Zero Carbon is a term that ‘haunts’ me a lot (I need to get out more).

Our barn won’t be zero carbon, for a number of reasons, but mainly because it would have cost too much. I’m sure that the time will come in the not too distant future when photovoltaics (the only sensible option to paying back all that carbon you emit elsewhere) can be installed for a reasonable capital cost and with a reasonable payback period and so the balance will tip. But crucially, that balance has yet to tip.

When I read that Wales intends to steal a march on the rest of the UK by setting a date of 20ll by which all new buildings will be zero carbon, my interest (and I must admit cynicism) is piqued. I’ve had enough financial and (mostly understandable) bureaucratic difficultly in installing solar panels, let alone anything more ambitious. So I thought to dig deeper…

With further research the politics start to poke through…

Environment minister Carwyn Jones said: “We will be opening discussions with the UK government on the devolution of the building regulations which would allow us to set out a standard framework, including zero carbon, for all buildings, whatever their source of funding, which is tailor made for Wales.”
He added: “Once these regulations are devolved, it will allow us to move further and faster on achieving zero carbon on all new buildings in Wales.”

Ref

So is this about the environment or deregulation?

It also looks like a committee has been formed >> Ref

Beyond that I’m struggling (if you can help me out with further information please do so, I’d be most grateful).

So, with two years to go this looks like one to watch…

What we now consider as high quality, high cost choices for building with, traditional materials such as limestone, sandstone, slate, hard woods, steel, dressed stone and hand-made bricks; were once standard. These materials are what contribute to those elusive but seductive and often valuable features of buildings often referred to as period charm or character.

Any building built before World War Two (and many built after) is likely to contain such materials. These will be from the days before mass transportation and the desire to move dense heavy materials over vast distances to be used at locations where similar materials exist, but cost a little more to extract, process or prepare.

Whilst current building practices necessitate the need for modern materials in a renovation project, it is important to respect an aged structure and the materials from which it was originally constructed. Use modern where necessary, use traditional were possible but only where fusing the two can be done in a harmonious and sympathetic manner.

The glass-half-full approach to this is to take the opportunity to work with materials that just don’t fit into modern buildings – 4 inch thick flags or oak window frames are a waste of time, a waste of money and a poor design decision when placed in a 1980′s house – in a renovation of an old building, in context, they can shine…

I’m sorry, but uPVC and dressed stone just don’t work in harmony for me!

An interesting short article on green futures states that:

Our historic buildings need not be unsustainable. What’s more, we can still learn a lot from their many examples of innovative technology …. underpinned by the old wisdom of self-sufficiency.

I go a step further in that I see old buildings and the process of renovating them as an unmissable opportunity to take fantastic old structures with their durable, natural and attractive materials and through marrying these with new technologies & materials providing comfortable, sustainable and healthy living environments. In effect we can erase much of the post-war nastiness in house building by coupling the best of the past with the best of the present.

Not only can our old buildings be sustainable, but they can lead the way toward better, more sustainable future housing.

I spend a far amount of time sourcing goods for the barn on the internet so here’s a summary of some of my favourite sites with great features, products or service.

Nigels eco store

Of all the online green / eco stores Nigels is well laid out with a variety of products available. I like it so much, I'm going to start offering some of their products here...

Homebase - Store Stock Check

They may not be the most competitive on price, but I really like the Homebase store stock check feature - it gives an up-to-date view of what's in stock in store and so may save an otherwise fruitless journey.

bathrooms365

Of the companies I've ordered from online, bathrooms365 has given by far the best service with regular updates, courteous service and prompt delivery. Recommended.

So apparently stoves are like hens teeth these days, demand for them has rocketed in line with spiralling fuel bills. I’ve been trying to track one down, our original choice had a 14-16 weeks lead-time on it so a bit of digging around on the internet later I managed to find a Country 16B Multi-fuel that was in stock with a supplier so hopefully will be with us before Christmas.

Plastering is completed (except for final tidying up and the wall behind where the stove will be).

My main task has been cleaning down the water staining from the two oak beams that provide the supporting structure for the first floor. I’ve used a variety of techniques which I’ll write more on shortly. Suffice to say that it’s a time consuming process…

I’ve started tiling the floor of the two bathrooms (after they were ply lined and then unibonded to provide a water resistant film), natural slate which makes life interesting with its varying sizes and thickness’s.

We’ve also started painting – my favourite clay paint watered down by 20% for a first coat after lightly sanding down the walls. Coverage seems good, a second undiluted coat should provide a finish.