[Julia Bennett]

I came across this one recently but have no experience of its performance.

http://www.constructionresources.com/products/services/essolar.asp?PageCategoryID=4

Joolz

[Julia Bennett]

Bright Green (!)

I'm guessing you are thinking that the roof surface in summer is more plastic at the higher temperatures and therefore more vulnerable to the pots damaging its integrity.

Some kind of enclosed sand bed perhaps?
Or a framed turf bed with sedum tucked in for longevity ? (see DIY Green Roof thread)
Anything 'soft' that spreads the load of the pots and stabilises the temperature of the roof beneath…..

What about pots all around a large shallow pool for rainwater collection (for watering) and summer cooling…? You'll never get the staff to go indoors!
Just a thought.
Joolz

[Julia Bennett]

Ben
After all that lovely discussion, what did you do in the end?

I'm planning to build an open-sided shed for clothes drying during work days / all weather kids play, etc., with a sedum roof in the next few months and would love to hear how you got on.

Already I've twigged that I need to build in some sockets now into the membrane to receive future tilted frames for PV panels, or come up with a penetration-free fixing solution…. (cogs stirring 🙂 ).
Joolz

[Julia Bennett]

OK Paul. Keep me posted.
Sounds like it might be a plan to go for sharing a hire as a Stage 1 anyway.
Joolz

[Julia Bennett]

Ruari

Have come across some of that material before and forgotten about it – doh! Brain too full.
Very nice to be guided back to it, esp. Irish retrofit guidelines for passive house, which seems juicy at second scan. I recommend it to anyone else reading this:
http://www.sei.ie/Publications/Renewables_Publications/Passive_House_Retrofit_Guidelines.pdf

Thanks for other experience too. Makes me think maybe 65 is a moderately decent starting point for rubble stone walled barn.
J

[Julia Bennett]

In partial answer to my own question, I just found this Green Building Forum thread:

http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/forum114/comments.php?DiscussionID=4097&page=1#Item_12

Still keen to hear what this Forum thinks, though also now wondering whether I need to look more widely at the various tools available…

If I find more answers for myself (!) I will post them here.
J

[Julia Bennett]

Oh what sad news. I knew him from ACTAC days and haven't seen him for years. I remember him always with a quiet smile, a warm sense of humour, a calm and collaborative energy, and a great big heart. Thanks for letting us know, Geoff.
Joolz

[Julia Bennett]

Hi David

Just a thought….
In areas and cases where these installations need planning, you will find information on local authority planning registers.

Quite a few RSLs (registered social landlords) have case studies – they may be another source to try.

Good luck
Julia

[Julia Bennett]

Thanks for that Nick.

That's the 2nd recommendation for the book in a week so I'm off to read it, to see if 'we are all doomed'.
(Somehow that comes out in a very Scottish accent, even for me).
I can't believe you feel you struggle with Maths though…

Joolz

[Julia Bennett]

Hey Nick Devlin

Your email is hidden, so can on;y reach you through this thread.
Please get in touch.
Old MSc buddies and tutors were asking after you at AECB Conf at Brookes.

Joolz Bennett

[Julia Bennett]

Hi Sara

Sounds good.
Is your client a member of the AECB?
This forum in particular is a fabulous resource of informal case studies, contacts and information-sharing and sounds right up their street.
Sometimes its hard to reconcile how organisations can reap the experience of people for case studies (like your request) without always joining in and contributing to the flow of learning. I'm sure your client has much to contribute, as does your own organisation through the work of talented Arups people I've met like Francesca Galeazzi and tools like SPEAR. If the evaluation of how useful these things are came back to networks like this, the cumulative benefit for sustainability would be greater…..

We've just had the most amazing AECB Annual Conference where the network's culture of sharing experience and knowledge is brought to the fore in such fruitful and inspiring ways, and without the usual commercial fears of giving away something, because everyone gives and gains.
Just food for thought perhaps…

Good luck with your case studies
Joolz

[Julia Bennett]

Hi Nick

How amazing. You may know some or all of the content already, but there is a very recent Good Refurbishment Guide on Bats and Refurbishment which you can download free from this address:

http://www.brebookshop.com/details.jsp?id=325105

You may not be able to do anything this season, but to make an alternative roost for next season, it shows some of the different bat house/ box types. You will need to identify the species.
If you need advice, we use Ecology Solutions at Stow on The Wold:
http://www.ecologysolutions.co.uk/index.htm

Hope you can enjoy having them this season.
Joolz

[Julia Bennett]

I've tried to look into this myself before now when I was at Atkins. It depends on the cost model and how far into whole life issues – such as the ones Chris touched on – you go.
You might find some good info in the RICS Library or through BRE publications.
My very quick search to see if this was a useful trail came up with this one on schools, which might help you think about the framework ( limits, inclusions, challenges, etc.) for the study:

“Putting a Price on Sustainable Schools – FB15
Author: Anna Surgenor & Ian Buterss
This report will provide an understanding of the cost benefit implications of building to BREEAM ratings and low/zero-carbon standards. One of the principal barriers to the wider adoption of more sustainable design and construction solutions is the perception that they may cost much more.

Evidence collected by BRE and Faithful+Gould disproves this assumption. This BRE Trust-funded report identifies the additional capital costs associated with a range of sustainable and low- or zero-carbon solutions for a primary and secondary school, demonstrating that significant improvements in the sustainability performance of a building can be achieved at little additional cost. This information is critical as the government drives forward the construction of sustainable schools.

IHS BRE Press ISBN: 9781848060197 Item Code: 17538 Paperback May 2008″

Good luck with the search and if you find anything useful, place share it back with this network.
Joolz

[Julia Bennett]

Thanks Paul, was wondering where you had got to these days.
Hope you are thriving at Aldas Ltd.

V. helpful comments to add in with questions and comments from others above.
The house is in Moreton-in-Marsh in Glos so may call you about that test.
I'm still developing a draft method so it would be V. useful to talk it through when I have sketched it all out.

More anon.
Joolz

[Julia Bennett]

Thank you all.
Great input/ questions/ info to challenge and further the query.

I mentioned this issue in passing to my Dad the other day and he produced a hand-held laser temp gauge (which he uses for tinkering/ modifying his 1936 racing car engine!).
Not as smart as the one Nick mentioned, but a start.
I'm going to get some thermometers and try to take some internal and external measurements (amateur style) and see if it's worth taking further when I have some initial – if rough – data.

Thanks again everyone.
Love this forum.

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