Personal story:

I’ve had a previous environmental role as a profession and now work as a sustainability officer with the local authority. My wife is an academic and we have two teenage children. Together we’ve been on quite a long journey. About 15 years ago I went to a conference full of so-called ‘sustainability experts’ who simply weren’t doing enough sustainable things themselves. I felt it was rather hopeless if the experts weren’t leading by example, so I started to search for alternatives and to consider what I could do by questioning more completely my relationship with my environment, growing my own food, reducing waste and so on. I started collecting data and bills to see the shape of our energy consumption and carbon footprint. My first probing into renewables at home was over ten years ago when we installed the solar thermal on the roof then, more recently, we had the PV fitted. Renewables can have quite an effect on energy consumption but only if accompanied by behavioural change by the whole family within the home.

Motivations:

Environmental first, cost savings second. The outcome has been a wonderful return on investment.

Property background:

Originally two farm-workers’ cottages (circa 1900s–1930s)part refurbished in 2003 and bought as a single detached property.

Key changes made:

• Draught stripping: filled gaps in window and door frames, walls and ceiling with insulation and filler. The draught exclusion cost about £100
• Thermally insulated curtains and roller blinds – £600 but could be done more cheaply by DIY
• Single skin anti-draught liner added to under floorboards on first floor
• Skirting with foil backed insulation
• Loft insulation: increased from 100mm to over 300mm
• Thick, interlapping oak flooring added throughout with insulation under the floor
• Oil boiler, TRVs to radiators – foil fitted behind all external wall radiators
• 4kW solar water heating with new pressurised water store in loft to reduce reliance on oil-heating. Installed about 10 years ago, costing £3,500 with grants
• 1.7kWp photovoltaic panels, cost £5,200 in 2010 (much cheaper today!)
• Two efficient wood burning stoves to reduce reliance on oil heating. The stoves cost £3,000 including chimney lining and cowls. Wood comes from local farms and from friends at no cost except for £150 per year for chainsaws, trailer, fuel and maintenance
• Low energy lighting throughout, the most recent are LED, total cost £200
• Low energy appliances throughout. As we replace our appliances, we drive down emissions by targeting high performance rated goods and also buy good quality – I believe it’s not environmental sound to replace cheap appliances every few years
• Water saving devices: three water butts, showers only, flow regulator fitted – water meter fitted by request to measure reduction
• Home grown behavioural change in combination with consumer technology has been key to the way we use the house in driving improved performance (reduced energy costs and emissions and improved fuel security, with forecast energy price rises)
• Double glazing had previously been installed as part of the refurbishment prior to purchase

Benefits of work carried out:

Increase thermal comfort and improved quality of life with a year on year reduction in water and energy use. We have a conventional oil fired boiler with a radiator system but this is used only very sparingly to heat what is generally preheated water from the solar thermal system. From what would be circa a minimum £1,600 oil and electric, based on the fact the property is larger than the average (£1,400 if gas and electric), we have saved (and continue to save) circa £900 per year. This is based on current costs. In its first year, solar PV has led to a 45% reduction in electricity costs and a bill of £15-20 per month.

Cost and carbon reductions, a feel good factor and a “active” (wood processing burns the calories!) quality of life.

Favourite feature:

Sustainable wood burning and solar hot water…

Project update:

Working with other owners of SuperHomes to try to create an informal network within the Vale of Aylesbury.

Business name:

SAVE

Business overview:

Not a business but a local voluntary initiative: SAVE (Support Aylesbury Vale’s Environment) is an active network of 150+ individuals. Many of these represent local community groups with Transition, environmental, waste, energy, conservation, economic, and social community interests, with a direct voice into local communities within the Vale.

Launched in 1994, SAVE operates to recognise, reward and encourage environmental good practice in Aylesbury Vale and includes an active membership of over 100 local environmental groups and active individuals within the Vale. SAVE is working to encourage SuperHomes to the Vale with a goal of ten by the end of 2013.

Contact this homeowner