Cath Jordan - Regeneration Manager
Janine Crockett - Energy & Sustainability Coordinator
David Buckley - Clerk of Works
What's been your role within the project so far?
CJ Initial joint working on development of the project, contributing to bid, general co-ordination on behalf of Sanctuary.
JC I have attended a few meetings and listened with great interest to the proposals and how the whole project process has worked so far. Working for Property Services we will 'inherit' the property at Luke Street when the refurbishment is complete and having some understanding of the equipment, fabric & purpose of the building is important.
DB Inspection of work and reviewing proposed layouts
What do you see as the most important outcome of this project?
CJ To show that despite size, age or any other specific reasons, a property can be retrofitted and that such adaptations to the property and installation of new technology does not impact on the day-to-day living activities, routine and comfort of residents. Also to identify what elements give the best savings showing value for money.
JC We have many similar properties that cannot necessarily be made thermally efficient by traditional means, these ideas need to be explored to see if they could be suitable for others.
DB There are a number of of important outcomes
a) The building achieves the required air tightness
b) The new residents are able to live comfortably in the property
c) The energy costs for the property show a substancial saving over 12 months
What do you see as potential barriers to delivering this project and replicating similar retrofits in the future?
CJ - Benefit v Cost. Getting 'buy-in' from residents so that equipment is used correctly to gain maiximum benefit. We are lucky to have identified someone who is really keen to get involved.
Not convinced that such a level of intervention can be replicated - probably less expensive to demolish and rebuild! There will probably be very limited budget available.
JC The cost and possibly tenant understanding of how the equipment works
DB The building cost
Any other comments?
CJ Very interesting project, have already learned so much by just being involved.
Architect: Anne Thorne Architects LLP
Jennie Swain - Project Architect
What's been your role within the project so far?
Applying Passivhaus principles and design approach to the energy reduction of the house; Design and detailing of the fabric upgrade to high levels of insulation; Air-tight strategy & detailing; Coordination of the new building services with the existing internal layouts; internal layout alterations; Planning application and building control submissions; specification of all materials; Modeling the existing and proposed house using the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP); Coordinating the design team; site visits; contract administration of the retrofit works.
What do you see as the most important outcome of this project?
To see if the modeled energy use reductions for heating are achieved through the insulation and air-tightness upgrades to the existing fabric as designed, and that the tenants have reduced energy bills and carbon emissions, as well as feeling they have a warm, comfortable living environment.
We're also using natural, renewable, and hygroscopic insulation materials for internal walls (sheepswool and woodfibre) in order to regulate internal humidity and building fabric moisture, as well as having a greatly reduced embodied energy that the retrofit entails, as well as maintaining a healthy indoor climate by eliminating the use of materials that have the potential to off-gas, such as phenolic foam.
What do you see as potential barriers to delivering this project and replicating similar retrofits in the future?
To achieve the 80% cuts in carbon emissions as the Technology Strategy Board competition required, the works to the house are substantial, with ground floors replaced to provide insulation, and internal insulation required as the house forms part of a terrace, so the works are quite intrusive, and can only be carried out at this scale with the house unoccupied.
Squeezing the services for the ventilation into the existing house is also a challenge.
Achieving our desired level of a max. 1.0 air changes per hour is also a considerable challenge, and involves some intrusive works on site so retrofit (the house currently has an air change rate of about 14 air changes an hour!).
Any other comments?
As a stand-alone pilot project, it's been a great learning curve for all involved, and also a very positive experience to have the continued input of all the project team involved throughout design and build process.
The next step after this pilot scheme is completed is to consider how such a deep retrofit can be replicated - What lessons have been learnt? What would we change next time round? How could savings be made if this was replicated on a larger scale? Would it be more cost-effectice to consider a row of terraces to be insulated externally?
Quantity Surveyor: McBains Cooper
Lee O'Neill - Senior Quantity Surveyor
What do you see as the most important outcome of this project?
Evaluating the costs of the building element improvements (ie insulation to external walls etc). It would be interesting to see what improvements provide the most benefit to reducing the heat loss / energy use etc but, which are cost effective / an 'affordable' cost. This is especially important at this time, when existing housing stock need improvements to reduce heat loss / energy use in order to reach EU energy targets along with current and forthcoming UK legislation, but when an industry and individuals are faced with a challenging economy where the finance/ money isn't as readily available.
What do you see as potential barriers to delivering this project and replicating similar retrofits in the future?
1. Cost efficiencies on small projects / 'one off' projects on products / materials. Large 'roll out' type projects of similar house types would have buying gains on products / material cost which would help with cost effectiveness of projects, whereas, "one off" projects wouldn't attract the same buying gain. This is particularly important when a potential project outcome is to assess what elements of work are the most energy efficient compared against the cost / affordability and could be carried out by an individual person on their own home.
2. Workmanship - this varies from building contractor / tradesman. High quality workmanship is key to providing the improved air tightness and lower thermal heat losses through the building fabric.
M&E Engineer: Kingshaw
Daniel Howes - Building Services Consultant
What do you see as the most important outcome of this project?
I completely agree with the objectives of the project and the methods used to obtain a reduction in the carbon footprint each household has on the external environment. Reducing consumption and dependence on fossil fuels whilst not reducing people’s standard of living will be the only way to have people committed to achieving this goal.
We have used low energy high efficiency heat recovery units with solar heating to ensure a comfortable internal environment for the end users.
Any other comments?
The key features of the project are the building envelope and the materials used. I also believe the end user being fully committed to the Passivhaus way of living is also key as that will dictate if it is successful or not.
Contractor: Seddon Construction Ltd.
Ian Davenport - Site Manager
Keith Harris - Contract manager
What's been your role within the project so far?
ID Site Manager, coordinating works on site.
KH Pre construction procurement, programme preparation and Health & Safety documentation.
What do you see as the most important outcome of this project?
IH The feasibility of the proposed materials and techniques to achieve the finished project. The air test in particular.
KH Completing to programme and budget, maintaining quality.
What do you see as potential barriers to delivering this project and replicating similar retrofits in the future?
IH Cost
KH Cost issues.
