
“We have to be prepared for similarly extreme difficult weather conditions in the future. We have to make sure that our system is resilient in that eventuality.”
Some people were without heating, hot water, hot food or drinks, in their own homes for days, perhaps a week. The gas boiler needs electricity to run the pump. Electric hobs instead of gas, no ability to heat food or water. No lights. Cold and difficult days and long and even colder nights, in freezing conditions.
Extreme weather events are becoming more extreme and more frequent.
Electricity generation may be more diverse and not as susceptible to the unions and strikes, but what about overall capacity, the looming Energy Gap.
A report from the industry in 2005 forecast that, without action to fill the gap, there would be a 20% shortfall in electricity generation capacity by 2015. Similar concerns were raised by a report published in 2000 by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (Energy - The Changing Climate). The 2006 Energy Review attracted considerable press coverage - in particular in relation to the prospect of constructing a new generation of nuclear power stations, in order to prevent the rise in carbon dioxide emissions that would arise if other conventional power stations were to be built.
Energy gap disappears
However, due to reducing demand in the late-2000s recession removing any medium term gap, and high gas prices, in 2011 and 2012 over 2 GW of older, less efficient, gas generation plant was mothballed. In 2011 electricity demand dropped 4%, and about 6.5 GW of additional gas-fired capacity is being added over 2011 and 2012. Early in 2012 the reserve margin stood at the high level of 32%.
Another important factor in reduced electrical demand in recent years has come from the phasing out of incandescent light bulbs and a switch to compact fluorescent and LED lighting. Research by the University of Oxford has shown that the average annual electrical consumption for lighting in a UK home fell from 720 kWh in 1997 to 508 kWh in 2012. Between 2007 and 2015, the UK's peak electrical demand fell from 61.5 GW to 52.7.GW.
In June 2013, the industry regulator Ofgem warned that the UK's energy sector faced "unprecedented challenges" and that "spare electricity power production capacity could fall to 2% by 2015, increasing the risk of blackouts". Proposed solutions "could include negotiating with major power users for them to reduce demand during peak times in return for payment".
The use of electricity declined 9% from 2010 to 2017, attributed largely to a decline in industrial activity and a switch to more energy efficient lighting and appliances. By 2018 per capita electrical generation had fallen to the same level as in 1984.
The impact of the UK's COVID-19 lockdowns on energy demand and emissions.
Around the world, efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have profoundly changed human activity, which may have improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. We investigated the impact of the pandemic on energy demand and subsequent emissions from electricity and gas throughout 2020 in the UK. The daily pattern of electricity demand changed in both lockdowns, with weekday demand shifting to that of a typical pre-pandemic weekend. Energy demand in 2020 was modelled to reveal the impact of the weather and the pandemic. The first lockdown reduced demand by 15.6% for electricity and 12.0% for commercial gas, whereas the second lockdown produced reductions less than half. Domestic gas demand did not change during the first lockdown, but increased by 6.1% in the second, likely due to increased domestic heat demand. The changes in demand for gas resulted in little change to overall gas consumption emissions during the pandemic. For electricity, large emission reductions occurred during the two lockdowns: up to 22% for CO2, 47% for NOx, and 29% for PM2.5.
So, it appears that the Energy Gap threat has dissipated, at least for now. However, Heat Pumps and eclectic cars may impact that situation.
Apparently, extreme weather maybe becoming more probable.
Strategy Energy Resilience for homes becomes, not about national decisions about fuels and unions, but about what energy sources you have in your home, and the provisions you make about how to cope when one of them is not available for an extended period. What are the probabilities of such an event and what are the consequences. How you will make a hot drink? Food? Warmth? How will you do almost anything, without electricity.
This consideration has to be part of the mix in informed decision making, not just return on investment or savings in carbon.
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Home as a System
The Home as a System
For a brief explanation of 'System' in this context, Go back to the Cost Benefit Analysis section, within the Project Controls section
A home is a collection of hopefully integrated systems to create a overall system which functions in the way we want our home to be.
The first system to my mind, is the fabric, shall we say System A.
- Foundation
- External Walls
- Internal Walls
- External Doors
- Internal Doors
- Windows
- Roof
- Gutters and downpipes
The next is a collection of systems which fit within the fabric, called services, System B
- Mains Water
- Water Tank and Gravity fed water supply
- Domestic hot water
- Foul water drainage
- Surface water drainage
- Heating fuel supply
- Cooking fuel supply
- Electrical distribution and power circuits
- Electrical distribution and lighting circuits
- Heating circuits
- Ventilation
- Waste disposal
The next is predominantly fixed mechanical plant, System C
- Heat generation (Boiler)
- DHW generation (Boiler / Water heater)
- Air conditioning
- Forced ventilation / Heat Recovery Ventilation
- DHW Cylinder
- Cooker
- Hob
- Fridge and Freezer
- Washing and drying (clothes)
- Washing and drying (Crockery and cutlery)
The next in some instances is the Smart Home and in others just controls, System D
- Central heating programmer and thermostat
- DHW programmer and thermostat
- Smart Home voice assistant
- Smart Home lighting
- Smart Home Smoke and Gas detectors
- Smart Home Intruder Alarms
- Smart Home CCTV
The next may be in some homes, Energy generation or harvesting, System E
- Rainwater harvesting and storage
- Greywater harvesting, processing and storage
- Harvested water distribution
- PV Solar panels and inverter
- Battery and Gateway
- Solar Thermal
- Waste disposal (On site)
Other lists would move into contents, which may or may not be considered systems
All of the above systems, those in use, need to integrate harmoniously to provide a holistic, efficient, green, home pleasant to live in.
The dilemma now is whether to organise the rest of this section in accordance with the system above or Generate, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, and Recover. From a work perspective it would probably be stick with the systems, however, for this purpose, lets see how it goes with GRRRRR.
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Heat Report
Hacks Heat Report Calculator
I wish I had found this earlier than I did. So it is out of sequence, but with good cause.
Below is a spreadsheet containing a download of of the Heat Report. I found the HACKS Heat Report Calculator and filled it in with the appropriate input.
What is HACKS?
Heating and Cooling Knowhow and Solutions (HACKS)
The objective of the project Heating and Cooling Knowhow and Solutions "HACKS" is to achieve market transformation for heating and cooling (HAC) appliances and improve comfort and health of consumers.
Across the EU and the UK, almost half of all buildings have individual boilers that were installed before 1992 with efficiency of 60% or less. The expected energy savings of a speedy replacement are immense.
To achieve this goal, 17 HACKS partners in 15 countries are working together, thanks to the financial support of the European Horizon 2020 programme.
After scanning market actors, current policies and most commonly used products in each country, from 2020 the HACKS partners will implement involvement campaigns to raise awareness of the economic and environmental benefits brought by good HAC products and solutions:
- HACKS will motivate households equipped with old and inefficient devices - boilers, water heaters, certain types of boilers and stoves, etc. - to replace them with new super-efficient equipment.
- In each country, partners will set up dedicated online platforms to assist consumers in their purchase process. The platforms will highlight: tools to assess households' needs and provide customised information, best product lists with technical specifications, direct links to suppliers of most efficient products, and advice on how to use and maintain equipment.
- For those households who need to improve their situation because they feel too hot, too cold, or too humid but who cannot invest in new equipment or can avoid getting equipped, HACKS will propose simple and low-cost solutions. It is possible to reduce energy consumption and energy bills while improving winter and summer comfort, air quality and health conditions through the installation of products such as shading devices, thermostats, water saving taps and showerheads.
Beyond households, HACKS will target all relevant stakeholders (“multipliers”) that participate in the decision-making process of consumers by setting up strategic partnerships to facilitate the purchase of energy efficient appliances. HACKS places a strong emphasis on installers but also retailers and consumer organisations because of their proximity to consumers, their capacity to involve them and bring them guidance on energy efficient equipment.
HACKS Calculator: your starting point to achieve an energy efficient home
Not sure on where to start on your energy efficiency journey? Don't worry, our online calculator is here to help. The calculator will ask you a series of questions about the energy set up at your home and determine the best solutions for you.
Well, unsurprisingly, I did not start on my energy efficiency journey here, but given the opportunity, I would have done. I provides a useful insight.
https://calculator.topten.eu/?country=uk
I did have the page here but the excel links no longer work, so it is better to go to the original page.
There is so much useful information in the report which helps make decisions about which projects have the most impact.
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Grrrrrr
Grrrrrr - Generate, refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, recover, recycle.
Repeating what was said in the introduction, and building upon it.
Picking up on recycling's Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, or 3Rs. Which has developed into Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle and then 5rs (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle).
What are known as the famous 5 when it comes to managing waste?
Usually we put recycling on top of everything, but today on the 5 R process, it comes in last. Five actions should respectively be taken if possible before recycling any products. These R’s include: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and finally, recycle. This is an important methodology for businesses to follow to ensure they can reduce waste and boost their recycling efforts. This ultimately lessens the amount of waste that will end up in landfill and will optimise your recycling programs.
I like to add a G to the front of the Rs. That becomes Grrrrrr, which is reasonably descriptive of the whole issue. By the way, the G is for Generate, or Generate your own. Whilst it is a steal from waste management it is not a bad fit for reducing ones carbon footprint.
However, there may be room to improve the fit. I am not sure how Repurpose comes into play in the Energy Equation. Perhaps we could read that as Repair and Recover, Although, Repair may be a difficult fit as well. Refuse is also a little difficult, but that can stay.
So the revised mantra is;-
Generate, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recover, Recycle. Each of these will be discussed over time in the following associated tabs.
Of these the most significant are probably generate and reduce.
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Generate
Generate
Generate in this context is any form of local small scale energy production.
It’s possible to generate your own electricity or heat from renewable, or replenishable, sources of energy, such as the sun or wind.
You can find out more about renewable and low carbon heating options for your home.
Electricity generated at home can be used to power electrical appliances, or even an electric vehicle, reducing the amount of electricity you import and pay for from the grid.
This could help you save money on your electricity bills, as well as contribute to reducing the carbon emissions of the UK’s electricity network.
With over 1 million homes in the UK already generating electricity from either solar or wind, renewables are quickly becoming a common sight across the UK.
What type of renewable energy is right for me?
There are different technologies available, each with their own benefits and considerations. Our technology pages below can help guide you through the options for installing renewables in your home.
Alternatively, explore our advice pages on renewable and low carbon heating options.
There are four examples on the Energy Saving Trust website; Solar electricity panels, Wind turbines, micro hydroelectricity, and Micro combined heat and power.
- Solar electricity panels, also known as photovoltaics (PV), capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity that you can use in your home.
- Wind turbines harness the power of the wind and use it to generate electricity. When the wind blows, the blades are forced round, driving a turbine that generates electricity. The stronger the wind, the more electricity produced.
- Whether it’s from a small stream or a larger river, small or micro hydroelectricity systems, also called hydropower or hydro systems, can produce enough electricity for all electrical appliances and lighting in the average home.
- Micro combined heat and power (micro-CHP) is a technology that generates heat and electricity simultaneously, from the same energy source, in individual homes or buildings. The main output of a micro-CHP system is heat, with some electricity generation, at a typical ratio of about 6:1 for domestic appliances.
Of these, we had no difficulty in discounting micro hydroelectricity due to a lack of a suitable stream or river to harness power from. I do have a friend of a friend who has done the exactly that, and it seems very successful.
There is another form of renewable energy not listed on that page of the Energy Saving Page, as it does not generate electricity. It does however, generate heat. Solar Thermal, is discussed below.
Gen - Solar PV
Solar photovoltaics (PV)
I consider that the main form of home generation is Solar PV. However, it is not suitable for all. You have to have a roof in the first instance. Well not quite true, you could go for a ground installation, but that has its own difficulties. If you are living in a block of flats, it is unlikely that you will be able to fit PV panels to the roof.
Solar PV and Battery Impact
I have been watching the development of Solar photovoltaics (PV) for many years.
Initially as part of a design project for a all terrain expedition vehicle / motorhome. A roof predominantly covered with PV panels and a bank of 10 deep cycle batteries. I also went to a Caravan and Motorhome show and saw a PV panel mounted on a devise that looked like a satellite dish support, but instead of having a dish, it had a PV panel. It tracked the sun, to maximise power generation.
The Oyster SunMover System is an intelligent GPS controlled solar tracking system. It can automatically track the suns path throughout the day and adjust as necessary to maximise solar energy capture making it more efficient than standard fixed solar panels.
The system itself consists of a 75W solar panel attached to a specially designed electronic mechanism which is controlled internally via its own control system in the roof unit making installation simpler. On average the system is capable of harvesting approximately three times the power of a 75W fixed solar panel on its own. This is even more important in the winter months where the angle of insolation (the angle of the suns rays on the earth) is much greater i.e. the sun is effectively lower in the sky. The Oyster SunMover can adjust the elevation (the angle of the solar panel) to maximise energy harvest throughout the year.
This was a long time ago, and I can't remember if the make was Oyster or the price. However, at over £2000 before being discontinued, for just one panel, it was not directly pursued.
I did think about building a frame about 20 x 8 ft, which could elevate and swivel, so the roof could be covered with PV panels in drive mode, and then positioned for maximum benefit when parked. Turning it by hand every half an hour or so. Also. it could be two layers, so that in the right position, part could be an awning as well. Verdict, all to cumbersome. Human factors would indicate lack of use and leave it in the stowed position. Effectively flat to the roof, which is also safer as you don't have to worry about driving off with the rig up. Yes, I have seen the very unlikely event occur, with a tipper truck drove off with the back still up, struck a bridge and almost toppled over. Could have been even worse if it was power cables. Best avoided.
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Gen - Solar thermal
Gen - Wind Power
Gen - micro-CHP
Micro combined heat and power
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Refuse
5 Your text...
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Ref D5.1
Ref D5.2
D5
Reduce
6 Your text...
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Red - Control
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Red - Control the heating
Red - Control DHW
Red Heat loss
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Red D6.4
Red D6.5
Red D6.5
Red D6.5
Red Efficiency D6.5
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Red D6.7
Red D6.7
Red D6.7
Reuse
Repair
Recover
Recycle
spare
Section 5 -- Options
E1
E2
E3
E4
E5
E6
E7
E8
E9
E10
Section 6 -- Actions
These are that actions we have taken, in chronological order for the most part. Some have more impact than others, and some may raise questions as to the relevance to environmental concerns.
The order of the actions does not always appear logical. Some are low hanging fruit. Others have greater logistical or disruption obstacles. Whilst Return on Investment in terms of both Carbon and Money are considered that is not the only criteria which lead to choices and actions.
The actions are individual separate projects undertaken over a number of years. They are not part of an integrated master plan of home improvement and carbon reduction together with the associated cost savings and environmental impact improvements. With a do-over, it would be planned that way, but they were separate initiatives which have coincidently coalesced into a common environmental theme.
Water Harvesting
Water Harvesting and Reed Bed
My homemade reedbed for Greywater and Rainwater harvesting
How does a reedbed help reduce the carbon used by my home? Not at all within the property. It just collects and processes bathwater and rain water. In fact it increases the carbon footprint and cost as electric pumps are involved in moving the resultant processed water. However, the significant gain is at the Water Companies' plants. Less water goes into the sewer system and therefore less energy is used to process it. We use the collected, processed, and stored, water instead of running the tap and using processed drinking water from the water mains, again thereby reducing the energy used to provide mains water.
The main reason at the time was to avoid a brown garden with significant loss of vegetation due to the impending drought, and the possibility off a similar situation in future years.
My homemade reedbed water harvesting project
Project: | Grey water reclamation at home |
Client: | Me / Planet Earth |
Cost / Value: | “Undisclosed” |
Programme: | Spring 2006 – Spring 2007 |
Client’s Requirements: | How to beat the hosepipe ban and save the planet |
The inspiration and research: | Article on Monday, 13 March 2006 |
Article on Monday, 13 March 2006, extracted from BBC News.
Hosepipes banned by Thames Water
Britain's biggest water company will ban hosepipes and sprinklers from next month, the firm has announced. Thames Water, whose eight million customers will be affected by the ban, says two unusually dry winters have caused "serious" water shortages. The South East has experienced its driest period for more than 80 years
I used the water usage calculator on the BBC website and estimated that my family uses approximately 400lts of water per day. That equates to 133lts per person which compares favourably to the national average of 155lts per day. Of this about 60% is for showers and baths. However, the above calculation did not include the irrigation system that I have in the garden. I recalculated the water usage including use of a hosepipe to water the garden, but for a reduced time to account for the difference between a hose pipe and irrigation system rate of flow. This added 90 lts per day. Coincidently the water used for showers and baths equates to 80 lts per day.
We already did some water conservation by collecting rain water using a single water butt and leaving the grass to grow a little longer, and not watering it. So it seemed a simple solution to use the bath waste water to water the garden. At this point I should have just decided to have showers with the plug in and siphon out the water with a hose after it had cooled. As sane people eventually did. You can even now buy special products specifically designed to make it easier.
However, I decided to research the possibility of creating a grey water reclamation system using reed beds. The local library proved, yet again, to be a good source of information, as did the internet. I learnt,
- that different reeds deal with different pollutants and pathogens,
- about aerobic and anaerobic digestion
- micro-organisms, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa
- surface or subsurface, horizontal or vertical flow configuration
- rainfall patterns throughout the year
- rate of flow through reed beds
- and area of reed bed required per person
- Pollutants and pathogens are removed from the waste water flowing through a reed bed by a complex variety of physical, chemical and biological processes, including aerobic and anaerobic microbial activity, nitrification, plant uptake, sedimentation, precipitation and filtration.
- Reed beds are successfully and economically used in full scale black water sewage treatment and industrial effluent treatment.
Importantly reed beds require little maintenance, no additional chemicals, little or no energy dependent upon the site geography / topography and are of course, completely natural.
The Design
The Design
I wanted the system to be low maintenance and durable. It also had to be aesthetically pleasing, sustainable and capable of providing adequate clean water supplies during the increased period of drought that may be experienced due to global warming. The site is relatively flat with only a slight fall towards the top of Figure 1 ‘The Site before start’ below. To minimise the energy requirement of the system as much as possible, it had to be gravity fed. However, it ultimately had to be landscaped into the garden so some pumping was going to be necessary.
The previous research indicated the there were two basic configurations, surface and sub-surface flow, with the later being further divided into, horizontal flow and vertical flow. The sub-surface configuration is thought to be better for temperate climates, especially during winter, as the water flows through the substrate, thereby staying warmer and more efficient. To have a sub-surface vertical flow configuration would involve having outlets at the bottom of the tubs, which would necessarily involve burying pipe work, access chambers and making holes in the bottom of an otherwise water tight vessel. It would also require a relatively complex distribution system for the grey water. A sub-surface horizontal system has similar difficulties with respect to the outlet but without the inlet difficulties. I considered that the sub-surface configuration imported too much risk of failure overtime and the buried pipe work and access chambers unnecessarily complicated for the relatively small gains offered by sub-surface flow configuration compared to surface flow. The surface flow configuration has the water flow above the substrate, through the reeds, and is more similar to natural wetlands. The reduced efficiency during winter can be countered by having a larger area, together with the ability to switch to normal direct discharge into the sewers if required. Therefore the surface flow configuration was adopted.
I also considered having all of the main tubs at exactly the same level so as to provide the infinity pool type look, but decided that this was impracticable, and less attractive than gently flowing water from one tub to the next, until quietly disappearing underground.
Another significant design criteria was that the system had to be operational, at least in part, in the shortest possible time and preferably before the hose pipe ban came into force. The project was therefore done in distinct phases.
The photograph Figure 1 ‘The Site before start’ below, shows the hose pipe being put to good use, marking out the edge of the development. Several shapes and locations within the garden were considered using this technique. This is the final location but not the ultimate layout. This also represents the ‘before’ photo.
Figure 1 ‘The Site before start’
The location needed to be relatively close to the house for piping the waste water from the bathroom to the surge tank. It is necessary to have a surge tank to capture a bath full of waste water, and then to allow it to flow at a regulated speed through the system so as to allow the natural processing to take place. Consideration also had to be given for the wellbeing of the plants, such that they would not always be in the shadow of the house.
The bird feeder would have to be relocated. There would be a significant loss of grass and the washing line capacity would be reduced.
Another consideration was what to do with the excavated material. I did not want the normal hole and hill, nor did I want to have to cart the material off site. Adjacent to the site, also near the house, there is an old brick built shed.
The solution adopted was to increase the thermal mass and insulation of the shed by creating a turf wall near the shed and back filling the intervening space with the sub-soil excavated. The topsoil was stockpiled for use elsewhere in the garden. The shed wall was protected with two layers of waterproof membrane to avoid damp penetration. In turn the waterproof membrane was protected by reused expanded cardboard to reduce the risk of puncture by broken flints, primarily during construction and settlement. This additional wall also incorporated an old fashioned cistern arrangement which captures all of the rain water from the shed into open water. This overflows into the reed bed system.
It is planned that eventually the shed will also be re-roofed with a living roof. Combined this will provide a much reduced visual impact to the shed together with the benefits of a larger planted area.
The pumps necessary for irrigation circulation and to lift the reclaimed water from the sump pump chamber, the lowest part of the system, to the water storage are electric. In addition to this there is a small 12v fountain in the lowest tub, which now contains fish, and a pump to power the waterfall. Both the waterfall and the fountain are primarily for aesthetics, visual and sound, but they also provide additional aeration and agitation as a by-product. The electricity for the pumps is generally provided by two 18w photoelectric panels feeding a 12v 110Ah deep cycle leisure battery. The 12v supply from the battery is converted to the required 240v by a Sterling 600W inverter. The sump pump has to be connected to the mains to avoid the continuous use of electricity required by the standing current of the inverter if it was left on all of the time. The sump pump operates automatically by float switch which activates as soon as the sump pump chamber nears capacity and therefore requires a constant supply. The electrical requirement for the sump pump is however offset by the reduction in both the water requirement and the sewerage processing, which are intensive power consumers. Hence, despite not being fully power self sufficient, it is better than carbon neutral, it has reduced our overall carbon footprint.
The rate of flow required through the system has to be slow enough to process the water but not so slow for the water to become stagnant. It also has to be fast enough to deal with the input of grey water on a daily basis and ultimately to provide sufficient surplus to provide adequate stored water for later use. The research revealed that 1-2 square metres of reed beds are required per person to process black water but not the rate of flow through the system for grey water.
The solution was to experiment within phase one of the project.
As previously stated, pollutants and pathogens are removed from the waste water flowing through a reed bed by a complex variety of physical, chemical and biological processes, including aerobic and anaerobic microbial activity, nitrification, plant uptake, sedimentation, precipitation and filtration
The waste water treatment is outlined below;
- suspended solids settle to the bottom in still water or are filtered by the substrates and plants
- organic material is broken down by microbes that live on the roots and rhizomes
- nitrates can be taken up by the plants, or they can be transformed by denitrifying bacteria to nitrogen gas
- ammonia is transformed by bacteria to nitrates
- phosphorus precipitates with calcium, iron and aluminium compounds and is subsequently removed by sedimentation and absorption to the soil and by plant uptake
- metals and toxic chemicals are removed by oxidation, precipitation and plant uptake
- pathogens die off in inhospitable environment and are ingested by other organisms, or are killed off by antibacterial compounds.
The desktop research indicated which plants would be suitable in terms of their ability to deal with different pollutants and pathogens and to process the grey / black waste water. The environment required to carry out the water treatment outlined above could be achieved within a small site with careful design, construction and selection of plants.
Additional requirements that I wanted included, that the mixed varieties should be aesthetically pleasing, readily available, manageable, some flowering, indigenous, generally of UK origin and hardy. Such a mix of plants would inevitably have different size, spread and rates of growth. One of the listed plants is bulrushes. If they were not constrained they would quickly overrun most of the other plants. The use of separate tubs, and careful selection of which plants share tubs should eradicate this problem.
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The Design Development
Design development
The design development and phase one of construction involved commissioning one tub only and testing the plants ability to process the water.
Figure 2 – ‘Phase 1 – The first filling’
The first tub, with a water capacity before planting of 370lts, was placed in the excavation on a thin bed of sharp sand. Layers of large and medium sized stones recovered from the excavation were placed into the tub followed by a bag of pea shingle. This was topped off by a layer of topsoil, previously stockpiled, as the primary growing medium for the plants. This reduced the water capacity by approximately 150lts. The waste pipe from the bath / shower was cut and a low pressure water switch installed. One arm was returned to the waste stack and the other lead to the first tub, later the surge tank. Joints and fittings were checked and the test system declared ready.
Figure 3 – ‘Phase 1 – The first filling’
Figures 2 & 3 – ‘Phase 1 – The first filling’ shows the first tub just after the first full filling. The water capacity at this stage represented bath / showers for the whole family. A mixture of reeds, flags and water hyacinth was obtained from the local garden centre and planted as show in Figure 4 – ‘Phase 1 – Planted, landscaped and operational’.
Figure 3A – ‘Phase 1 – Planting begins.
David putting in the first plants. Water hyacinth, a free-floating perennial, but not hardy.
Figure 4 – ‘Phase 1 - Planted, landscaped and operational’
The density of initial planting was relatively low so as to allow for growth, and to reduce costs in plant acquisition. The suction pipe of the irrigation circulation pump can be seen lying adjacent to the white waste water pipe which supplies the tub. Grey water provided in the morning was distributed in the evening which emulated a tidal effect. The plants in the tub quickly established themselves providing daily clear water fit for irrigation. The trial was considered a success.
The stone chips of the herb bed were extended as part of the landscaping.
Figure 5 – ‘Phase 1 - Planted, landscaped and operational’
Grey water provided in the morning clears quickly during the day. Not totally clear but a noticeable improvement.
Figure 5A – ‘Phase 1 - Sun on clearing water’
Four days after first planting, grey water from the morning clears even more quickly during the day as the plants become established.
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Construction
Construction
Following the completion of the trial more tubs were procured, again from the local garden centre. I decided that three additional tubs would provide adequate capacity and an appropriate rate of flow through the system. A larger surface area final tub would provide an interim holding area and centre of focus for the subsequent landscaping.
Figure 6 – ‘More tubs ready, with shapes cut in the turf around the setting-out point’
The centre of this final tub was positioned and marked with a cane which became the setting out point for the other tubs.
Then the digging in earnest could commence. By this time the hose pipe ban had been in place for some time and the ground had become rock hard. A pick axe was required even at the sub-soil level. The sub-soil layer slowly gave way to clay and chalk and then to solid hard clay.
Figure 7 – ‘Holes slowly getting deeper in hard ground’
The lowest part of the dig for the final tub was just at ground water level. Any deeper and floatation problems would have had to been considered.
The second tub has a rim height which allows the full body of water above the substrata of the first tub to flow into it. The rate of flow for the whole system is set by a simple pond hose tap on the outlet from the first tub. It can be seen as the lower outlet. The upper outlet is the overflow relief. The connection is lower than might be expected to avoid being near the rim, however the desired water height is retained by having an upside down U bend in the hose.
Each of the subsequent tubs is slightly lower that the preceding tub. A 1” pond hose is connected to the upper tub and overflows into the lower tub across the rim. This provides separation of the waters of the subsequent tubs and the slight sound of moving water.
The final tub overflows the rim into a drain channel and is collected into a sump pump chamber for later collection or distribution.
Figure 7A – Testing the solar pump with the panel propped against the swing.
Before installing the shallow lower pool I took advantage of a sunny day to test the performance of the solar powered pump. The solar panel was temporarily propped against the remnants of the climbing frame, a swing. It produced a very satisfactory flow.
Figure 7B – Satisfactory flow.
The same time as the test, and this pattern takes a lot to produce the full dome. Test passed.
Figure 8 – ‘All tubs installed and landscaping commenced with a waterfall’
The photo shows an aerial view of the system complete and operational. The waterfall is the grey/green stones on the lower right side. it is a multi outlet waterfall with flows from the top and between the rocks.
The water hyacinths have grown remarkably well and make it difficult to see the tubs and water beneath them. The final tub can be seen more clearly with the metal cover of the drain channel showing adjacent to it. At the end of the metal cover there is the black cover of the sump pump chamber. This is in fact a 4 gallon expansion tank. This is an example of the utilisation of materials produced for different purposes being used for this project. This is the case for most of the materials other that aggregates and reeds. Sourcing some of the requirements proved to be an exercise in lateral thought and was something of a challenge.
Since then, there has been a blossoming water harvesting industry which can provide all the products needed.
Figure 8A – ‘All tubs installed and landscaping commenced with a waterfall’
The same photo but cropped closer to see the tubs.
In the lower shallow tub, the solar fountain can be seen above the water. Also visible in the depth of the water, at the bottom of the picture is the waterfall pump. This is much more powerful and provides a impressive cascade across the adjacent stones when turned on. Neither pumps are required for the functioning of the reed beds and are only for pleasure. Visual and sound.
Figure 9 – ‘Winter, and early morning snowfall slows progress’
Winter set in before the landscaping was finished and effectively stopped work until spring 2007. This snow scene was an early morning in January 2007.
The water lily cistern on the right frozen over.
This proved to be beneficial. It provided sufficient time to identify two changes that I wanted to make prior to finishing the landscaping.
Figure 10 – ‘Redesign required, bigger pump sump dug’
The sump pump chamber needed to be enlarged to accommodate a larger sump pump. The original was a clear water submersible pump with a low clearance so as to be able to pump to within 3mm of the floor. However, even fine sediment in the sump could jam the impeller. This increased the maintenance requirements considerably, to an unacceptable level. I decided to replace the sump pump with a submersible pump which was of a different design that was capable of handling solids up to 30mm. This was therefore unlikely to get jammed by fine sediment or even small stones. Unfortunately the replacement pump was physically significantly bigger that the first, especially in height. Therefore the sump pump chamber had to be taller, deeper and bigger capacity as the second also had a higher rate of flow.
Figure 11 – ‘Redesign required, bigger pump sump dug’
At the same time as replacing the sump pump chamber I decided to add a ground source heat exchanger. It is partly experimental and partly to provide sufficient heat to the lower tub to prevent it freezing over totally, thereby allowing an ice hole so that the fish could breath. Figure 12 – ‘Ground source heat exchanger being prepared’, below shows it just prior to being lowered into the excavation. The deeper excavation for the sump pump chamber and the heat exchanger, actually a central heating radiator, meant that the heat exchanger was over 1.2 m deep and within both the summer and winter water table. The depth alone should be sufficient to not be affected by frost.
Whilst at this photo, look how clear that water is. The top tub is filled with grey / white soapy water every day, and this is the result, all of the time. The cloudy water never gets this far.
Figure 12 – ‘Ground source heat exchanger being prepared’
In this test the circulation is gravity feed. The supply pipes are insulated and the heat transporting fluid is antifreeze as opposed to water so that it does not freeze at the surface. The pipes are coiled at the lower tub water surface to provide the heating element. Provision is made in the installation to be able to check for leaks and maintain fluid levels and for a post fit circulation pump if the gravity circulation system proves to be too inefficient. If required the circulation pump will be powered by the solar battery described above. The assessment of the effectiveness of the ground source heat exchanger will have to wait until next winter.
The gaffer tape at the joints of hose to radiator is, by the way, not the fluid seal. The fluid seal is a proper plumbing watertight system with the hoses being Appliance inlet hoses. Those joints are then plastered in grease as an anti-corrosion. The gaffer tape then protects the grease and keeps it in place. Similar to the function of Denso Tape.
Figure 13 – ‘Ground source heat exchanger being lowered into hole’
It is lowered onto a bed of wet sand. Wet because it is just below the water table. I provides a stable foundation with good contact with the surrounding ground.
Once in place it was backfilled with more sand, ensuring all the fins were fully filled and compacted. Then water added just to make sure every crevice was filled, thereby creating a good thermal connection, at a level that would be at a fairly constant temperature.
Figure 14 – ‘Ground source heat exchanger beneath pump sump’
Following some more backfill to create the level necessary for the rim of the sump pump tub to be filled by the lower tub outflow. The new sump pump tub placed in the hole with the heat exchanger insulated pipes kept clear. The new sump pump in place and connected. The red float switch positioned to bob up clear of obstructions as the tub fills.
The solar circulation pump working well.
Figure 15 – ‘New Surge tank under construction - first layer’
The first design change due to operational experience was the sump pump chamber together with the ground source heat exchanger. As above. The second was to enlarge the surge tank to provide greater capacity before overflowing. the existing surge tub was retained, but was no longer the surge tank. The only available position, considering both elevation and plan, was the herb bed. Fortunately, they were all in pots on a bed of green stone chippings, so it was not difficult to move them.
The plumbing had to be altered as well. The 40mm waste pipe run was raised and inserted within a 150mm drain pipe as a service duct or conduit. This new arrangement would also require the construction of a bridge or ramp in the area of the water lily cistern. The new garden path.
Figure 16 – ‘New Surge tank under construction - second layer’
The first layer of large stones salvaged from the big dig the previous year, together with the second layer of subsoil provide a firm anchor for the plants roots. This also helped achieve the no export of materials off site. Slightly smaller stones were bagged up and used to create retaining walls.
The distinct layers could perhaps aid the aerobic and anaerobic digestion even in the relatively short time the grey water was in the surge tank before commencing its journey through the red beds below.
Figure 17 – ‘New Surge tank under construction - third layer (topsoil) and first planting’
Viewed from the other end, this is the moment that the feeder pipe was turned from out pouring over the lip of the existing surge tub, on the left, and into the side of the new surge tank on the right.
This also means that whilst previously the feeder pipe fully drained, it is now permanently wet. Waiting for the next bath of water to push the previous residual water through. Gurgling and bubbling as the surge tank fills above the inlet.
Just three common Bulrushes in this photo. It did not take long to fill the tank with plants, and for them to consistently grow to over 8ft high, about 2.4m.
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Planting and Landscaping
Planting and landscaping
Figure 18 – ‘Landscaping nearing completion, viewed from the pier side’
The hard landscaping is procured locally but unfortunately sourced from the lake district. A case of aesthetics over green. The rocks are 1 tonne of Lakeland Green rockery and 1 tonne of Lakeland Green stone walling. So maybe it is green after all.
The pier is decking, just large enough to place a deck chair on, and do some fishing? It is actually the cover for the sump pump chamber and is easily removable for maintenance.
Figure 19 – ‘Landscaping nearing completion, viewed from the house side’
Figure 18 – ‘Landscaping nearing completion, viewed from the pier side’, above, and, Figure 19 – ‘Landscaping nearing completion, viewed from the house side’, right, shows the aquatic planting complete.
The new raised footpath allowing the pipes to pass beneath as well as the cables for the pumps. The water lily cistern on the right shows the new overflow in 40mm waste pipe. Again using the inverted U, and in this case fallen over as well. The water comes out of the cistern away from the rim construction, but cannot flow away until the water both within the cistern and in the pipe reach the bottom of the upper elbow joint. The more the excess, the more the flow, thereby a good overflow whilst still maintaining water height in the cistern. The cistern is feed from the adjacent shed roof, so can be susceptible to storms. It is therefore just rainwater that would be overflowing, and accordingly skips the surge tank and outflows directly into the lower system.
As previously stated, different reeds deal with different pollutants and pathogens. Certain plants, such as common reeds (Phragmites australis) and cattails (Typha spp.), have hollow stems that can transport air to the roots, supplying microbes with additional oxygen. Some take up specific metals or chemicals, other produce an exudate that kills pathogens.
Some of the plants in the system are listed below together with their ‘special abilities’.
- Common reeds (Phragmites australis) and Cattails (Typha spp.)
- flocculate colloids, eliminate pathogens
- Bulrushes (Schoenoplectus spp.)
- take up copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese, chlorinated hydrocarbons
- eliminate pathogens
- exude antibodies
- Grasses (Scirpus spp.)
- break down phenols
- eliminate pathogens
- Rushes (Juncus spp.)
- treat chlorinated hydrocarbons, cyanide compounds, phenols
- remove pathogens
- Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus)
- Remove pathogens
The water treatment provided by the above plants is supplemented by floating aquatic plants such as Water Hyacinth and Duckweed. Unfortunately Water Hyacinths are not hardy. However, they can be readily replaced with a few plants from the garden centre during spring. They are very prolific and will soon cover the tubs again. Alternatively a few plants could be over wintered in a frost free environment. Duckweeds are one of the smallest flowering plants and have one of the fastest reproduction rates.
- Water Hyacinths (Eichornia crassipes) and Duckweeds (Lemna, Spirodela and Wolffia)
- Take up nitrogen and phosphorus
- Microbes living on roots transform nitrogen to ammonia
- Take up trace metals, Boron, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium Arsenic
The grey water from the bath / shower flows through this assortment of plants to produce crystal clear water.
The final planting is alpines and herbs in amongst the rocks, producing the desired ultimate effect of a small water treatment plant fully integrated into a garden environment.
The finished product, albeit with some site tidying still to do.
Figure 20 – ‘Landscaping and additional planting complete, viewed from the pier side’
Figure 21 – ‘Landscaping and additional planting complete, viewed from above’
These photographs show the finished, commissioned, and operational system. Just the site tidy up to finish the project.
Figure 22 – ‘David preparing to release fish.’
In this bag there are some ordinary goldfish. Another bag contained Golden Orfe. The final offering, Golden Tench. Green Tench were also considered, but discounted in favor of the Golden variety due to a better chance of seeing the bottom feeders with a gold coat on. However, the Golden Orfe were a mistake. Whilst they shoaled well with the goldfish and made the pool quite active, as soon as they became somewhat larger they became prone to jump, not always landing back in the right body of water, or indeed, any water. They were not replaced.
Figure 22A – ‘David preparing to release fish.’
The goldfish in their new home. Going for an initial explore.
Figure 23 – ‘Landscaping and additional planting complete, viewed from the house side’
Rosemary in a green ceramic pot. Hostas and other shade loving plants in wooden troughs beside the surge tank. Automatic irrigation in place. Hellebores and primrose in the verge. Piece of wood providing the sloping escape for animals that find themselves trapped in the surge tank. Turf wall fronting the water lily cistern.
Figure 24 – ‘The waterfall’
The waterfall is purely for aesthetics, and is not necessary for the aeration of the system. It is not the equivalent of the rotating sprinkler bar at the sewage works.
It is fed entirely by the waterfall pump submersed in the lower tub, which is where the water returns directly to, not via any other part of the system. The flows it would create are far to large for the reed beds. It feeds multiple outlets. The top one opening into a small pool before disappearing into the rocks again. Another is more of a spout out of the rock face. A lower one adds to the flow from the top one to create a wide flowing cascade. There are several nooks, crannies, cavities, and caverns, built into the depth of the water fall primarily to provide winter homes, and hiding places, but also to provide a degree of variation to the water flow.
The pump is only turned on when we are in the garden relaxing. It is not on in this photo.
Figure 24A – ‘The waterfall’ One year on.
One year later and you can see the amount of growth and naturalisation. It is a warm sunny day and the pump is turned on. Dry rocks and wet ones. Cascading water bubbling down into the lower pool.
Figure 24B – ‘The waterfall’ One year on.
Slightly closer view. The cascade stream in the middle and a spout on the right edge of the photo.
Figure 24C – ‘The waterfall’ One year on.
Closer again, water streaming down the rocks and falling into the lower pond below.
Figure 25 – ‘Bulrushes in the primary surge tank’
The surge tank has to be large enough to accommodate all the family having baths / showers in succession and to allow for the increased density of plants envisaged in future years. The plants and their roots and rhizomes, as they grow, significantly reduce the available volume for waste water.
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Wildlife
Wildlife
Earlier this year, just in one tub, covered in duckweed, nine frogs were counted. Newts have also colonized the system.
The photographs below are just an indication of the wildlife that resides in or visits. Wait for them to slide, or click near the edge of the photo.
Figure 36 – ‘Bulrushes (Typha latifolia) in spring’
Figure 37 – ‘Bulrushes (Typha latifolia) in spring’
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Storage
Storage
The excess water reclaimed needs to be stored and there needs to be a reserve of stored water in times of drought and / or hot weather to supplement the daily production of reclaimed water. At the start of this paper it was established that I needed approximately 90 lts a day to irrigate the garden at the same intensity as previously done. If I required to store adequate water for just half a year’s supply I would have to produce and store in excess of 16,000 lts of water. This would be a huge container. However, when consideration is given to the rainfall pattern in Southern England the storage requirement is significantly reduced. If I were only relying on rainfall as my supply of usable water I would have to provide storage for 1,700 lts. This would be amassed over winter and alternately used and partially replenished during summer. With typical rainfall patterns the reserve of water would be almost depleted by the end of summer, relying on autumn rains to cope with an India Summer. However, as this cycle is supplemented by the reclamation process I have decided to limit my storage ability to 800 lts. This is provided by a cluster of four domestic water butts linked together. Other storage options considered included, a pond, a reused orange juice container, of the shipping variety – 1,700 lts or an ISO liquid container – 1,000 lts.
Figure 38A – ‘Storage with feed pipe’
The first of the four linked domestic water butts, with a downpipe for the water arriving from the sump pump at the end of the reed beds.
The remaining water butts are all interconnected at low level, so all the water butts have the same level of water.
The sump pump fills the water butts and the irrigation pump draws water as required. If there is excess water it will overflow into a small area of native trees planted at the bottom of the garden. The amount of excess water is not expected to be as large as may be expected by calculation of requirements against bath / shower water usage. The reclamation process has inevitable losses. The aquatic plants have a high water take up. Surface water evaporation is significant in hot weather. Some of the water loss is designed into the system by providing direct systems of water draw into areas adjacent to the tubs to provide continuously damp areas for moisture loving plants, so as to enhance the natural look of the system.
Figure 39A – ‘The planting filling out’ One year on.
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Conclusion
In conclusion this has been a very rewarding project involving a number of different ‘green’ techniques to provide a solution to a specific problem. Albeit that this problem has yet to occur this year, the system is still working very well, producing crystal clear water day after day, whatever the weather. I have not had the water tested to be able to categorically state its quality, but suspect that it is actually potable. I believe that it has significantly reduced the family’s carbon footprint and provided interest and ongoing enjoyment.
I have added two narrow water butts at the front of the house to capture rainfall from those elevations. The water butts are small and relatively unobtrusive. It is however sufficient to be a surge tank and to accommodate the build-up during downpours which is free to flow via a garden hosepipe to the reed beds in the back garden, after keeping back enough in the second tub to water the pots in the front garden. The rain water flush provide by the front water butt and the brick shed cistern also reduce the systems maintenance requirement.
Another development to be considered is the adaptation of the WC supply to be both mains and reclaimed water. This would further reduce our mains water consumption.
Finally my thanks to the books and internet articles that provided the invaluable reference material that made this project possible.
Updates
June 2010
August 2020
- Transfer from old site to this one
- Photos re-mastered
- Some additional photos, Figure numbers with sufix.
- Minor text corrections
December 2021
- Added tabs to aid reading
- Incorporated this article inside another
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Natural Swimming Pools/Ponds
Natural Swimming Pools/Ponds
If only we had the space!
Natural Swimming Pools/Ponds
Moving on from my homemade readbed project, not only has an industry emerged catering to Water Harvesting, which is a lot less Heath Robinson than my early attempt, there is also a resurgence in wild swimming. See history of wild swimming. Even the BBC broadcast about wild swimming in one of Kate Humble's programmes, 'Off the beaten track'. Unfortunately Iplayer does not have the programme but here are some clips. Kate with Natasha Brooks, explain why. Kate enters the water. Thermals back on.
A very different view of wild water with Kate Silverton.
We were holidaying in the area and found ourselves at Carding Mill Valley Reservoir just as somebody was going for a swim. The signs allow swimming but not on your own. It was evident that she was a regular.
One length done and we don't feel the need to stay for safety's sake, and leave her to her swim.
It looks a beautiful place to swim, very peaceful and quite, with just the bird song. Proper communing with nature.
Some of the comments on Wild Swimming website for this location even suggest skinny dipping is OK.
However, is is eventently cold.
She was careful getting into the water and took it very slowly. Coping with the cold water shock. On the way back down the track, as she overtook us, she was well wrapped up in one of those full length quilted coats. Very cosy, but still looking cold.
However, as beautiful as those spots are, why travel all that way to find seclusion or to take those risks when you can do something closer to home. Well, at home, if you have a large enough garden. and do some water harvesting at the same time.
David Pagan Butler shows how he built his pools.
Another of his, but for somebody else this time.
Other companies make natural swimming ponds as well, and it is the easiest way to show the vast variety. Click on the image to jump to the site.
There are many more examples to search for. If we had the space it would be an attractive option to consider.
The concept of keeping the water clean by using nature is similar to the reed beds we use in our water harvesting.
It is nothing new to have water in the centre of our communities. Either rivers or streams and often the village pond. The village pond could be natural or artificially formed by slowing a stream. There are old photos of children and animals using the village pond in several ways. Farms would also frequently have ponds, or duck ponds.
Having a Natural Swimming Pond seems a very good choice given the required space. The water harvesting could be integrated into the system and provide the top up necessary to replace naturally lost water in the pond. The pond could also be the storage for the water harvesting. The make a good fit.
They can also be more formal, with or without planting, but the later is moving away from the concept, but still without chemicals. They can be heated up to about 30o C using air or ground source heat pumps. They can be indoors or form public pools.
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Control the heating
Control the heating
Reduce energy usage by better control of heating and hot water.
This is one article but it could easily be three as there were three changes to the heating and hot water control system, over an extended period of time. Hence it is chronologically incorrect as it should be interspersed with later actions.
The first stage is to move from weekday and weekend control to an everyday controller. This allowed greater flexibility and controls to match our lifestyle at the time.
The next is to install a Tado smart geofenced control for the heating only.
The third stage is to change the smart system to Nest which includes hot water control, but not the same level of geofencing.
Control the heating to reduce bills and carbon
When we moved into this house, the central heating and domestic hot water were controlled by a traditional programmer. A great improvement to either leaving the whole system on all the time, just controlled by thermostats, or a manual switch, akin to lighting a fire in the hearth when you get home. There is an uncomfortable period of being cold before the room or house warms up.
The programmer had settings for Weekdays, and Weekends. An acl Lifestyle (Drayton) Model LP522. We swapped that out for a similar one, but with the additional function of being able to set each day separately. It was a very easy task as the industry had adopted a standard docking for such things many years before. It was just a case of switching off the power supply, unscrew the retaining screws, clip out from the dock and then clip in the new one, and reverse the procedure. Then set the times you want the heating to come one and the time for the hot water, for each day, and sit back and enjoy being comfortable.
You have to guess how long it will take to warm your home to the desired temperature, and add that to the start time whist deciding the settings to apply. In all probability, the only time you would think to change the settings was if you came home and the house was not as warm as you wanted it, so you would start the heating earlier. Another time to consider changing the settings was if your work patterns changed, resulting in different times of occupancy. Obliviously, the settings are dependant on the occupancy of the house by anyone in the household.
You can see from the photos that the replacement, a Drayton Lifestyle LP722, is very similar to the one it replaced.
The technology was not changed between one unit and the other, just the functionality of each day programming.
The wiring of the system is the ultimate logic control. Ours is the S Plan wiring with two valves, one for central heating and the other for hot water. The hot water is called on by a thermostat on the cylinder. The central heating is called on by a room thermostat, in our case, in the hall, mounted on the stairs. It is hard wired to the Junction box containing the S Plan wiring.
Smart Controls
I had been investigating and watching the development of smart controls for some time at this point.
Multiple sensors both inside and out measure the temperatures. Combined with learning the thermal mass of the house and it's heating characteristics.
This was the early days of development by small British companies, and came with the not unexpected large price tag to accompany it.
By memory, slightly vague, only, one of the developers was bought by Honeywell. I currently have no evidence that this happened, but it is not unusual for development companies to be bought up by larger more established companies. This also happened with Nest being bought by Google.
The sensors allow for changing the the time to start the boiler, based on a combination of the outside temperature and the learnt heating characteristics of your home. This improves efficiency and reduces bills, as well as improving the probability of walking into a comfortable home. The unexpected cold snap is catered for by starting heating earlier than the time set to reach comfort level. Conversely, if warmer, it delays the start, avoiding using energy unnecessarily, thereby saving money and carbon.
The advent and proliferation of Smart Phones and GPS together with other technical advances, including increasing broadband speeds and availability, provided another step change in the control of heating. Instead of having sensors to detect outside temperatures the connected controller could use the internet to get data regarding forecast weather and current temperatures in your area. Also, your phone knew were you were, and could therefore automatically tell your heating controller. The further away from home your are the more time your system has to get to the comfortable walk through the door. As you start to come home your phone's GPS system tells your heating controller that you are on your way. The smart heating controller has learnt how long this journey normally takes and therefore adjusts the start time accordingly. It is not inconceivable to use other data, both learnt and real time to check your predicted journey time. It could use the car's GPS to tell if you are travelling in your car, or other data, for public transport. However, I don't know that they do that yet, using the Internet of Things, along with other data. It is surprising how much joined up intelligence there can be in the background.
I am not suggesting that it does or should do any of the following. Your car's GPS states that it is on the drive. Alternativly, perhaps somebody else is driving it. The seat position may help identify who, but a correlation of speed and direction of the car and a mobile phone will identify the probable driver. You on the other had are at the railway station, you have bought a coffee and paid using a contactless payment system. The retailer has a location, in the station. You have gone through the barrier and your ticket is activated, perhaps even on your phone. The CCTV cameras facial recognition confirm that it is you. The phone's GPS confirms you are in these locations. But wait, you are inside and can't be seen by the GPS Satellites. The station has an internal GPS system developed to help passengers find their pre-booked seats, by following instructions on their smart phones, which has the train ticket. You get on the train, your phone knows which platform and which carriage. Real Time train information can correlate this to the service and the predicted journey times. The speed, route, and stopping pattern obtained from you phone's location can be compared against the planed data and that of the real time information. The prediction of the need for comfortable heat is now accurate to within minutes. The system has learn how long it takes you to get from the home station to your house, however, it cannot predict the non habitual visit to the pub, or to the florist to buy flowers, but both of those are outwith the range to make any difference to the heating call.
Having all the other factors of weather and current temperature to hand, the system can fully optimise the heating up cycle of the system. Inside, there are other monitors of occupancy, which if indicating an empty house, perhaps with the phone left behind, can lead to the heating being switched off. There are plenty of ways to monitor occupancy these days, including the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, the intruder alarm, and even the wi-fi router.
An article from 2011, 'What is a Smart Building'. Another from 2019. 'The rise of the smart home'. 'Smart thermostats provide several advantages over their traditional counterparts, but there are two main benefits. They are easier to programme and use, and they give greater energy savings. Average gas bills in the UK are £676 a year, and Tado, the smart-thermostat manufacturer, estimates UK customers can save 19% on heating bills. Nest claims that UK customers can save between 8.4% and 16.5%. '
Tado
Our next investment in Heating Controls was a Tado Smart Thermostat. Not the version in the link, but similar. The wired version directly replaced the pervious one in the hall and the other object provides internet connection.
The Tado Smart Thermostat was easy to install in the same place with no additional wiring. The thermostat only controls the heating side and not the domestic hot water, but it is more than just a thermostat. It is also the programmer as it controls the schedule or timings via an App. Accordingly the existing programmer, was turned to always on for central heating, relinquishing control to the Tado Smart Thermostat and App, and the hot water remained with the previous arrangement of programmer and cylinder thermostat.
Tado does now have a hot water controller as well as the central heating.
Tado has Geofencing, whereas Nest for instance relies on you using an App on your phone to alert it if you are going to be home early or late. Tado interfaces with your phone to assess this automatically.
The Tado App does a lot more than it used to.
However, our family work patterns changed, making Geofencing less of an advantage and Tado changed it's pricing model from a fixed purchase price, including all of the data interfaces, to a hardware price plus subscription.
Accordingly we changed to Nest.
Nest
Nest is also a Smart Thermostat and describes itself as a Learning Thermostat. It does not have the same Geofencing as Tado but integrates well with our Nest smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. which include motion detectors. Both Tado and Nest integrate with Google Home, our choice of Smart Home engine. However, I am not sure if Tado was so enabled when we switched over. Apparently that link happened in 2017.
Google acquired the company for $3.2 billion in January 2014. However, it was not fully integrated until 2018. Snice that time some of the functionality of the Nest products have been lost and I think added security has put significant delays into notifications from the Nest Doorbell and cameras. It is still quick enough to capture nefarious activities, but not as quick as the postman or delivery driver may like. Nest smoke and carbon monoxide detectors used to be able to interface with Philips Hue lights and turn colour enabled Smart LED lights red at the time of an alarm, making the alarm useful for both the visually and hearing impaired person.
Nest does control the hot water in the one App and connects wirelessly to the system so it is easy to move the thermostat to the most convenient location for you, rather than the wires.
Nest is easy to set up and operate. The predicted savings may be less than that of Tado but some of Tado's savings will be based on not heating an empty home.
The family dynamic has changed again, as we are both retired now. Heating predictions are not as relevant in terms of creating savings of money, energy, and carbon. Technology has also moved on.
Watch this place for the next chapter.
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Draft proofing and partial internal insulation
Draft proofing and partial internal insulation in the Bathroom
Draft proofing and partial internal insulation
The next project was to do with the bathroom. It was cold and draughty. Some of the tiles above the bath had popped and allowed water from the shower to flow where it was not wanted. A temporary repair had been done, but it was not ideal. Also, David is tall, and the roof is sloping. Time for a change. Reduce the drafts, insulate, and move the bath shower into the room to increase the height.
The bidet had to go to make space for the bath to move into the room. Adding 100mm of insulation to the external wall would reduce the room size of an already small bathroom, but the benefits were worth the loss.
The progress of the works can be seen in the slideshow below.
Once the bath was removed it was apparent why it was so cold and draughty. The holes through the wall to the outside for the waste pipes were not sealed. The wall below the bath rim was not finished or plastered. The floor had a significant gap, albeit for services.
The holes were sealed and the wall insulated with 100mm PIR and an air gap between the insulation and the Aquapanel waterproof board. The flat substrate for a good tiled finish.
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Composting and wormery
Composting and wormery
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Composting and wormery
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Energy saving bulbs
Energy saving bulbs
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Energy saving bulbs
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Nest Smoke Alarms
Nest Smoke Alarms
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Nest Smoke Alarms
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Philips hue
Philips hue
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Smart home
Smart home
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Smart home
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Temperature sensors
Temperature sensors
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Temperature sensors
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Smart meter
Smart meter
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Smart meter
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Roof
Roof
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Roof
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Solar PV and Battery
Solar PV and Battery
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Solar PV and Battery
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Loft insulation
Loft insulation
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Loft insulation
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Additional rainwater harvesting
Additional storage capacity for rainwater harvesting
We have two narrow water butts at the front of the house. They help with watering the many pots there. We have capture on one of the downpipes at the back garden, which diverts into the reed beds. Another capture point is from an outbuilding to a normal size water butt and onto a cistern planted with native water lilies.
However, these water butts are on a different scale.
Environmental impact is again reducing the power consumption at the water treatment plant it would otherwise go to. In addition to that, in a very very small way, it reduces the likelihood of flooding further downstream by absorbing some of the surge. Not one or two on their own, but in sufficient numbers! We noticed one being delivered to a neighbour recently. Every little helps.
Additional rainwater harvesting
The additional capacity is provided by two 800 litres water buts from Ecosure. The two water buts will be linked together to form a 1600 litres or 422 gal. storage. The rainwater does not need to be processed by the reed bed to make it useable, unlike the greywater. This arrangement will therefore reduce the electricity requirement to pump water from the reed bed to storage. Apart that is for any overflow water. The overflow from the new water butts will outfall onto David's old slide, repurposed into a water course, which will then flow into the reed bed.
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F13
Section 7 -- Conclusions