Our house will stop burning gas by the end of 2024.
Year |
Gas consumption (kWh) |
2021 | 5,157 | |
2022 | 3,180 | |
2023* | 2,865 | ↑ 25% |
*2023 consumption from 1st January to 17th October 2023. Comparison is for the same period in 2022.
Roadmap
In November 2022 we had a Retrofit Assessment from People Powered Retrofit.
This gave us a great roadmap to a fossil-fuel-free house. It also alerted us to
big problems with our ventilation and air quality.
We’ve chosen to improve these areas:
- Ventilation - in progress
- Loft - autumn 2023
- Windows - autumn/winter 2023
- Walls - autumn/winter 2023
- Heat pump - spring 2024
Progress so far:
Next up, roughly:
- Replace loft hatch with air-tight model.
- Install mechanical ventilation to balance air-tightness efforts.
- Replace knackered uPVC windows with triple glazing with insulated reveals, cills & heads.
- Re-do loft boarding and install 350-400mm² mineral wool insulation.
- Replace roof soffits including wind diverters.
- Replace hot water tank with unvented type.
- Install ~4kW heat pump.
Resources
Progress log and notes
August 2023
- signed contract with People Powered Retrofit to make a Home Retrofit Plan
- sent window dimensions and layouts to Ecospheric for initial price
- cleared a load of wood from loft in prep for replacing boarding
- measured joists, trusses, loft hatch etc and modelled in Sketchup
- ordered air tight loft hatch (AT15) with U value 0.15 W/m²K
- received new loft hatch. measured and double checked dimensions.
destroyed removed architrave from loft hatch
- Ordered 6mm thick timber
to reduce the width of the loft hatch between joists. The new airtight loft
hatch needs a very precise hole to mate with its foam seals.
September 2023
- Emailed:
- Installed timber strips into loft hatch, flush with ceiling plaster.
- Installed loft hatch into position. The ceiling needs fixing but the position and seal look good.
- Drew dMEV design onto floorplan
- Finished draft ventilation design, sent to People Powered Retrofit
- Ordered ventilation fans, acoustic ventilators, CO₂ sensors
- Emailed Retrofit Windows in Shrewsbury
(suggested by Ecospheric as they offer supply and install)
- Pestered People Powered Retrofit to start the Home Retrofit Plan