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ECOBUNGALOW
suerowlands47
Oct 284 min read
28. The Bottom Line
Nobody tells you how much their project really cost. I wish they would. It would be so helpful to clients to understand what’s involved...
110 views2 comments
suerowlands47
Oct 241 min read
27. Sharing experiences: Passivhaus Trust Open Days
Every year, Passivhaus buildings open their doors to visitors, sharing knowledge and experience. The EcoBungalow had an open day last...
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suerowlands47
Oct 154 min read
26. Energy use, bills and comfort
So, the EcoBungalow is complete and I’ve been living in it since May 2024. My aim is to keep this blog going for at least a calendar year...
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suerowlands47
Aug 282 min read
25. The Passive House / Letterbox Conundrum
Making the EcoBungalow as airtight as possible was a critical part of the build. Preventing heat loss by eliminating drafts goes...
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suerowlands47
Jul 251 min read
24. Interior: Before and after
The main aim of this project has been to create a low-energy, comfortable house. But it has also enabled the transformation of a 1970s...
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suerowlands47
Jul 43 min read
23. Mixergy: Doesn't do what it says on the tin
Moving into the EcoBungalow 3 ½ years ago, I inherited an ancient gas boiler with a hot water cylinder. Having become used to gas combi...
113 views0 comments
suerowlands47
Jun 274 min read
22. Life with Mechanical Ventilation
It’s taken nine months from start on site to moving back into my not-quite-finished house. Despite the long build period, it’s only...
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suerowlands47
Mar 22 min read
19. Proper planning prevents poor performance
Planning ahead is vital in any construction project. This is especially crucial with internal wall insulation. We needed to plan for...
177 views3 comments
suerowlands47
Feb 202 min read
18. Air, water, electricity: keeping it simple
Ever lived in a house where there just aren’t enough electrical sockets? Where the light switches are in the wrong place? Where the hot...
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suerowlands47
Jan 162 min read
17. Is the EcoBungalow the most airtight retrofit in the UK?
A big day in the evolution of the EcoBungalow: the interim airtightness test. We’d established that the original draughty, cold bungalow...
205 views0 comments
suerowlands47
Dec 24, 20232 min read
16. And 2023 ends with an airtight box! (Well, nearly)
The floor’s finished, the ceiling’s done and the excellent Viking triple glazed windows are in. Now for the last remaining step in...
184 views0 comments
suerowlands47
Oct 31, 20231 min read
15. It's starting to look like a Passive House
The project has now been on site for three months. Whilst great progress has been made, it’s so far looked pretty much like a standard...
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suerowlands47
Mar 1, 20232 min read
11. This is not Grand Designs
Following on from planning permission, Hesketh Hayden developed the detailed design and specification of the EcoBungalow ready for...
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suerowlands47
Nov 30, 20222 min read
10. There's more to it than just the building
Sustainable living isn’t just about the building. When I moved in, my garden was pretty typical of 1970s suburbia: close mown grass in...
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suerowlands47
Aug 31, 20222 min read
9. VAT on retrofit - zero or 20%?
Many people don’t realise that that VAT (Value Added Tax) is charged on building works to existing homes, but not on new builds. It’s...
109 views0 comments
suerowlands47
Jun 25, 20222 min read
7. The value an architect brings to design
Once the air tightness strategy was established, we could work towards finalising the design ready to submit for planning approval. You...
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suerowlands47
May 31, 20222 min read
6. Developing the air tightness strategy
To work properly, a Passive House needs continuous insulation together with a continuous air tight membrane. No gaps. Gaps allow heat...
111 views0 comments
suerowlands47
May 1, 20222 min read
5. Finding a builder who gets it
Retrofitting a home to Passive House principles needs a special kind of builder. One who is committed to the idea, pays attention to...
101 views0 comments
suerowlands47
Apr 1, 20221 min read
4. How draughty is my bungalow?
Before starting design, we needed to understand my existing bungalow. How is it currently performing in terms of energy efficiency? How...
123 views0 comments
suerowlands47
Mar 1, 20222 min read
3. Developing the Brief
The starting point for the architectural design was to develop and agree the brief with Russel Hayden. There were two halves to this:...
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