Contact →

Author: Robin Goldberg

  • HPH205 : Specifying a house and creating tender documents – with Dan Higginbotham

    HPH205 : Specifying a house and creating tender documents – with Dan Higginbotham

    Architectural technologist Dan Higginbotham from Parsons + Whittley Architects talks about producing construction drawings and a scheme of works from an architect’s design.

    Interview with Dan Higginbotham

    Dan has worked with Parsons + Whittley for over 15 years, as an architectural technician and now also as a director. He has recently been working on Ben and Kay’s project and previous work includes housing developments built to Passivhaus standard.

    The architectural technologist details how the building is constructed

    Dan’s usual role is taking the architect’s 3D conceptual model and making a full set of construction drawings that someone can actually build from. These include plans, elevations and sections. As he says, “What we try to give them is a comprehensive package of information that they’re able to sit down and accurately price.”

    For a Passivhaus like Ben’s, more detail is required to ensure airtightness and avoid thermal bridges. Dan explains that there’s less risk with a house only satisfying building regs, as it would probably still pass if not sealed to such a high standard.

    Being methodical helps identify all the details

    Dan admits that things can get missed during this complex process. He tries to avoid this by following the same method each time but this is hard as he mostly works on one-off projects.

    Additional complexity comes from the many different methods of construction, and the level of sustainability clients are trying to achieve. As Dan summarises, “Although you can re-use ideas that you’ve done before, you generally have to start the whole process again depending on how people want to construct it.”

    Keeping industry knowledge current is important

    New products and resources may result in faster or more sustainable construction and better dwellings overall. Dan explains, “You’re forever learning new things, new technologies, new ways to construct things, and we just somehow have to try and keep up with that process and the industry, really.”

    Up-to-date knowledge might come from “build indexes”, forums, word of mouth, or working for a particular client. For example, a housing association might require modern construction methods or certain levels of sustainability. Dan has also found big social housing sites useful for finding out about cost-effective materials or shortages.

    Cost, simplicity, speed and specifications all affect construction decisions

    A shortage of materials could affect how you design or build things. Ben and Kay’s house will use a traditional cavity build method but this decision was threatened by a shortage of concrete blocks just before work started. Likewise, a current shortage of PIR means seeking alternative insulation materials.

    Deciding on construction materials and methods is a whole team process, with input from Dan, architect John, and practice partner Chris. It helped that Ben and Kay had already selected the finishes of the building envelope. The render finish and brick plinth suggested a cavity wall as cost-effective and simple to build, albeit with more insulation than is traditional.

    Items specified may change at a later point

    Looking at drawings for Ben’s build shows the level of detail required. The elevation showing the joinery specifies some items that they will not necessarily end up with. For example, after various discussions, an alternative supplier may provide the windows. Dan says this is quite normal: he prefers to obtain an accurate cost from a supplier rather than leave the cost as a provisional sum.

    The floor plan shows 150 mm of insulation in the cavity wall, enough for this relatively large property to get through the Passive House Planning Package. Although Dan specified high performing Knauf Earth Wool (with a thermal conductivity of 0.032 W/mK), the contractor may choose an equivalent mineral wool.

    Ecological aspirations need to be balanced with budget

    The section of the different floors shows lots of junctions that need to be considered, especially because it’s a Passivhaus. Dan tended towards methods and materials familiar to most builders rather than potentially expensive ecological features.

    Another requirement was that height be kept to that specified on the planning drawings, so Dan avoided any ecological products where more material was needed for the same performance values. He explains the choices as detailed on the section:

    • A strip foundation supports a cavity wall construction.
    • The first floor is beam and block containing PIR insulation to give a thin but solid construction with the performance needed. Above is a screed with membranes and airtightness products in between.
    • The floor and walls specify a very lightweight Aircrete block to get the best performance while minimising thermal bridging at the junction of the wall and floor.
    • The internal walls are traditional studwork or blockwork where necessary for support.
    • The second floor uses a pre-manufactured metal web floor joist (or Posi-joist) that gives a structurally sound floor with space to route the MVHR and other services without having to laboriously cut holes.
    • At the top is a fairly standard, traditional truss roof, with a more complex catslide roof to the rear. To avoid complex steelwork and associated thermal bridges and/or airtightness problems, the roofing truss suppliers came up with a truss that could form the catslide as well.

    Sections help contractors avoid thermal bridges and ensure airtightness

    Drawing more sections is useful where there are difficult details in the building, including all the junctions. Where each part of the building is different, more drawings may be required. Ben’s Passivhaus is fairly linear, but Dan was careful to show all the construction details so nothing would be missed.

    The four sections include one of the garage, one “typical” house section, one of the stairwell arrangement, and one showing the ground-to-first-floor French door, window and boarded panel arrangement.

    Developing the electrical plan is iterative

    Dan uses his experience to determine locations for electrical points, taking into account where the furniture will go. However, these positions might change later. As he says, “Each client will have their own input, particularly on light fittings and lighting locations.”

    A flexible space, for example the spare bedroom doubling as a study, can take more time to work out, as he explains to Ben, “Once we’ve actually physically got the space on site, yourself and Kay might then go, ‘No, actually I want a few more sockets here.’” This is typical of the process: educated guesses on paper are reappraised once the rooms are built.

    The team liaise with a consultant for the mechanical design

    Alan Clarke is the consultant for the mechanical systems on Ben and Kay’s project: the MVHR design, the hot and cold water supply and heating the property. Dan and the design team work with Alan on decisions like budgeting for the right boiler and the site for the MVHR.

    A major consideration is distributing the ductwork within the property. Most of the pipework is routed through the open webs of the intermediate floorspace with additional risers to the first floor. On the second floor landing a false ceiling provides a service void where ducts are routed to each room.

    The schedule of works provides more information for the contractor

    After completing the drawing package, Dan itemises every detail in the schedule of works. Reading this document alongside the construction drawings enables the contractor to produce a priced specification and to understand the methods and materials of the project.

    Find out more

    View Dan’s profile on LinkedIn

    Visit the website of Parsons + Whittley

    Transcript

    Download a transcript of the interview with Dan Higginbotham

    Please connect with me

  • HPH203 : Putting craftsmanship at the centre of your eco build – with Will Anderson

    HPH203 : Putting craftsmanship at the centre of your eco build – with Will Anderson

    Author and self-builder Will Anderson talks about realising his self-build dream not once but twice!

    Interview with Will Anderson

    Will describes himself as “a writer, actor, builder and craftsman”. His account of his first self-build was published in The Independent newspaper and is now available to buy as a book. His previous work has included writing and contributing to other publications with an environmental angle.

    A tree inspired a house with high environmental standards

    Around the year 2000, Will Anderson and his partner snapped up a rare South London plot. The very big tree it housed inspired the name and design of Tree House: a house that would work like a tree. Wanting to do their very best for that plot meant building a house that was not only wonderful to live in, but had the very best ecological performance.

    Will says any extra costs were justified by long term savings, adding, “If you built a house that had the very best environmental performance, it would also, hopefully, be the very best for you.”

    Technology helped Tree House achieve its ambitious goals

    Will was interested in the Passivhaus standard and had even contacted Wolfgang Feist, but in 2004 it wasn’t an established approach in the UK. So Will worked with his architect, Peter Smithdale of Constructive Individuals, to deliver a house that was self-sufficient in energy and “zero carbon”. To manage this meant combining a fabric first approach with “quite a lot of technology”.

    The high-performance house included a PV cell array, and a hot water panel. Furthermore, a ground source heat pump was installed in boreholes in the small plot. Will says this tried and tested technology continues to work very well, explaining, “They’re quite simple bits of technology compared to boilers.”

    Will built with the plot next door in mind

    Tree House was detached, but they knew that eventually it would become semi-detached, as there was a plot next door. Thinking ahead, Will avoided putting windows on the northern elevation that would become a party wall.

    The people who owned the garden in question appreciated the consideration and gave him first option when they decided to sell the land. He took the chance to build his second house, The Orchard.

    Where the two houses meet

    Will had to overcome issues of planning and party walls

    Building onto a detached property presented some challenges. For example, the render board had to be removed from Tree House and another timber frame wall built and filled with insulation. Furthermore the two walls couldn’t be attached (apart from some metal ties at the very top) to ensure acoustic isolation.

    Getting the right design and gaining planning permission took a long time too, but one of the biggest problems was the party wall agreement. Will advises getting a really good party wall surveyor and paying attention to the detail of the party wall award, adding, “You need to just make sure you’re properly protected.”

    The Orchard has an improved fabric but less technology

    Will wanted The Orchard to use less technology but still be very comfortable. This meant improving the fabric of the house in order to cut out the heating system. Contractors and materials were more familiar with Passivhaus principles by then and The Orchard benefitted from a purpose built external airtight layer.

    The Orchard is ventilated non-mechanically, a deliberate decision on Will’s part. He is very pleased with their Ventive passive heat recovery ventilation system, commenting, “We’ve got a completely draft free, stable interior temperature, but we still have good air quality without having all the business of mechanical ventilation.”

    Heat-recovery ventilation cowls

    Will wanted to get more hands-on second time around

    Helping finish the building of Tree House gave Will enough confidence to get more involved the second time around, although he says, “You need to know your limits, obviously”. So, even though he had done a bricklaying course, he called on an experienced bricklayer when he lost confidence on the garden wall after the tenth course of bricks.

    Some subcontractors will have their own helpers and will want to do all their work on their own terms. But Will says there are others who won’t mind you joining in. For example, given Will had some experience, the frame company, Touchwood Homes were very happy for him to lend a hand.

    The Arts and Crafts Movement inspired Will’s labour of love

    As part of the house building process, Will made his own workbench. That it has remained part of the main room says much about Will’s love of handmade items. The Orchard is inspired by the Arts and Crafts Movement and its architects, many of whose houses he has visited. What he likes so much is “the handcrafted approach, the delight in materials and in a kind of clean but very rich design.”

    Although he started without any craft skills, Will learnt a lot of trades to build The Orchard, including ceramics, even making tiles from their excavated foundations clay. To find the right course Will recommends trying out what’s local. He found one reasonably nearby in Croydon, where he learnt joinery, bricklaying and plastering. He went further afield for the more specialist skills: cabinet making in Kent and stained glass making at the Working Men’s College in North London.

    Learning skills had to be balanced with designing and building

    At the design stage, Will was already thinking about how to incorporate these crafts aspects, meaning careful planning was needed. He admits it was tricky to move between design, doing courses and starting on site and keep it all going at the same time.

    For example, the open-plan kitchen in the main living space had to be part of the overall design to make sure it would fit in: it was built long before the house! Likewise the two-storey, triple-glazed, staircase window, finished with stained glass, was always part of the design.

    Self-builders need support and patience, and to understand the industry

    Will says that self-building with no experience isn’t so hard if you get the right people to do the right jobs and you have enough patience. Understanding how the building industry works is important too. For example, Will advises being flexible rather than getting frustrated if builders don’t start when they said they would. “In the building industry, that’s absolutely standard. Not because builders are unreliable, but because people’s timetables and schedules are always shifting,” he explains.

    New technology can help with using reclaimed materials

    Will has used reclaimed materials in both houses. For example the parquet flooring uses African, Australian and Asian woods that would be impossible to source sustainably today. Modern glues can “recharge the bitumen”, so it didn’t need to be removed. This made the process easier but it was still labour intensive, especially as each room used a different wood and a different pattern.

    The blocks of wood had to be cleaned then set out properly. Will’s method was to build out from a long spine of blocks down the middle of the room. Care was needed to avoid the pattern going wonky and having to cut blocks to fit them in. Next everything was sanded down to a new surface and then oiled. Will reflects, “A massive, massive amount of work that was. But I absolutely love it.”

    Careful planning has paid off

    As the name suggests, Will wanted to build an urban orchard. He knew he wouldn’t get big machinery to the back of the house after it was built, so before he started building he replaced a lot of the poor soil with “really good quality muck”. Now the front and back gardens are densely planted with fruit trees and outside the thermal envelope are a larder and a conservatory where Will grows more tender fruit.

    As so much of the house is hand made it has been a long project, but all the work and planning was worthwhile. Will says, “We’ve taken a long time over it. But we’re going to be here forever, so that’s okay.”

    Links

    Diary of an eco-builder

     

    Transcript

    Download a transcript of the interview with Will Anderson

     

    Please connect with me

  • HPH199 : The challenges of building close to your boundaries – with Oliver Smallman

    HPH199 : The challenges of building close to your boundaries – with Oliver Smallman

    Self-builder Oliver Smallman tells us about planning, building and living in his London Passivhaus.

    © Tim Wilcockson

    Interview with Oliver Smallman

    Oliver and his wife are not absolute beginners at self-building. They co-designed a house in Corfu where they have lived on and off for 27 years. As Oliver sums it up, “Probably not the best design I’ve ever seen in the world, but with the most remarkable view.”

    Photo courtesy of RDA (http://www.rdauk.com/)

    A rare chance to build green in London

    While the Corfu project was a tremendous experience, Oliver had no intention of self-building again. However, when he had an opportunity to buy a house in Chiswick, with an unusually large garden, he saw the chance to use new, ecological building methods to build a Passivhaus.

    © Tim Wilcockson

    The sunken design meant opting for concrete

    Oliver designed his Passivhaus with Richard Dudzicki, of RDA Architects. They originally planned to use Structural Insulated Panels but the site was very constrained and Richard saw the potential for sinking the house below ground. Thus they chose a piled site and a concrete build.

    Oliver had already fallen in love with the use of boarded concrete and explains, “The concrete walls on the interior, boarded and plain and smooth, were always in the plan.” The mixture of textures is part of what Oliver calls, “concrete as a look”; they even allowed the errors of the pouring to remain.

    © Tim Wilcockson

    The brief called for concrete, convenience and light

    As well as using concrete, Oliver wanted to avoid the house being dark. He says lots of glazing along the south of the house works well for a Passivhaus.

    In terms of style, he had grown used to travelling in his work life and Oliver appreciates functional touches like having the lights over your bed and the switch at hand. “It’s a little bit “hotel-y” but it really suits me,” he says.

    © Tim Wilcockson

    Neighbours objected to the modern design

    Although the planning application was recommended for approval, about 40 local residents came to the planning meeting with extremely negative reactions and three councillors stopped the application.

    One reason given was excessive size, despite the majority of the house being underground. They also argued the house was not “in keeping with the area” but Oliver has a different perspective, asking, “Why would you build a replica of a house that was built in 1949 or 1950? You’d be mad!”

    © Tim Wilcockson

    Repeated planning applications didn’t just pay lip service

    Rather than sacrifice his contemporary design, Oliver tried to absorb feedback to gain his neighbours’ support. This meant some meaningful compromises where the design was blended in. For example, Oliver chose to match the white exterior walls and bricks of the other houses in the road.

    A smaller second design allowed more green space, but the application was rejected again. Oliver then lost his appeal on the grounds that he wasn’t providing parking. Further reducing the top floor enabled off-street parking to be included in the next application.

    © Tim Wilcockson

    Getting planning consent took four applications

    Having seen the application a number of times, twelve Council members gave up their Saturday morning to come and look at the site. The opposition party made representations but Oliver says they made the mistake of behaving rudely. As he explains, “I think the Council officers probably thought, ‘You lot are nuts and this guy’s doing something perfectly reasonable.’”

    At the next vote, the same three councillors objected, but the others disagreed, so planning permission was finally granted four years into the process. Oliver notes that the final design fits the street and has become accepted. The modern house is softened by use of greenery and locally appropriate materials.

    © Tim Wilcockson

    Research led to the right concrete and windows

    Although Oliver was inspired by the use of concrete in stations like Westminster, his design contrasts it with wooden floors. In addition, he used Portland Whitener to lighten the colour. Oliver went to the Concrete Centre and signed up for the course in concrete pouring. “You can’t just phone up a concrete company and they bring you concrete and pour it and then it looks like this,” he says.

    Oliver also did a lot of research to find the right triple-glazed windows. He has been happy with the certified Passivhaus windows and service provided by Internorm.

    © Tim Wilcockson

    A tight urban site presented challenges

    The eight by eighteen metre site meant building close to boundary walls. The existing house had to be underpinned and Oliver needed to protect his neighbour’s house and cherry tree while digging a four-metre hole within three metres of them. To give Oliver the security to start digging out, a specialist company was used to sink the concrete piles.

    Digging a large hole on such a tight site meant that space for storage and machinery was permanently on the move. As Oliver says, “It’s like a dance. When we were piling it, the piler would be in one corner, the concrete machine would have to be in another one.” They even built a platform to put the digger on to remove the last piece of soil.

     

    © Tim Wilcockson

    The Passivhaus offers comfortable, healthy living

    When the house was complete, Oliver actually rented it out for a while. Staying in his existing draughty house meant he appreciated the difference even more when he moved in. Three things surprised him. Firstly, how quiet the concrete-built, triple-glazed house is. Secondly, the fantastic air quality and thirdly, living draught free, with the same temperature everywhere.

    Oliver isn’t dogmatic about the Passivhaus method but is extremely satisfied. “There may well be better solutions in the future, but I’ve now had the opportunity to live in this house for nearly a year and I absolutely love it,” he says.

    © Tim Wilcockson

    Leaving a legacy costs more

    Oliver’s house is designed to last and be efficient. As he explains, “I’m trying to build something that uses very little power and little energy, and I’ll be long gone but it’ll be a very valuable asset either for my own children or for somebody else.” In fact, he says his energy costs are easily under £500 a year.

    However, Oliver admits the build cost more than he’d intended, saying, “I thought I could do it for £400,000 and I built it for £600,000 finished.” Digging out the soil had been much more expensive due to bad weather. Moreover, he could have saved on some specifications but paid more for feel and durability. For example, he fell in love with the floor in the Saatchi Gallery. He reveals it cost “a crazy amount of money” but the untreated Douglas Fir will last hundreds of years and could be sanded a thousand times.

    © Tim Wilcockson

    Oliver’s tips for self-builders

    Commercial builders tend to avoid low energy builds as they are less profitable, but Oliver remarks that the more people who put up good buildings, the more the country as a whole will benefit.

    His key advice is to persevere. As well as using Google for research, he has two other top tips for green builders:

    Find out more

    UK Passivhaus Awards 2016

    RDA Architects

     

    Watch a video on Chiswick Eco Lodge

    Transcript

    Download a transcript of the interview with Oliver Smallman

    Please connect with me

  • HPH197 : Taking risks, overcoming challenges and achieving outstanding results – with Jon Martin

    HPH197 : Taking risks, overcoming challenges and achieving outstanding results – with Jon Martin

    Jon Martin explains how he beat the odds with his extraordinary self-build tree house.

    Photo courtesy of Grand Designs Magazine

    Interview with Jon Martin

    Plumber Jon Martin and ceramicist Noreen Jaafar sold their high-maintenance Edwardian house to fulfil their dream of building their own home: an architecturally innovative Passivhaus that preserves the ecology of its urban plot.

    All house photos by Tomas Millar of Millar + Howard Workshop

    Local knowledge helped Jon find an urban plot

    Jon has always liked living in the town centre. He wanted to keep his fuel and energy costs and carbon footprint to a minimum. Urban plots are usually hard to come by but they managed to find one within nine months.

    Once the large, formally planted garden of a bank manager, the plot was sold off by the Royal Bank of Scotland. Although considered an eyesore locally, the plot had 28 listed trees and a rich ecology, and various planning applications had been turned down.

    Jon explained to the neighbours and council that he wanted to preserve what was there, not just “come in and butcher the area”. As a local, he thinks he may have been more readily trusted, saying, “I don’t think it had any sway but I didn’t get the resistance that I think somebody from outside might.”

    The need for surveys and outstanding design increased cost

    Jon and Noreen knew that gaining planning permission rested on their design adding outstanding architectural value to the surrounding area. Outline drawings cost a fair amount and an outstanding architect costs even more.

    In addition, they needed to reassure the planners that existing ecology, arboriculture and even archaeology could be protected. There was abundant wildlife, including bats, badgers and slow worms. Jon says, “The only thing we don’t have is a great crested newt!” Specialists were needed to establish what was present and prove it could be preserved.

    Buying without planning permission was a big risk

    Although the house hasn’t been valued, Jon believes that the plot economics have worked out. However, he probably wouldn’t take such a risk again, saying, “We bought it without planning permission, actually having been told by the local Council we wouldn’t get planning permission.”

    The plot cost £85,000 and its restrictions meant spending nearly £20,000 on surveys, meaning that the couple had borrowed £105,000 before getting planning permission. Considering their limited budget, Jon says, “It was either a very reasonably priced building plot or an incredibly expensive garden!”

    Local support and detailed designs helped their appeal

    Despite having unequivocal support from the neighbouring church and the Parish Council, the planning application was turned down. The only option was to go to appeal at the district Council. Jon went armed with a scale model showing every tree.

    The appeal went through unanimously with the application cited as an exemplar of how to enhance a town centre. They have also been given a Campaign for the Protection of Rural England award. Jon says it is rare for a house to be recognised like this but with no concrete used throughout the build, it actually “treads very lightly”.

    The design was challenging and contractors got cold feet

    Finding the right professionals wasn’t straightforward. The structural engineer needed to work with a design delicately raising cantilevered sections into the air on slender legs, surrounded by trees. Planning how the 16 piles would miss tree roots took trial and error, digging small excavation holes and where roots were found, repositioning the pile and recalculating.

    Unfortunately the first contractor they gave a deposit to went bankrupt. Moreover, Jon says that some contractors were put off by the project appearing on Grand Designs. A second contractor tendered for the contract but then got nervous and wanted to raise their price. About three years in, with only a few screw piles in the ground, Jon realised he had to take over as the main contractor.

    Building a Passivhaus provided a standard to meet

    The Passivhaus standard dictated levels for air quality, MVHR noise, duct size, energy use and temperature range. Jon says the cost of an energy consultant paid off in comfort, adding, “On a sunny day, it really does heat itself, it’s incredibly pleasant to live in.”

    The Passivhaus ‘form factor’ determined how other aspects of design had to offset the shape of the building. Jon and Noreen’s house has quite a large surface area compared to volume and Jon says, “Everything has to be proportionally better to come in under the Passivhaus benchmark.”

    Innovations in the structure and insulation benefitted the house

    The house is free from thermal bridges, achieved by a “twin skin” containing 400mm of insulation. Using open-celled spray foam insulation improved airtightness and reduced off-gassing. Jon says it is nearly impossible to get the airtightness required for a Passivhaus using slabs of insulation. With spray foam and a lot of design and taping he achieved an exceptional airtightness.

    The open-celled structure of the foam meant that off-gassing finished within two days whereas Jon says formaldehyde can come out of conventional slabs of insulation for decades. Although more of the open-celled material is needed, it breathes and is airtight and so he says it is hard to beat.

    The house was 90% built by two people in 18 months

    Jon thinks it took about 18 months of building for him and another man, with occasional help from a plasterer, an electrician and one additional man. Jon’s huge DIY effort included plumbing, putting the roof on, hauling and cutting all the timber and putting up the floors, walls and tonnes of steel.

    Although the house wasn’t completely finished when they moved in, another six months saw the bedrooms and stud walls finished off.

    Jon’s tips to keep it simple and love your build

    Jon admits that he actually hated the build process at times. They even fell ill during the difficult planning process. “Unfortunately it really does rip your soul out,” he says. Now that he is settled into the building, however, he absolutely loves it.

    House building is challenging and Jon would try to enjoy it more if he did it again. To achieve this, and come in on budget, his advice is to simplify:

    • Choose a simple design
    • Invest where it pays dividends: the fabric of the building, the insulation and the windows.
    • Save on areas you can upgrade later: the kitchen, carpets or floor material
    • Cut costs early and be honest with yourself. The buck stops with you, so make changes sooner rather than later, whether relating to contractors, materials, or unforeseen circumstances.

    Find out more

    Visit the website of Dursley Tree House

    Sign up for Jon and Noreen’s newsletter

    Transcript

    Download a transcript of the interview with Jon Martin

    Please connect with me

  • HPH195 : What is cellulose insulation? – with Gordon Lewis

    HPH195 : What is cellulose insulation? – with Gordon Lewis

    Gordon Lewis explains what cellulose insulation is, how it’s applied and why self-builders can benefit from choosing it.

    Interview with Gordon Lewis

    Gordon Lewis has been involved with cellulose insulation for over 26 years. He mainly works installing Warmcel insulation into timber-framed properties.

    Choosing insulation material is important

    Cellulose became known as an insulation product in the early 1980s. Made from recycled newspaper, it is a highly sustainable product. The newspaper is milled down to make the fibres much smaller, then fire-retardants are added.

    Gordon admits that man-made insulation materials are likely to continue in the market but he is optimistic about the alternatives, saying, “Cellulose is slowly creeping back into the marketplace and doing a great job.”

    Paper use has declined but cellulose insulation is still available

    The growth in information technology has meant a decline in the availability of newspaper for recycling. Along with overhead costs, this has resulted in some factories closing. For example, Gordon’s former employer, Excel, the sole UK manufacturer of cellulose insulation, closed down in 2014.

    Sources of newspaper and cellulose insulation do still exist, however. There is one company in Ireland and there are many more manufacturers of cellulose on the continent. Gordon uses a brand called Warmcel, which is made by CIUR in the Czech Republic and shipped to the UK.

    Any timber-framed building can incorporate cellulose insulation

    Cellulose can be used for other build methods, but is ideally suited to timber frame buildings. Because it’s made from paper, it must be fitted in a way that avoids contact with any damp surfaces. There are a number of different materials that can make the “sandwich” containing the insulation; it might be rigid board on both sides, or one side could be a membrane.

    Different boards also have different thermal performances, so it is worth thoroughly researching all the materials involved. This includes speaking to people that have had properties built, architects, builders, or the installers. Gordon says, “Ask as many questions as you possibly can to get on the right foot, to say, ‘that’s the product that I need.’”

    Cost and quantity of insulation are based on location, depth and density

    In order to calculate cost and how much product is needed, Gordon considers where the cellulose insulation’s going, the depth of the space to be filled and the density required. Locations could include internal or external walls, floors, an attic space or a sloping ceiling. Gordon uses formulae to establish how much material is required for that particular build.

    Any moisture issues must be addressed prior to installation

    Generally, before any installation is carried out with cellulose, the building needs to be wind and watertight. Cellulose will dry up and cope with a certain amount of moisture, but not too much. For example a constant leak or rainwater continually getting in to the frame would cause problems. If the doors and windows are not in, those access areas can be masked off with polythene on both sides to stop rain being driven in. Gordon will look out for water or staining on boards from rainwater that may have dried up over a day or two. To inspect for damp before installing cellulose he might drill the wall and test by hand.

    Holes in the wall allow the insulation to be pumped in

    The cellulose needs to fill voids created by the timber frames and rigid boards, and there can be hundreds of them to find. Experience gives Gordon familiarity with typical frame kits so he knows the small gaps to watch out for, and how to access them. He can also identify them from the screw patterns, looking at the drawings, speaking to whoever fitted the boards, or even asking them to mark the boards showing whether or not there’s a gap. If there’s still any doubt, he may drill a small hole to check.

    Special sealing tape is used to maintain airtightness afterwards

    Once a hole has been cut to access each void, and the insulation pumped in, the core is sealed back over the board. To make it 100% airtight, the tape must have no creases. On the job where Gordon and Ben met, the PH15 build had close to 500 holes cut and repaired. The airtightness test showed below 0.01 air changes an hour at 50 Pascal; one of the best results recorded.

    After installation, moisture problems are rare and can be rectified

    In Gordon’s experience, once the insulation’s in, it’s there for the lifetime of the building. He comments, “As long as the fabric and the structure of the building is sound, it’ll be there forever and a day.” He has had few subsequent issues, maybe three or four over 26 years. He believes those failures arose because people didn’t understand the building needed to be wind and watertight.

    If mismanagement does result in a bad leak going into the insulation, it can be replaced once the building is watertight. Gordon explains, “We have to cut a large hole in the board, if it’s not too badly damaged, or the whole board is taken off, and then all that wet insulation is totally removed before it can be replaced.”

    Experience counts but self-builders can get involved

    While Gordon has a lot of expertise in his field he encourages keen self-builders to get involved, saying, “They can get to the point where they can actually install the insulation themselves, if they want.”

    When he’s been on jobs where self-builders have helped, Gordon has supervised everything and made sure the equipment is set up right. Gordon uses a Krendl machine that breaks up the fibre, and then blows it from an airlock through the hose to the delivery point. Knowing that each cavity is full enough is mostly down to experience, but there are tests to check the density and location.

    Cellulose insulation is gaining popularity

    Gordon sees a growth in using cellulose insulation in line with a wider increase in green building techniques. More people are demanding greener products and want the benefits of Warmcel or another cellulose product.

    He sees the market increasing slowly, saying, “People are looking to recycle as much as they possibly can. Whether it be the insulation, the boards, all sorts of things, and sourcing the material as locally as possible.”

     

    Find out more

    Visit the website of CIUR

    Transcript

    Download a transcript of the interview with Gordon Lewis

    Why the location of a self build is an eco consideration

    Ben Adam-Smith reflects on one aspect of his last house that he absolutely loved: its location. It was close to local amenities, and meant that Ben did a lot more walking and only needed one car for the whole family!

    Please connect with me

  • HPH194 : What are the hidden costs of building a house? – with Paul Testa

    HPH194 : What are the hidden costs of building a house? – with Paul Testa

    Paul Testa from Paul Testa Architecture talks about how to predict the costs of a house build and shares his tips on limiting a self-build budget.

    Interview with Paul Testa

    Architect Paul Testa’s interest in construction led to coordinating and teaching the technology course for the MArch in Architecture at Sheffield University. He’s also a tutor and lecturer for the Sustainable Architectural Studies Masters course at Sheffield University. He is a member of AECB (Association for Environment Conscious Building).

    Build cost is not necessarily ‘cost per square metre’

    Paul aims to help clients gain realistic expectations of their project’s costs. They start by assuming a mid-range, bespoke new-build would cost roughly £1500 a square metre. They then use their cost calculator to add in additional costs, taking into account factors like slope of the site, higher specification and external works.

    To price the whole project, Paul says self-builders should include connecting utilities, landscaping, and contingency in the overall build cost. If an architect or builder prices your project at £1500 a square metre, remember this may not include all the costs of the build.

    A steeply sloping site

    Fees are affected by more than just project size

    It is important to have accurate cost predictions for your build and these do not just relate to square metres. Paul explains that the cost of consultants isn’t tied to the size so much as the complexity of the project.

    Some costs, such as surveys, might depend on both the size and the complexity of the project. Paul recommends adding 30% to your construction cost for planning and building regulations fees and any other costs. Some of these don’t change with the size of the build, so the fee will be a greater percentage of the build cost for a smaller project.

    Utility costs can vary from site to site

    Paul has found the cost of connecting gas to be quite consistent, but not so for the electricity supply. The cost can vary hugely depending on the work involved in making your connection, and remains unknown until the application is made. Furthermore, Paul warns that there is no room for negotiation, saying, “It’s a captive market unfortunately.”

    “Most contractors won’t have sufficient insurance for the whole project”

    Contractors will have insurance to cover their liabilities (public liability and employer’s liability insurance) and potentially for their equipment on site. The architect also needs professional indemnity insurance and public liability insurance to cover the implications of design decisions. Paul advises clients to procure insurance to cover the new building and materials.

    Claiming back VAT may depend on your contractor

    Some contractors don’t pass on the cost of VAT: the client never sees that cost and the contractor just claims it as part of their quarterly VAT payments. This may be beneficial for clients who don’t have the cash flow to pay upfront for the build plus VAT and then reclaim the VAT later.

    Often clients prefer to procure large single ticket items (e.g. windows) themselves, to avoid the contractor’s overheads and profit. In that case, Paul reminds clients they should budget to cover that VAT cost until the end of the project.

    Keep back at least 5% of your budget as contingency

    To deal with unknowns such as the ground and weather, Paul recommends having “something there to cover you, a minimum of 5% but more generously 10%”.

    He warns that stretching both construction budget and contingency “can be quite dangerous.” He advises spending more at the end if you have money left, rather than pushing to do absolutely everything without compromise.

    Expert advice during planning helps predict cost more accurately

    Although he cannot completely mitigate the risks of unknown costs, Paul ensures that the correct investigations are done as early as possible to try and minimise additional costs. “Certainly on the bigger jobs where there is more scope for value engineering,” he says, “we will try and bring a quantity surveyor or an estimator in at roughly the planning stage.”

    This expert can give a budget cost for the build. If it doesn’t fit within a client’s budget, Paul’s team can make changes before the planning application is submitted, avoiding later amendments and resubmissions.

    Avoiding the tender process can actually save money

    Ideally, Paul likes to find a contractor he wants to work with and that the client is happy with, who will “buy into” achieving the building at the budgeted price. He relies on the expertise of the chosen contractor to ensure that the detailed design matches that budget.

    Although Paul acknowledges the benefits and drawbacks of both routes, he doesn’t believe the tender process is the best way of procuring a building, saying “We actually incentivise that in our fees and we charge less for a negotiated price with a contractor than we would do for dealing with a full tender process.”

    Contractor availability can be as important as cost

    Paul works with a pool of preferred builders, although this can change over time. He explains that the best contractors can be booked up to two years in advance. Although clients might be disappointed by delays, they usually come round. “If they want the very best product, they want the very best people to do that,” he says.

    Engaging the contractor earlier in the process can mean that delays are avoided. Having agreed an approximate start date with a contractor, Paul stays in touch while developing drawings, maintaining agreement on budget and timescales. He says, “By the time we’re ready and the contractor’s ready, everything’s drawing together.” However, he adds, “it doesn’t always work that perfectly.”

    Tender processes have their own drawbacks. A four to six week process can lead on to reviewing prices, interviews, and value engineering. After all this, the contractor’s availability might be delayed another year. It can be difficult for a client to ignore a much cheaper quote but Paul warns, “Normally, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.” The project ends up costing as much but with extra difficulties.

    A passive house can be built for less than £50,000!

    In 2013 Paul’s team submitted a design to the National Self-Build and Custom Build Association’s annual competition ‘Self-build on a Shoestring’. The brief asked for a detached family home, on a very simple flat plot, for £50,000 or less, including all materials and specialist labour but assuming utility connections were already in place.

    Paul’s approach was to make “a simple construction that can be built by the average self-builder”. While mainly a “materials only” cost, it included specialist input such as commissioning the MVHR system, certifying the electrics, gas installation and digger and scaffolding hire.

    Not only did their design offer a 70m2 family home for around £45,000, it was also designed using the passive house planning package. Paul says, “We delivered a building that achieved passive house for less than £50,000 and would be a compact but very comfortable single family home.”

    Delivering build elements constructed off-site to manage costs and time on a steep site

    Five top tips to keep build costs to £50,000

    • Remove main contractor: get hands on, do physical work, and do your own project management
    • Reduce risk by choosing a manageable construction method, such as a simple softwood timber frame.
    • Minimise the number of materials.
    • Maximise the function of each element, e.g. exploit oriented strand board (OSB) in three ways: as an airtight layer, internal wall linings and structurally, to stop the building twisting.
    • Choose larger format materials with cheaper production and installation costs, such as fibre cement slates rather than timber cladding.

     

    Find out more

    Visit the website of Paul Testa

    Follow Paul Testa on Twitter

    Follow Paul Testa on Facebook

    Visit the website of AECB (Association for Environment Conscious Building)

    Transcript

    Download a transcript of the interview with Paul Testa

     

    Please connect with me

  • HPH193 : Should you specify uPVC windows? – with Simon Corbey from ASBP

    HPH193 : Should you specify uPVC windows? – with Simon Corbey from ASBP

    Simon Corbey from ASBP shares some of his research into the costs and life cycle of plastic windows and suggests some considerations for self-builders.

    Interview with Simon Corbey

    Simon Corbey worked as a chartered surveyor in the ‘90s, and went on to become a specialist in natural paints for London’s first eco builders’ merchant, Construction Resources. He has also worked for BioRegional, the Sustainable Development Foundation, the Good Homes Alliance and the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP). Last time we spoke to Simon, he talked to us about healthy building products.

    We should question the chemicals in uPVC

    Simon Corbey has been working on behalf of the ASBP to compare plastic and timber windows. Consumers tend to be more concerned with how windows will look and last than where plastic comes from and the issues around it. Simon remarks that plastic windows are manufactured widely in the UK, but these impacts are not really considered, adding, “I do think that there’s an opportunity for the UK to develop their building physics and approaches to making windows.”

    Simon notes that plastic windows appeal, as they are generally cheaper and available in a range of styles. He describes the marketing as aggressive, adding, “It’s well funded, of course. It’s the petrochemical industry.” Plastic windows contain a range of chemicals but no research has suggested a negative effect on indoor air quality. The window itself may be benign, but Simon has also been researching product manufacture and life cycle.

    Manufacturing chlorine is hugely energy intensive

    Simon explains that uPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) contains chlorine. Used in swimming pools and our water supply, it’s common enough to not raise concern. However, he explains that its manufacture has an incredible impact on the environment.

    Simon estimates that producing 80% of the UK’s chlorine uses more electricity than Liverpool. Production of PVC in Europe in 2015 used 8.6 million tonnes of chlorine. “So it’s hugely energy intensive,” says Simon, adding, “From a life cycle analysis it’s a terrible, terrible thing.”

    Simon’s research shows the hidden costs of uPVC windows

    Simon has further researched Ineos, who produce most of the UK’s chlorine. Describing it as “a very murky world,” he says he feels motivated to bring this to people’s attention. The site of the Ineos plant in Cheshire is of particular concern. Simon describes how Ineos were caught dumping mercury into the Manchester Ship Canal in 2014 and the land contains a dump once used to “make everything from nuclear weapons to World War II stuff”.

    Previously owned by ICI, the dump was linked to toxic chemical leaching and reports of ill health in the early 2000s. Today, explains Simon, if you look at the Land Registry, this dump apparently has no owner. “There is a completely toxic dump just there which the council don’t own,” he says. “Ineos have somehow redrawn the lines of their site and conveniently they don’t own it any longer.”

    Timber windows struggle to compete on price and marketing

    Despite their significant environmental price, plastic windows remain cost effective for manufacturers. The price of oil and gas is still low, making the raw materials cheap. The process of gathering timber, processing, sawing and milling it is quite energy intensive in comparison and the end product is heavier to transport. All of this adds to cost.

    Simon further points out that the UK timber industry is quite fragmented, containing many different disparate interests. Conversely the plastics industry markets products with “one voice”, typified by slick campaigns, such as that for Everest windows. Moreover, Simon describes it as quite litigious, recalling a threat of court action when his former employer persuaded a Scottish Housing Association to cancel their order for plastic windows.

    Plastic windows may not outlast timber

    There is a perception that timber windows will rot, requiring repeated maintenance, while plastic is assumed to be tougher. Simon questions these preconceptions. While acknowledging that timber windows have a finite life cycle he points out that plastic windows are prone to yellowing after a while. Simon himself has 120-year-old timber windows, which are “going strong”. “They’re a bit leaky,” he says, “but they’re okay as far as I’m concerned.”

    Other options for window materials do exist. Simon recommends considering factors such as product life cycle and building location. Aluminium is very durable but highly energy intensive; composite timber and aluminium windows are one alternative.

    The quality of UK timber windows is improving

    Windows are an essential part of the building fabric’s performance. With improvements in building science, double glazed and triple glazed windows are appropriate for new builds and both plastic and timber windows can achieve Passivhaus Trust certification.

    Where good indoor air quality is maintained by natural ventilation, windows must function well, being easy to open and clean. There have been some issues of quality with some timber windows but Simon sees this improving, following the standard of European and Scandinavian manufacturers.

    Recycling plastic windows involves additional expense, chemicals and risks

    The Scottish Civic Trust suggests that the recycling rate for windows might be 3% and according to the Green Guide, BRE suggest that the UK average is about 15%. However, Simon suggests the many issues with recycling, such as the chemicals and risks involved, make that figure optimistic.

    The formulation of plastic has changed quite a lot since the ‘60s and the industry has made great attempts to clean itself up. Substances considered by REACH to be of very high concern, such as lead and cadmium, are being phased out although tiny quantities are still allowed.

    Plastic is worse than wooden windows in a fire

    Simon believes that toxicity is a huge issue. He confirms that plastic windows pose a greater risk than wooden ones in the event of a fire and believes that more research is needed. However, currently all the testing institutes are very busy “as a result of Grenfell”.

    Simon notes that in the USA, The Healthy Building Network has liaised with the Fire & Safety community to argue for a complete halt to use of plastic products. Likewise, the ASBP has initiated contact with Kent Fire and Rescue and the London Fire Brigade. As Simon explains, “there is some research underway but it’s early doors, I would suggest, this type of testing.”

    Industry and consumers are moving away from plastic

    Techniques and attitudes continue to change. Acetylated wood is an example where window science has improved. This process basically uses vinegar to extend the maintenance life of timber to over 60 years.

    Simon notes a growing interest in health and wellbeing, as well as a global campaign against plastics. He summarises, “I think at ASBP we’re trying to suggest that as a society we’ve just got to start using less plastic through and through, in all the things that we do and windows being one of those things.”

    Find out more

    Visit the website of the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP)

    Follow the ASBP on Bluesky 

    Transcript

    Download a transcript of the interview with Simon Corbey

    Please connect with us

    Subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts

    Like our Facebook page

    Follow Ben Adam-Smith on Bluesky

  • HPH192 : How ‘Right to Build’ can help custom and self-builders find land – with Michael Holmes from NaCSBA

    HPH192 : How ‘Right to Build’ can help custom and self-builders find land – with Michael Holmes from NaCSBA

    Michael Holmes from NaCSBA explains the Right to Build initiative and how it will impact on the future of custom and self-builds.

    Interview with Michael Holmes

    Michael Holmes’ work in the housing sector began in 1990 when he was responsible for the PR and marketing campaign for the first ever Self-build Home Show. He is now Chairman of The National Custom and Self-build Association (NaCSBA), has presented television property shows and is a director of Centaur Media, responsible for property magazines (Homebuilding & Renovating and others) as well as the Plotfinder website and the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows.

    “It is utterly empowering, building your own home”

    Having completed his own self-builds and renovation projects, Michael fully advocates self-building. The best people to design a house are the ones who will live in it and a bespoke property can even save money. Yet the UK has fewer than average self-builds despite the clear advantages.

    Only 8% of UK homes are commissioned by the owners, compared with about 39% across the rest of the developed world. Michael thinks this is partly because people underestimate their abilities, but the main problem is limited land ownership – 90% of the land in the UK is owned by 10% of the people.

    Owner-commissioned housing leads to individuality and variety

    Popular home ownership is a relatively new concept in this country, although a century or two ago, almost every house was built by the owners. Over time we lost owner-commissioned housing and Michael thinks we may have lost a lot more besides.

    Many of our towns and villages were built on an individual basis, which he says led to “that variety that makes up the character of our towns and villages that we so value, rather than the characterless homogenous housing that is mass-built at the moment.”

    Custom and self-builds can help solve our housing crisis

    Our house-building culture has evolved in response to historic needs. Large-scale public house building started by the state after WW1 was gradually taken over by the private sector.

    Today, it remains easier for local authorities to meet housing demand by granting planning permission for the development of large, strategic sites, than on thousands of individual plots. However this approach hasn’t solved the UK’s housing crisis.

    Michael comments, “It’s quite remarkable that as one of the wealthiest and most advanced countries in the world, we can’t build enough houses to meet demand.” He believes custom and self-builds are part of the solution and wants aspiring self-builders to know how the Right to Build initiative can help.

    Right to Build obliges local authorities to meet demand for plots

    The Right to Build, which was launched on 1st April 2016, is a legal duty on every local authority in England to maintain a register of people who are looking for a serviced plot to build their own home and to grant sufficient development permissions to meet that demand within three years.

    Michael says the scheme is aimed at a broad spectrum, not just one-off “Grand Designs” houses. Group self-builders, community-led housing, and people looking to rent or share ownership could all benefit.

    Though authorities will have to match demand, it doesn’t mean permission will be granted on a plot that perfectly suits your particular needs.

    Serviced plots can help meet the demand for self-build

    Between the 80s and the early noughties, 15-17,000 self-builds, mostly in-fill sites and replacement dwellings, were constructed each year in the UK. Following the credit crunch, that number dropped to about 10-11,000. But the self-build market is now growing, at just over 6% per year, and the government aims to double the sector by 2020. This looks unachievable if the houses are built on individual plots.

    Serviced plots, popular abroad, could offer new opportunities, not only for self-build but for custom build projects where people are willing to pay for a bespoke home but don’t have the time to self-build. They are also less risky and easier to access for the majority of people, as two difficult elements of any self-build – foundations and services – have been dealt with.

    The market already exists for serviced plots

    One-off plots with amazing views are appealing but will always be expensive, whereas serviced plots can facilitate bespoke homes at affordable prices.

    Evidence suggests that many self-builders would like to be part of a community and would happily live alongside other house builders or “spec built houses” on a multi-plot site.

    Graven Hill at Cherwell aims to provide 1,900 serviced custom and self-build plots. Describing it as a “fantastic, ambitious project”, Michael admires their objective of building a custom and self-build community.

    Demand for self-build opportunities is growing

    In 2016 there was a 24% increase in planning applications for individual new dwellings. And 18,000 people signed up to the Right to Build scheme in the seven months following its launch. NaCSBA’s Right to Build Portal links to every local authority’s demand register so you can see the demand for each of those authorities. Michael is seeing a response to demand with an increasing number of plots coming to market.

    Registering interest does not commit you to anything

    Local authorities have the right to charge for entry on the register although Michael discourages this, believing it will impact on the numbers of people signing up.

    Other than paying a fee, you’re not actually making any commitment. You’re just signing up to be counted in the local authority’s demand assessment.

    Your data is not available in the public domain and you can ask for your name to be removed from the register at any time.

    Local authorities have to take your interest into account

    Each local authority decides the particulars of their register. One part, open to everybody in the EU, assesses the demand. A second part can ask further questions such as a financial affordability test or a local connection test that may grant priority.

    Michael stresses that neither of these prevents you going on part one of the register and having your demand counted.

    Registering is a win-win situation

    If local authorities fail to meet a demonstrated demand within three years, Michael thinks planning permission could be granted on pieces of land that might not ordinarily have received it, such as plots just outside settlement boundaries.

    Although it remains to be seen how inspectors interpret the Self-Build and Custom House Building Act, Michael says, “We expect it to have weight in those planning decisions.”

    Local authorities are being given support to meet demand

    Michael says there’s a great deal of understanding and interest in custom and self-builds on the part of local authorities, but what they lack is expertise.

    The Right to Build Taskforce will play an important role through the Right to Build Toolkit, sharing ideas and policies that will help individual authorities bring forward land. Solutions include working with developers or housing associations to make custom and self-build part of their housing mix or even local authorities creating serviced plots themselves.

    NaCSBA are working to ensure serviced plots, builders, custom build providers and finance products are all in place. In addition, Michael explains they are working with the UK government and those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to boost house building.

    “It’s about democratising house building,” says Michael. “It’s about putting people in charge of house building to meet their own needs.”

    Find out more

    Visit the website of NaCSBA

    Visit the Right To Build portal

    Follow NaCSBA on Twitter

    Transcript

    Download a transcript of the interview with Michael Holmes

    Please connect with me

  • HPH191 : Key decisions that impact on the sustainability of a house build – with Lloyd Alter from TreeHugger

    HPH191 : Key decisions that impact on the sustainability of a house build – with Lloyd Alter from TreeHugger

    Lloyd Alter from TreeHugger shares his advice on what we should be prioritising as 21st century self-builders.

    Interview with Lloyd Alter

    We catch up again with Lloyd Alter, whose work as an architect and a real estate developer led to his interest in modern building methods. He blogs for the website TreeHugger and also teaches sustainable design at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. Previously, Lloyd’s talked to us about worldwide trends in green designs.

    Don’t measure value in pounds per square foot

    Lloyd says that size will be the most important decision about a house build because so much relates to it. While building small may be preferable for sustainability, he acknowledges there are various problems to overcome.

    Some contractors may refuse work on smaller houses, or argue that a bigger house is better value. Lloyd warns against buying more space than you need. A bigger house may cost less per square foot but that is a dangerous criterion for measuring value. He explains, “It will cost you more per unit of area to build smaller but the aggregate, it will still cost you less.” Operating and maintenance costs will also be less with a smaller dwelling.

    House size may be dictated by the plot

    Re-sale value can force a self-builder into a larger project. Often it’s the land that really has the value, so there’s a judgement to be made about the right sized house for the size of the plot. And Lloyd points out that putting in services costs the same regardless of house size, potentially making it harder to recoup costs on a smaller house.

    By-laws can, in some instances, prevent small homes being built. For example, Lloyd explains that some North American municipalities fix minimum square footages to guarantee a minimum tax return.

    Balance location with lifestyle

    Lloyd recognises the dilemma for self-builders who want to minimise their carbon footprint but can’t afford the expensive land located close to facilities.

    Low energy buildings can reduce environmental impact, and changing habits can also mitigate high-energy consumption. Someone Lloyd knows – who lives 9km away from town – cycles, uses a hybrid car when he has to drive, minimises shopping trips and avoids ordering things delivered by truck. Lloyd himself tries to balance his many air miles by cycling and keeping his house at “incredibly low temperatures”.

    An independent expert will help you design for sustainability

    In a poorly planned house, you pay more for a poor living experience. Lloyd mentions one self-builder who incorrectly fitted insulation and this decision threatened to destroy his house.

    For Lloyd, an architect should “help you get to the essentials and put the essentials together in the most efficient, satisfying and beautiful way.” He sees this as directly linked to building sustainably: “The key to sustainability is living with less and the key to living with less is to have it designed properly.”

    To choose an architect or builder, Lloyd suggests going to see their work and spending enough time with them to know that you like them, they understand you and that you can understand what they’re saying; clients shouldn’t have to deal with what he calls “Architectese”!

    Simplicity should be designed into the house in the first place

    So-called “smart homes” are fashionable but Lloyd is wary of unnecessary complexity that adds cost and needs maintenance. “My attitude is I like a dumb home!”, he says, citing the Passivhaus as a good example of this. Using less power means no need for a smart thermostat or a complicated solar panel system connected to the grid. “The house takes care of itself,” he says.

    Another reason to keep house design simple is to accommodate changing technology. Low voltage LED bulbs have practically eliminated the problem of lighting load and our technology increasingly runs on low voltage DC wiring. Lloyd envisages future houses solely using DC, so any high voltage electric systems fitted now should be kept accessible.

    As different building elements last different lengths of time, Lloyd’s advice is to prepare and keep things simple. “Put as little of it as you need in. Because at some point, you’re going to have to redo it anyway.” Homeowners should be able to access, change or fix any systems in the house:

    Element of your propertyHow long it may last
    LandForever
    Frame of your house500 years
    Cladding200 years
    Windows100 years
    Plumbing50 years
    Electrical20 years
    Mechanical systems10 years

    Fabric first is fairer as well as simpler

    Lloyd believes it is unreasonable to simply aim for “net zero carbon”, stating, “We have to use less, period. Even if we’re trying to offset it with energy from sun or wind.” Thus, investment in domestic energy production is another trend that Lloyd mistrusts. Compared to the huge amount of energy used for transport, he describes solar panels on roofs as inconsequential. “We should be going after the big things. And that’s efficiency, not solar panels on the roofs,” he says.

    He remarks that policies of domestic generation of electricity disproportionately favour people who have south-facing roofs. Someone without a roof or who can’t afford solar panels will pay more for their electricity, meaning the poor end up paying for the grid. A fairer system in Lloyd’s view would be for everyone to live in houses that are built to a higher standard and use less energy.

    Preferred methods of building continue to change

    Lloyd teaches a sustainable design course and the content can change every year. Ten years ago, he taught about spray foam that seals and insulates efficiently, but we know now this foam contains unhealthy flame-retardants and some don’t even work below three degrees Celsius. The current insulation trend is for low carbon cellulose, although Lloyd prefers rockwool.

    On the subject of new building techniques, Lloyd says, “I’ve become very conservative as I’ve gotten older.” He sees people who want the “latest new thing” demolishing existing houses on highly sought-after plots. This discourages building really good quality houses because “they don’t seem to be building them forever anymore”.

    Construction methods can be more suited to specific locations

    Building with “brick and block” gives thermal mass, holding heat in the day and releasing it at night. Lloyd says that this principle works well in the high Arizona desert, with hot days and cold nights. In less extreme climates such as the UK it is less effective, and making bricks, concrete and mortar releases a lot of carbon dioxide before construction even begins.

    Homes should be comfortable, safe, secure and resilient

    A self-build should bring comfort and happiness. Just because it’s environmentally friendly doesn’t mean you have to suffer!

    Considering our changing world, Lloyd advises self-builders to prepare for power outages, provide some storage for water and food, and build high enough and not in the middle of a flood plain. He adds that if you have to cycle to get milk, then make sure you can actually do it! “That’s what a home is supposed to be,” he says. “A place of security and comfort. That’s what we should all be striving for.”

    Find out more

    Visit the website of TreeHugger

    Follow Lloyd Alter on Twitter

     

    Transcript

    Download a transcript of the interview with Lloyd Alter

    Please connect with me

  • HPH189 : Is an electric car the perfect accompaniment for a low energy home? – with Robert Llewellyn from Fully Charged

    HPH189 : Is an electric car the perfect accompaniment for a low energy home? – with Robert Llewellyn from Fully Charged

    Actor and TV presenter Robert Llewellyn shares his insights about the future of electric cars and energy production.

    Image source: www.fullychargedshow.co.uk

    Interview with Robert Llewellyn

    Robert Llewellyn is an actor and TV presenter, perhaps best known for his role as Kryten on Red Dwarf. His Internet project Fully Charged discusses electric vehicles and renewable energy and is expanding beyond its origins on YouTube.

    From petrol-head to EV enthusiast

    Robert confesses that he once loved cars with big petrol engines. He experienced his first ride in a Prius back in 2001, but it took time to reconsider what he was interested in and, by default, promoting. He got his first electric vehicle (EV) in 2009.

    He acknowledges there have been teething problems along the way – the lack of a charging infrastructure initially didn’t help – and comments that well-funded propaganda from the fossil fuel industry has attempted to hold back development.

    However, Robert describes the current global car market as being at its peak in terms of the internal combustion engine, and says the wider transition to electric vehicles is finally gathering pace. Eventually, as with asbestos, tobacco, catalytic converters and leaded petrol, the corporations will change. For now, Renault, Nissan and Tesla are leading the way.

    Electric vehicles are part of a bigger revolution

    By thinking of an electric car as a battery and computer on wheels, Robert can see even bigger change ahead in the form of vehicle automation. Having experienced the fully autonomous Nissan Leaf, Robert says “When you go in it, you go ‘alright, fair enough. This stuff works.’” The car performed way better than any driver Robert has ever seen. He expects total adoption of automation by the trucking industry within five years.

    “They won’t sell models, they’ll sell mobility”

    To be a success, electric cars will need to completely change the ownership model. It’s not just oil consumption that is unsustainable. Regardless of whether there’s enough lithium to supply batteries at the rate the car market is growing, there isn’t enough steel, rubber or plastic to make enough cars. As 90% of cars on the road are not in use 90% of the time, selling a service (as opposed to a car) is the direction manufacturers will have to take.

    With a self-driving car you could use it as much as you do now without owning it or having it parked outside your house. You wouldn’t even need to charge it, Robert says. “It will be charged when it turns up at your house because it will have charged itself.” Getting a charging point at your house is still worthwhile though, as he adds, “It’s very obvious that it’s not going to happen overnight.” It’s likely to be at least 10 years and possibly 20 before we see a significant change in car ownership.

    The existing energy production system has hidden costs

    When making the TV series ‘How Do They Do It?’, Robert learnt that oil refineries use so much electricity they have to have their own power stations! One in Pembrokeshire uses the same amount of electricity in a year as Coventry and Leicester. Thus, reducing oil refining would enable the greater electricity consumption needed for more electric cars.

    This typifies the ‘invisible’ costs of established technology. Petrol stations are considered a normal part of everyday life, therefore the costs aren’t thought about. Yet Robert points out the energy required to supply petrol stations is “catastrophically colossal”.

    Energy companies are starting to embrace change

    Financial savings are motivating change in the energy industry. Robert gives the example of solar plants. As with coal and nuclear, initial installation is hugely expensive, but once up and running, solar is much cheaper. No fuel costs, no waste management, no storage and no transportation mean massive savings.

    In the case of Pacific Edison, the huge American power company who use coal, nuclear and gas plants to generate electricity, “peak management issues” were overloading the grid. They found the cheapest solution was batteries, and this was in fact Tesla’s first multi-megawatt sized grid battery backup.

    Renewable energy production is growing globally

    It’s encouraging to see the adoption of renewable technologies “at breakneck pace” around the world. Robert points to China where the rate of solar panel and wind turbine installations is “mindboggling”. The UK is gradually producing more renewable energy too: it is actually the biggest offshore wind generating country in the world, taking advantage of the fact that 40% of all the wind in Europe is around the British Isles.

    You can run your house off your car and vice versa

    Robert says he doesn’t actually see himself as very ‘green’ and even admits to having an Aga! However, he has made gradual changes. He only has electric cars now, and in his house he has improved the insulation, added solar panels, very good windows and a battery on the wall. As a result, his electricity bill has dropped by about 85%.

    This form of domestic energy production and storage represent a big threat to the status quo, which he calls massively inefficient: “We have to subsidise all of the fossil fuel plants to a colossal amount of money to keep them running.” Robert’s house is typical of how current technology can be much more efficient, and he describes how some offices in the UK use similar systems and save hundreds of thousands of pounds a year without using any grid electricity.

    Tesla Powerwall Battery
    Image source: www.inhabitat.com

    Local energy production and storage would be more efficient

    The big UK energy companies are actually in favour of producing, owning and selling electricity locally as it would save a lot of money. The price of electricity fluctuates from getting paid to use it, to being fantastically expensive. At peak times it is imported at a higher cost than we ever pay for it, by many thousands of percent.

    Robert counters recent claims we’d need ten times more electricity if we moved to local production and storage. More intelligent and regular use would avoid the sudden peaks and troughs that are currently so costly and inefficient.

    Volume new builds aren’t designed to be energy efficient

    Robert doesn’t hold back about the standard of new houses, which he says are “designed and built by morons!” He laments their individual gas boilers, traditional pitched roofs that don’t face south and lack of solar panels.

    Robert cites studies showing you can build an efficient house at the cheapest possible cost where the house produces ALL the energy it needs, emphasising, “the people who live in that house will have free heating and lighting for the life of the building.”

    Lower energy homes could make a huge difference

    By using systems like the ones Robert has, with solar panels, batteries for storage and electric cars, a house can place about 70% less demand on the grid. While this means very little by itself, application on a much larger scale could have a huge environmental impact. A million houses set up in that way would mean closing down two fossil fuel burning power plants.

    Find out more

    Visit the website of Fully Charged

    Follow Robert Llewellyn on Twitter

     

    Transcript

    Download a transcript of the interview with Robert Llewellyn

    Please connect with me