Probably the most efficient way to address the problem of peaks and troughs of temperature output from a stove is to go for a very large hot water storage tank (accumulator) and a boiler which is not a visual feature (i.e. is purely a water heater) This way, surplus heat can be stored if the [...]
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Bringing existing houses up to a high standard of energy efficiency is a much greater challenge than with new ones. This particular example of eco renovation is outstanding because of the way it will achieve a net zero carbon rating while at the same time reaching CSH level 6. Not only that, it has been [...] The Tree House in Clapham, London is a recently completed and very elegant example of a self built detached house. It has, on occasion, been open to the public as part of the London Open House programme. Situated on a small urban plot of land dominated by a large sycamore tree it has taken [...] October '09 Jim and Jo Monahan are nearing completion of their passive solar house in Spinningdale, Sutherland. This is a timber frame house which utilizes roundwood for many of the structural members. This is a way of using timber at its maximum strength because it is not cut across the grain. The timber framing [...]
the front of the house with double storey sun space One of the first UK examples of a super low energy Passivhaus has recently been completed at Denby Dale in south Yorkshire. It is interesting in several respects The walls have a stone outer skin, (on the insistence of the planners) 300mm of wall [...] In the UK there is plenty of heat energy to be harvested; it just doesn't all come at the right time. Ideally you save all the surplus heat that comes along and then use it when there is a shortage. Winter / summer balance At one extreme is the interseasonal heat store such as was [...] October ’09 Locally grown timber Situated in the Scottish Highlands, this nearly completed timber house is composed of three hexagonal areas plus a sun room which extends segmentally out of one of the hexagon sides. The framework is of local Douglas fir and the rain screen of wany edged larch, also locally grown. Much [...] High thermal mass is generally seen as a useful quality in a building because it can be utilised to trap and save any spare heat which might turn up. It can also do the same for coolth during hot weather. This quality is utilised in passive solar design, including the Passivhaus design standard. However [...] There are several methods of harvesting energy for a house but non of them are as important as providing excellent levels of insulation, air tightness and energy efficient appliances in the first place. Witness to this fact is the design of the Passivhaus which is so well insulated and oriented towards the sun that [...] Boilers are available for burning straw for domestic heating and constitute an almost carbon neutral source of heat as the carbon is recycled annually. Various sizes of bales can be used and are usually batch loaded by tractor. There is nearly always a hot water storage accumulator employed to store the heat. Some of them [...] How clean is wood burning? Arguably one of the greenest methods for heating a rural house in the UK (including domestic hot water) is a combination of solar thermal collectors (for summer) and wood pellet or chip (for winter). Logs come a close second if they are dry and burn cleanly. They are also [...] The main green aspects of a well designed hot water system are: As much of the heat as possible should be from a renewable source such as solar or be reclaimed heat Heat from boilers should be produced as efficiently as possible. Hot water storage should be very well insulated. Although cylinders usually come with [...] |
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