The recent Annual Conference of AECB highlighted the different philosophies of those eco-renovating their houses. The 3 presenters each came from a slightly different viewpoint and this determined the priorities and compromises they made.
For example one renovator believed that a wood burning stove used material that was sustainable and so achieved their project objectives. Heat pumps were rejected as expensive and users of electricity generated from fossil fuels.
My viewpoint is based on the deep cuts in emissions and the need for carbon capture that would be needed to restore the CO2 levels to 350 ppm, the pre industrial level which might eventually restore the Arctic Ice Cap.
To achieve this electricity would have to be generated totally without combustion and virtually all combustion would be banned or severely rationed.
This is where the heat pump comes in as it then uses carbon free electricity. The cost is high but not so high in relation to other elements of a house. I could see a government loan scheme to enable all suitable houses to be converted compulsorily.
It is to test this scenario that we are starting our eco-renovation at Marchwood.
It would be great to learn of other philosophies and to debate them.
