 Case Study: Rod's bathroom insulation project
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Rod Holt is a founding member of the SURE Energy Group and has made a significant contribution to the success of the organisation. He has spent many 100s of hours over the last 20 years or so working at making his Victorian terraced house into a very highly insulated and energy-efficient home. This is the home of a couple who are passionate about trying to ensure that the planet will still be around in the future for their children to enjoy.
It is now a beacon example of what is possible with effort and application - and an inspiration for the rest of us about what can be achieved by a committed individual.
Rod's house deserves perhaps a dozen case studies - and when time permits we'll be adding more to this website. Here's just a few of the measures that have been installed - and it's worth noting that Rod had the gas supply turned off to his house more than 20 years ago and his electricity bills are now only a few pounds per month..
- The front room in the house has been fitted with a full 150mm of insulation in a dry lined wall, an acoustic / thermal barrier on the party wall and a wood burning stove. This stove mainly burns compressed wood chips that are formed into briquettes. A back boiler on the stove provides hot water as well.
- The solar thermal panel fitted to the shed in the back garden supplies a hot water tank in the house which regularly reaches a temperature of 60°C. Ever fancied a bath with free hot water?
- The latest addition to this exemplary house has been to add another bank of silicon photo voltaic panels. The electricity generated by these charges batteries which supply most of the lighting in the house and several of the appliances. The intention is to one day run the house fridge from this stored power as well.
A bathroom insulation project in a stone built terrace house in Otley
The old decaying window frame has been replaced with one incorporating argon-filled double-glazed panels. Gaps around the edges are sealed with expanding foam. A sheet of expanded polystyrene is fitted beneath the new window sill.
The areas around the window are insulated with 50mm (2 inches) thick Kingspan.
In the prevailing cold weather the improvement is immediately apparent.
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Although the ceiling has previously been insulated with rockwool from above, there is the possibility of thermal bridging through the joists, so 50mm Kingspan is fitted. Once again, the improvement is apparent straight away.
100mm of insulation is carefully fitted around the hot water storage tank. As soon as this is complete, the improvement is clear.
The temperature of the hot water in the tank, which used to fall by around fifteen degrees overnight, now only loses two and a half degrees.
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The Results
The bathroom is now nice and warm in any weather and has no need of a radiator any more.
Lighting is provided by a 10 watt LED strip-light which operates automatically when someone enters the room.
This light runs from a battery which is charged by solar power all year round.
This insulation work has without doubt saved a lot of money on heating and lighting bills.
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Jump in -- join the team -- share your ideas -- let's do this together
info@SURE-energy.org.uk
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