I’m not in the habit of giving advice (well at least not until recently), but the one regret that I have (well in addition to forgetting to put solar panels on the original plans) was that we didn’t go ahead and install rainwater harvesting.

I had a quote for a large tank and a variety of pumps, pipes and valves that came out at around £2000 including VAT. This was way back when we were drawing up plans and rainwater harvesting got lost amongst them and never became a firm inclusion. It was a £2000 that was easier not to spend at the time. Now, that two thousand will soon flow away through the water meter when greener more sustainable ‘free’ water could have been used instead. Additionally, the barn would have had a rainwater infrastructure that would have lasted for a lot longer.

There is a lesson here – I didn’t ensure that my original design and budgets allowed for all the technologically and economically sound options that I should have. I was blinkered by the basic needs of walls, floors, roof, windows and doors and therefore my initial plan lacked in detail … this lack of detail has a financial impact, both short-term (I had to apply for planning permission for my solar panels) and medium to long term (we will need to pay for water we wouldn’t have had to and any attempt to retro-fit rainwater harvesting will be messy and costly).

As always, the devil is in the detail.

If it wasn’t for the fact that we’ll be completely broke by the time we complete this project, I’d love to explore the ruralZED potentially zero carbon home.

I say potentially as the eco housing system that is ruralZED can be specified to achieve different levels of the Code For Sustainable Homes right up to level 6 and being carbon negative.

RuralZED is so named not because they are designed to be built in fields down sleepy lanes, but as a reference to its frugal embodied energy and relatively low density development…

ZED stands for Zero (Fossil) Energy Development. RuralZED is a way of reminding everyone that the majority of the UK’s housing functions at a lower density than the urban developments that sometimes command a lot of attention.

On paper it seems like a great system, starting with a basic code level 3 home, that is pretty highly specified and includes such features as super insulation, airtightness, triple-A rated appliances, low energy lighting, low water fittings and a ‘living’ flat roof, from there it is then possible to bolt-on additional green technologies such as PV panels and rain-water harvesting to move up the code levels. Homes can be designed and built to clients wishes, but with sustainability and the Code for Sustainable Homes at the top of the agenda at all times.

Whilst these buildings may not offer the individuality that I’d prefer, the modularity appeals (as it would to anyone who as a little boy loved making models) and the pragmatic and potentially self-sufficient nature of the buildings is at the levels I feel we should all be aiming for in these days of increasing energy prices and ecological concerns.

Anyway, enough of my crude assessment, take a look and make up your mind for yourself … ruralZED ~ Zero Carbon Home

When I started out writing this blog (now over two years ago) I intended to both share my experiences and to provide advice to other people considering following a similar path. The advice has been a bit slow coming, but now as things are progressing I thought I’d start to share. Not so much hard and fast rules but my personal musings and accumulated wisdom.

new clean lines

Any old building will have a set of angles, curves and contours all unique and peculiar to it. Straight clean lines are unlikely to have been the norm when it was built (unless your building is a pristine example of Victoriana), instead an organic, contextually rich approach to construction is likely to have been prevalent.

When renovating a building with modern materials, building techniques, fixtures and fittings, we introduce precise, clean lines often in stark contrast to what has already been done. This is an opportunity to add layers of interest and character to your renovation if handled sympathetically. It is also an opportunity to respect and acknowledge the heritage and traditions that have gone before.

If sympathy is not shown, if new clean lines are forced in and stand alone rather than working with the building then the contrast will not be a harmonious and detract from rather than enhance the overall outcome.

mock tudor – concrete and softwood
(know where this is?)

Off course we can avoid this contrast, we can reject anything contemporary and seek out rustic or distressed materials and attempt to incorporate them in an original manner. But to me, that is missing the point. I prefer to be able to see the development of a building, recognise its different eras and see its history. The imposition of a historic look on a modern project too easily leads to the folly of artificial, non-structural beams or mock Tudor concrete and softwood concoctions.

If fresh, clean, modern lines can be made to work with the original more organic lines, then you’ll be heading toward a great renovation.

In one hour, enough sunlight strikes the Earth to provide the entire planet’s energy needs for one year.

One of the major challenges in micro-electricity generation, especially off-grid, is the need for a storage medium to provide electricity when demand is greater than supply or when supply of the generating medium (sunlight, wind, water etc.) is limited (such as overnight, on calm days or during dry periods). The traditional solution, is storage in batteries – an expensive, bulky and potentially polluting solution. However, this could all be a thing of the past as researchers, Daniel Nocera and Matthew Kanan working at MIT have developed a new method for storing energy that requires only commonly found, non-toxic natural materials.

Inspired by the photosynthesis performed by plants … [the researchers] have developed an unprecedented process that will allow the sun’s energy to be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. Later, the oxygen and hydrogen may be recombined inside a fuel cell, creating carbon-free electricity to power your house or your electric car, day or night.

More engineering work needs to be done to integrate the new scientific discovery into existing photovoltaic systems … such systems will become a reality.

Exciting stuff … I’d love to see practical and affordable home electricity generation options on the market so will watch this one with interest.

All quotations from:

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/oxygen-0731.html

softwood / hardwood

Sorry about the title of this post I couldn’t resist it…

I thought this picture of an off-cut from one of our new windows with a piece of softwood attached was quite interesting…

Whilst the differences in strength, hardness and cost between soft and hard woods are commonly known, I like the way this picture shows the physical differences. Even visually, the closer growth rings and the tighter texture of the hardwood suggest greater strength and durability.