EVELYN ECO HOUSE
 
About the Project      Outline of works
 
 
There were two categories of work done on the house: general repairs/updating and energy saving measures/environmental improvements.  I kept a record of costs and have tried to identify the extra over cost of trying to be environmentally sensitive in upgrading the house.
 

The big questions were how far to go and how much to spend.  See the What to do section for an analysis.

 

I decided to do as much as possible without installing a lot of renewable technology, i.e. just taking passive measures to reduce energy needs.  Renewable technology includes things such as a biomass boiler, solar thermal panels (for hot water) and solar pv panels (to generate electricity). 
 
The reason for this was cost and whether it was appropriate in an example of retrofitting a house for the ordinary person (by which I mean people who are not completely obsessed by environmental issues like me).  I thought that if I could get the house into an energy efficient state and get the occupier to think about how they use the house, the actual energy usage would be pretty low.  These other technologies, which would truly make the house environmentally friendly and future-proof, can always be fitted at a later date.
 
Summary of Works
 

Insulation/heat retention

 

·          Kingspan insulation in attic room

·          cavity wall insulation

·          vents in walls filled

·          insulation of ground floor with thick underlay

·          replacement of single-glazed back doors

 

 

Repairs

·          Front door lock

·          soffits, fascias and gutters replaced

·          steps rebuilt

·          upvc windows overhauled

·          shed repaired with new roof

·          roof repairs to leaking sarking

·          redecorating

·          refurbishing kitchen units

·          covering in underside of stairs

·          new doorbell

·          new door handles in part

·          new taps

·          new kitchen sink

·          bedroom cupboard repairs

·          repairs to skirting and beading

·          new fire door closers

Garden

 

·          compost bin built

·          Green Johanna composter

·          Relaying weed suppressant and replanting terrace at front

·          Rebuilding terracing

·          Resowing grass

·          Rebuilding steps

·          Repairing shed

·          Weeding and tidying

·          Some fruit planted

·          Compost brought in for growing in one bed

·          Cherry tree cut back

·          Water butt

·          New front gate

Heating

·          gas check and boiler serviced

·          old coal effect gas fire removed and fireplace rebuilt

·          log burning stove installed

·          TRV’s on all radiators

·          New heating thermostat

Power

·          electrics checked and new circuit breakers

·          energy saving bulbs put in

·          energy monitoring meter installed

·          new oven and hob

·          new light fittings and some sockets

·          replacing fridge and freezer

·          new Mira shower

 

Decoration and other

·          New carpets

·          Painting

·          Curtains and velux blind

·          New light shades

·          Toilet – interflush water saver and new seat

·          New bathroom fittings

 

 

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