Super Insulation
Through recent technological innovations it is now possible to insulate buildings to such an extent that no heating system is required to maintain comfortable temperatures.
There are varying categories of super insulated buildings.
Zero Heat Building
This category of building, through insulation and draft proofing, requires no additional heat source, except for in extreme conditions. The heat provided by the occupants’ bodies, household appliances, the sun and artificial lighting is sufficient for ordinary requirements.
To achieve this typically insulation of 500mm of cellulose fibre will be required in the roof, 300mm of expanded polystyrene in the floor, 250mm of filled wall cavity and triple glazed windows and doors will be necessary.
Zero CO2 Building
A zero heat building when supplied with electricity and any additional heating from renewable sources becomes a zero CO2 building. It must produce zero net emissions of carbon-dioxide over its lifetime.
The Autonomous Building
Take a zero CO2 building; remove it from mains services (gas, water, electricity and sewage) provide it with electricity generation, sewage processing and water collection solutions (all of which are renewable, sustainable and ecologically sound) and you have an autonomous building.
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Posted in Systems of interest to barn converters |
June 8th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Dear Sirs
I am currently taking over the building work on a half completed barn conversion in the UK and I am concerned about the quality of workmanship in the construction to date.
One of my main worries is insulation-related and I am concerned that the current insulation work will ensure that this conversion is far from energy efficient and this is obviously a very serious matter in this day and age.
The barn is of masonry construction and an inner leaf has been built out of 100mm thermalite blocks on a concrete slab. The plans stipulate that the cavity between the blockwork and the brickwork should be 90mm. 40mm Celotex should be tied to the blockwork to leave a 50mm air gap in the cavity. The plan was then to plasterboard the inside with 12.5mm board and skim on to that to achieve a u-value of 0.30.
Please find some links below to photos of the Celotex work to date.
Could you please let me know if you think this insulation will work properly?
Could you please let me know if you think this is acceptable workmanship done with reasonable care and skill?
Could you let me know if you think the wall design is sensible?
How difficult is this construction in reality?
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or you can call me on 01948-890192.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully
Ed Corbett
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