Personal story:

Neal is a retired Civil Engineer keen on minimising utility bills while not compromising comfort.  Of course any carbon reduction resulting could help but any contribution made in the UK pales into insignificance when you look at what’s happening world-wide with a continual increase in energy consumption and carbon output everywhere.

Property background:

The house was bought in 2011. Their were no problems but the house had a poor standard of insulation and an old combi boiler.  In addition to this the house was drafty due to the open chimneys and fireplaces.

Key changes made:

Wood burning stove is wonderful in the winter and helps heat the whole house.  Watching the flames is a lot more interesting than most programmes on television!

Condensing boiler minimises gas use and the addition of the PV panels on the roof earn £1300 a year while my gas and electricity bills are only £600 per annum.

Measures installed in detail:

• Cavity wall filled with Rockwool
• WorcesterBosch combi condensing boiler (£1900), radiators fitted with TVRs
• Double glazing throughout
• Efergy Energy Monitor
• 270 mm deep rockwool blanket loft insulation DIY installed
• Low energy appliances throughout
• Low energy lighting throughout
• 2.9kw photovoltaic array on roof (£10,000)
• Water saving devices include a water meter
• 4kw Morso DEFRA approved wood burning stove (£2345 installed)
• Reflective foil behind radiatorsn and Chimney balloon (£15)
• Rockwool loft insulation self – installed to 280mm depth.
• Chimney balloon – £18 well spent to reduce drafts completely on windy days
• Thermostatic radiator valves
• Reflective foil behind radiators

Benefits of work carried out:

The house is now more comfortable and utility bills have been vastly reduced. Now I get a smug feeling from using electricity from the roof to run my house during the day and for a large part of the year.

Favourite feature:

Morso woodburning stove and the PV solar panels

Project update:

Nothing planned as it’s all done in my view! Will be continuing to open annually.

Business name:

Tyne and Wear, Whitley Bay, Paignton Avenue

Business overview:

Common questions and answers for this SuperHome

How much do your pay for wood fuel and where do you store it?+

I buy 2 cubic metres hardwood and 1 cubic metre softwood annually from a mental health charity in Blyth. In winter 2013-14 that was too much and quite a lot still remains.  The current price I pay for hardwood is £85 and for softwood £70 per cubic metre.

It is a terraced house with a passage way between so wood stores nicely there in a good through draft.

How much do your spend on gas and electricity?+

My current annual bill for gas and electricity should be about £570 on the Cooperative Energy tariff.

How much water do you use?+

I switched to a water meter on purchase of the house so don’t have a reduction cost but current useage about 42 cu metre annually.

Contact this homeowner