A low energy house:
The house designed for the site is intended to have very low energy needs and be extremely economical to run. This is achieved by the following measures:
ORIENTATION:
The house is designed with its long axis north-south, with the majority of the glazing, including roof glazing, facing south, and the north elevation predominantly blank. This is to maximise the amount of solar heat gain, which is of benefit not just when the sun is shining, but generally during daylight.
INSULATION:
The roof, external walls, windows, lower floors and retaining walls where appropriate are all intended to be insulated to a high standard, which is reflected in the costings. The building should also be completed to be as air-tight as possible, to limit heat loss
HEAT RECOVERY:
The design incorporates a heat recovery system, housed in the east end of the roof space. This will not only recover heat from sources such as the kitchen and bathrooms but also from the roof storage area, which has south-facing roof windows specifically to provide excess heat from solar gain, which the heat recovery system will then distribute to other parts of the house.
SUPPLEMENTARY HEATING:
The above design features should reduce the amount of heat input needed to maintain a comfortable environment. To provide for the remaining needs of the house, the design shows a wood-burning stove in the Living Room, and incorporates a small air-source heat pump to provide hot water (which could be supplemented by solar panels if required) and supplementary heating. The intention is that this extra heating would be provided by incorporating a heating element from the heat pump in the heat recovery ducting, to boost the temperature of the circulated air when required.
ORIENTATION:
The house is designed with its long axis north-south, with the majority of the glazing, including roof glazing, facing south, and the north elevation predominantly blank. This is to maximise the amount of solar heat gain, which is of benefit not just when the sun is shining, but generally during daylight.
INSULATION:
The roof, external walls, windows, lower floors and retaining walls where appropriate are all intended to be insulated to a high standard, which is reflected in the costings. The building should also be completed to be as air-tight as possible, to limit heat loss
HEAT RECOVERY:
The design incorporates a heat recovery system, housed in the east end of the roof space. This will not only recover heat from sources such as the kitchen and bathrooms but also from the roof storage area, which has south-facing roof windows specifically to provide excess heat from solar gain, which the heat recovery system will then distribute to other parts of the house.
SUPPLEMENTARY HEATING:
The above design features should reduce the amount of heat input needed to maintain a comfortable environment. To provide for the remaining needs of the house, the design shows a wood-burning stove in the Living Room, and incorporates a small air-source heat pump to provide hot water (which could be supplemented by solar panels if required) and supplementary heating. The intention is that this extra heating would be provided by incorporating a heating element from the heat pump in the heat recovery ducting, to boost the temperature of the circulated air when required.