[Geoff Stow]

I am not sure why you would put a GDHP in a South London house.

If you are renovating a house with access to mains gas installing a high quality Condensing Boiler with underfloor heating.

This would be much cheaper than a GSHP and you could spend the money you save on high quality insulation, doors windows etc.

On environmental grounds it is very unlikely that you would end making a saving on either energy use or CO2 emissions.

many of the good companies that install HPs would advise against installing if you have mains Gas, 1 or 2 will refuse to do it.

If you want to know more check out John Cantor Heat Pumps web site

http://heatpumps.co.uk

Hope this helps.

Geoff

[Geoff Stow]

Hi. I visited Almere last year. I can't say anything about the green credentials of any of the buildings. Although many of them looked like they were going down that route. When I went the weather was very windy so the whole place was like being in a sandstorm so it all looked a bit bleak. Unfortunately this meant that we didn't get to have a chat with anyone. I would reccommend that you visit the information office in the city centre they were very helpful and had loads of info. Hope you enjoy and it would be good to hear your iompressions.

[Geoff Stow]

This seems to be the reasoning.

pg29 Table1 of ADJ
Air supply to solid fuel appliances – Other appliance, such as a stove, cooker or boiler, with no flue draught stabiliser – If design air permeability <= 5.0m^3/(h.m^2) then 550mm^2 per kW of appliance rated output, of permanently open vent

I can't quote what the passive house rules are, but I susspect they are designed to have a air permeability of less than 5.0m^3/(h.m^2), and having 550mm^2 per kW of appliance rated output of open vent in the wall would not be allowed. This is the approved way of complying with the requirement under the building regulation to provide sufficient air supply to the appliance. You can install a appliance with a diect air supply as the only source of combustion air, but it is then upon you to prove that the installation complies with building regulations.

HETAS have recently finished a detailed study into this, and although not published yet, the verdict I have heard is that simply fitting a direct air kit does not guarantee compliance, there are a number of factors affecting if it will or not. The final report from this is as far as I know yet to be published, but once it is will hopefully feed into future regulations allowing certain appliances under certain conditions to be fitted without the permanently open air vents. Currently though, if you want to install the appliance under ADJ, I don't think you can comply with it and the passive house code.

[Geoff Stow]

Judging by the lack of details my feeling is that the product is just paint. I wouldn't touch it if I were you. Their information on Solar PV is way out of date as well. That doesn't inspire confidence.

[Geoff Stow]

Have a look at the range of courses on offer at the Centre for Alternative Technology at Machynlleth, Wales :

http://gse.cat.org.uk/gse-postgraduate-study

Any number of architects have used the courses to improve their understanding of sustainability, they are available either with attendance at CAT for six days a month or via Distance Learning. The MSc course has an intake starting in March 2012.

[Geoff Stow]

I found this link that may be of interest.
http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/sustainability-masters/

[Geoff Stow]

I agree with Dave the gaps should be filled especially if the porch is heated in any way. If you have any off cuts of foam it is easy to cut with a fine saw and slithers can be pushed in. I have not heard of any problems using foam filler but it can be difficult to get it in to very narrow gaps. I suggest you contact the insulation manufacturers and speak to their technical dept for advice just in case any of the foam filler reacts with the boards.

[Geoff Stow]

Martin Are you sure the cavity was filled with Warmcel? My understanding is that it is not suitable for cavity walls.
You could use a thermal imaging camera to check the quality of the installation.

Geoff

[Geoff Stow]

I found this in Newbuilder

Basically any of the LSF (low smoke and fume) type are PVC free. Also termed Halogen free.

Widely available (screwfix for eg) but about 80% more expensive…

Geoff

[Geoff Stow]

When I spoke to a rep from Steico they said they had done that calculation. have you checked with them. If not they should be encouraged to do so.
Geoff

[Geoff Stow]

We will be having a presentation on Dynamic Insulation at this years Conference (The WISE Building @ CAT 1st & 2nd October). I will forward these points to the workshop leader to help inform the debate.

[Geoff Stow]

I always advise people to be very wary of outline build costs because their are so many variables. £1000 per sq mtr is very low. It also depends on how much you plan to do yourself. having said that The Denby Dale House built by Green Building Store quotes figures of
£141K build costs
118m2 three-bed detached house.
But the figure you need must be based on the exact house you are building. So many people underestimate the costs. How many times have you seen a grand design come in ahead of time and under budget. The big variable is the site development, foundations etc. Also the passivhaus market is not well developed yet so many of the products need to be imported.

[Geoff Stow]

have you thought about the Greenshop. It is a nice building with lots of exciting features plus lots of stuff to look at.

http://www.greenshop.co.uk/

The Greenshop
Cheltenham Road
Bisley
Stroud
Gloucestershire
GL6 7BX

A good contact is Roger. I don't know if they have a meeting room.

Geoff

[Geoff Stow]

Prior to Friday it would be good to know exactly what the position is with PHB as I think we have all picked up bits of the story.
This only needs to be bullit points.
Legal position of PHB
Financial information, amount spent, amount committed to etc.
The web site who owns and runs it.
Activities we are committed top, courses etc.
Liz's contract.
Are we committed to founder members if so what is the commitment.

I will prepare information on the conference following the discussion on the forum.

[Geoff Stow]

We have had a reply from CAT and they are keen for us to be there. The costs are OK, about the same as most venues.
£35.00 per delegate per day
£15.00 for evening meal with use of the bar.
The new areas in wise will be good for socialising.
If we put on an exhibition space we can open it to the public.
There is rooms for speakers (not cheap £70 single)
It has been a popular option from members on feed back forms.
CAT have good contacts for accommodation. Camping close by.
May be able to get George Mombiot to attend in some form.
Good to visit John Williamson's buildings.

It is a bit out of the way. Although it may not be cutting edge in terms of energy it does have a lot of other interesting features which the members could learn from.

On other venues
Durham is too out of the way I think.
Our contact at Cardiff University has left but she has given me a new contact which I could chase up.
As already said Sheepgrove is very expensive and no local accommodation.
Create Centre in Bristol is not big enough.
Manchester is a good area but I had a brief look and couldn't find a venue but may be worth following up.

As a point of interest I spoke with companies house and we no longer have to have an AGM under the companies act 2006.

So my suggestion is that we go with CAT. If we hold off we will miss out on the novelty of a new venue. By October CAT should have sorted out any bugs in their systems.

Just got feed back from Paola Sassi who was the contact at Cardiff, she said she would prefer to go to WISE.

[Author]

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