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With stirrings of spring there are a host of eco-renovation spring openings lined up. See the list below for the Oxfordshire open Homes events in section 3. There is also an eco-renovation event as part of the ‘Conversations with the Earth’ festial on Saturday 12th March, further info in section 4.
Oxfordshire Eco-renovation Update – March 2011
1. In the NewsFigures released by OFGEM at the end of 2010 show a considerable increase in FITs take up over the second quarter of the new scheme introduced in April 2010: http://green.sustainablehomes.co.uk/blog/bid/54150/Ofgem-reports-surging-uptake-of-Feed-in-tariffs?dm_i=8T3,DFR1,WE0AA,12AE5,1 Feed in tariff review: http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/1624/Feed-in+tariff+review%273A+an+update/?utm_source=InTouch&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=YouGen%20News%20February%202011_CC2A24BF90CC4B829603FC6357 How warm is your home? Our homes are getting warmer just as the powers-that-be are asking us to turn our thermostats down. How cool is too cool for a house? < http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/magazine-12606943 >
2. Resource:If you’ve ever wondered how a PV module is made, here’s a great little video to show you:How a PV panel is made - courtesy of the US Discovery Channel http://www.greenspec.co.uk/pv-cells.php
3. Open Homes eventsAs promised, here is the list of upcoming events. Some are general events, and some focus on a specific technology. PLEASE BOOK IN ADVANCE FOR ALL THESE EVENTS BY USING THE WEB LINKS PROVIDED. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE FOR BOOKING, CONTACT MalcolmCro[at]aol.com or call Malcolm on 01865 351984. Important note: If you have booked for an event in the past couple of weeks using the website, please book again via the website, as there were a few bugs which have now been ironed out! Click to see dates of further events . Sun 6th March 2011, 2-6pm Marchwood Eco-house70% of the houses in the UK today will be in use in 2050. Will they be fit for use? By then nearly all combustion will be banned, energy will be produced from renewables, to meet existing national targets. Electricity will be in short supply and may be rationed so houses will have to use it efficiently. This is the reason for our humble attempt at a 2050 house - an ordinary house renovated to be as efficient as possible with no oil, coal or combustion. We have ground source heating, heat recovery ventilation, LED lighting and rainwater recovery. We would like to welcome you. ** Focus on general renovation and other house features**. See case study PLEASE BOOK IN ADVANCE Sat 12th March 2011, 10am - 1pm 'Windrose'"Windrose" blends 21st century features with those of a conservation area; it is a detached new build with ground source heat pump, rainwater harvesting, under-floor heating, split insulation in the roof, and a wood-burning stove. Other features that may be of interest are floating engineered-oak floors, locally-built staircase, an outside port for chimney sweeping, and pond. See Case study PLEASE BOOK IN ADVANCE Sunday 13th March 2011, 10am - 4pm Windmill Cottage, West OxfordshireA wealth of tips for lower carbon living in a part-listed 17th century building. Measured improvements have been made with little inconvenience. In a 99 square metre house we now use 23000 kwh of gas and 2500 kwh of electricity in the year. 12 inches of loft insulation, secondary double glazing, a new gas condensing boiler, draught-proofing and curtains and blinds combine to achieve the savings. See Case study PLEASE BOOK IN ADVANCE Weds 16th March 2011, 4-7pm Marchwood Eco-house70% of the houses in the UK today will be in use in 2050. Will they be fit for use? By then nearly all combustion will be banned, energy will be produced from renewables, to meet existing national targets. Electricity will be in short supply and may be rationed so houses will have to use it efficiently. This is the reason for our humble attempt at a 2050 house - an ordinary house renovated to be as efficient as possible with no oil, coal or combustion. We have ground source heating, heat recovery ventilation, LED lighting and rainwater recovery. We would like to welcome you. ** Focus on heat recovery ventilation **. See case study PLEASE BOOK IN ADVANCESunday 27th March 2011, 2-6pm Marchwood Eco-house70% of the houses in the UK today will be in use in 2050. Will they be fit for use? By then nearly all combustion will be banned, energy will be produced from renewables, to meet existing national targets. Electricity will be in short supply and may be rationed so houses will have to use it efficiently. This is the reason for our humble attempt at a 2050 house - an ordinary house renovated to be as efficient as possible with no oil, coal or combustion. We have ground source heating, heat recovery ventilation, LED lighting and rainwater recovery. We would like to welcome you. ** Focus on underfloor heating**. See case study PLEASE BOOK IN ADVANCESunday 27th March 2011 12noon - 4pm Wind Mill Cottage, West OxfordshireA wealth of tips for lower carbon living in a part-listed 17th century building. Measured improvements have been made with little inconvenience. In a 99 square metre house we now use 23000 kwh of gas and 2500 kwh of electricity in the year. 12 inches of loft insulation, secondary double glazing, a new gas condensing boiler, draught-proofing and curtains and blinds combine to achieve the savings. See Case study PLEASE BOOK IN ADVANCE Saturday April 2nd 2011 1pm - 4pmTwo Eco-Houses in Headington will be open to the general public on Saturday April 2nd from 1pm to 4pm. 70 St Leonard's Road will interest you particularly if you are considering building an extension, or installing rainwater harvesting. The spacious extension has a timber frame, is clad with cedar and roofed with cedar shingles. It is insulated with fleece and kept warm by under-floor heating supplied by solar panels. Rainwater is supplied to the toilets, washing machine and outside tap. All windows are wooden double glazed and natural paint is used throughout. Improvements to this typical three bedroom semi have reduced the carbon emissions by 60%. Detailed pictures of the work as it proceeded at the St Leonard's Road house are available at http://www.sageoxford.org.uk/ecohouse . The owners of 29 Stapleton Road have dealt very successfully with problems of insulating a house with no cavity wall by installing internal and external wood-fibre insulation, covered with lime render / plaster. The insulation was installed without compromising the period features of this Edwardian home. Other environmental improvements include wooden, double-glazed sash windows, hemp under floor insulation, solar water heating, a light pipe, a wood-burning stove and low energy lights and appliances. See case study. More details of both homes can be found on the Superhomes web site.
4. Upcoming meetings
4.1 Sat March 12th 3.15 – 5pm Two talks at the Old Bookbinders, 9 Green Street (off Leopold Street) East Oxford, OX4 1YB, as part of the Conversations with the Earth festival. 3.15 – 4pm: Is Solar energy for me? Dr Christian N. Jardine, of solar energy installers Joju, explains the relative merits and costs of installing solar thermal and solar PV systems. Talk followed by Q&A. 4.10 – 5pm: 'Insulation and Refurbishment: Options and Regulations' with Richard Twinch, architect www.twinchdesign.co.uk Talk followed by Q&As. Information about a host of other ‘Conversations with the Earth events is available from their website: http://www.wix.com/conversationsearth/festival .
4.2 Meeting: Wednesday 30 March 6.30 - 8.00pm Clean energy cash back Cherwell District Council, Bodicote House, Bodicote, Banbury, OX15 4AA Did you know organisations and individuals can be paid for generating electricity or heat from a range of renewable technologies like solar panels, wood heated boilers and micro wind? If you are thinking about installing a renewable technology come and find out more about the Feed in Tariff (FIT) and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). This event will feature speakers from the Energy Savings Trust.
The event is free, but please let us know if you would like to attend by e-mailing ClimateChange@cherwell-dc.gov.uk or calling 01295 221957 by 23 March 2011.
5. Discount on ground or air source heat pump installationOxford-based heating and plumbing engineers, aqueco are offering just one household in Oxfordshire the chance to have a ground-source or air-source heat pump installed at a heavily discounted price. The opportunity is part of their drive to gain Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) approval. This great offer could save somebody hundreds of pounds on their heat pump installation.
Terms and Conditions apply. aqueco are environmentally responsible plumbing and heating engineers committed to helping you to improve energy and water efficiency in your home. For more details, please contact Nick Atkinson on: 0845 872 3255, email: mail@aqueco.co.uk, or via the website www.aqueco.co.uk . For more information about the MCS scheme, visit http://www.microgenerationcertification.org For more information about the Renewable Heat Incentive, visit http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Sell-your-own-energy/Renewable-Heat-Incentive For more information about the REAL Assurance Scheme, see www.realassurance.org.uk * aqueco is in the process of applying for REAL Assurance Scheme membership, but is not currently a member.
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