Russdl

Hello all. We've applied for planning permission which involves demolishing a bungalow and replacing it with a contemporary looking house. The conservation officer raised some concerns which we addressed and he has come back saying he has: "no issue with the orientation, design, materials or otherwise per se, it is the impact on the setting of the Listed Building that needs to be addressed." What exactly does 'impact on the setting' mean? Is it defined anywhere (I can't find anything) or will it just be the conservation officers personal opinion? Thanks - Russ.

I’ve seen those around the Bazaars Lizzie and always been interested - until I heard the price! But if they work (and I guess, more importantly, how long they work for) then they look like a great solution to the hard water problem. I’m surprised that no one has commented on the technology so far... Anyone? I’m on tenterhooks waiting for your feedback in a couple of months.

I'd heard similar stuff before (normally from my wife as I fire up the hedge trimmer) but hadn't heard a specific date, so thanks for that - I'd better get busy!

That's interesting Russ and could affect us (if we're lucky with our application). Where would I find that bit of legislation?

Hi Graeme, that's not hugely dissimilar to what we have planned and, if we get planning, we're hoping to use the Tata Steel panels that incorporate built in PV. The PV is in strips and is bonded to each panel, between the standing seams. Copied below is the response from BIPVCo after my request for information regarding our own plans which may be of some use. I hasten to add, I have no idea if this product is good, bad or indifferent. Thank you for your email. Across a 15.5m roof, you could fit up to 39 Urban panels if you used a 390mm width panel. Lets say 37 to allow for end panels A 4.8m long roof could accommodate a 219w panel, so that’s 219 x 37 = 8.1kWp across one roof The cost of each module (excluding the inverters, cabling etc), supply only, would be £361.35 ex vat/delivery

Sorry, thread creep... I'd seen that 'warmfloor' before (probably from a post on Buildhub but I don't recall) and am seriously considering it as an alternative to wet UFH. From what I read about it, it does seem different from the 'normal' electric systems - have I just been bamboozled?

That looks really nice Pete. We are waiting on our planning and hopefully we'll be using the same Tata steel for the roof and elements of the cladding (with BIPVco PV on the southern roof elevation) and concealed gutters. Is that concealed guttering in your second photo?

Thanks all, for your replies. I think I'll go looking for some rechargeable batteries, seems like the simplest solution.

Doh! So... what I understand from your reply Jeremy is that if I plug this old adapter in it's unlikely to kill the decoration? Did I get that right? (If it does kill it then my life will be on the line!!)

No, currently using disposable AAA batteries. It has an adapter socket but didn't come with an adapter, so I'm wondering if an old adapter would work and not kill it? Good grief! That's ridiculously cheap, thanks for that link Steamy

Definitely not self build related, but hopefully one of you wise (wo)men will help me out. My good lady wife has a Christmas decoration powered by 4 AAA batteries (it's haemorrhaging our savings keeping it fed on batteries, so a tenuous self build link!) I've an old adapter that outputs 7.5V and 350mA, will that make the motor spin really fast and the LED's burn really bright or will it quietly smoulder in the corner whilst I do a runner? Russ.

We were looking at this at the NEC recently and some of the cladding (as opposed to decking) looked really good, lightweight, easy to fit etc etc, so it moved towards the top of our list, but I haven't done a proper price comparison yet. A bit of Googling highlighted there could be problems, but as I recall that was more to do with using WPC as decking. I'm definetely getting sucked in to the 'virtually maintenance free' bit, plus it's nice to know that all my recycled plastic bottles end up in WPC instead of landfill or the 'Big Blue'... Or...

Have you considered wood plastic composite (WPC) cladding? It comes in many different styles and colours. I don't know what the forum view is on this particular product (thread creep welcome - from my perspective!) but we are considering it for parts of our (hopefully - one day) self build as it seems that the better stuff is pretty much 'fit and forget'.

@gravelld The PHPP plus designPH is coming out at €439 from passivehouse.com, though I'm still waiting for the email bill to confirm my order - a cooling off period maybe!?! That's a few bob less than my "consultant" was going to charge, and he hasn't/won't be paid so I'm looking forward to the challenge... With a little bit of trepidation.

@craig Well, thats my 'due diligence' done a little to late! The first of many lessons for me perhaps. Hahaha, thanks for the encouragement! I'm going to have a go at the designPH as well as it's already modelled in Sketchup - I'll let you know how it goes...

@craig Thanks for info. I'm still undecided about certification, and now, after a bit of a scare from my (ex)PHPP consultant, I'm going to go 'solo' on the software and see how I get on...

Craig, does the PHPP get checked prior to the build commencing? I'm having sleepless nights wondering what would have happened had I not spotted the error in our PHPP and gone ahead and built a house to Passive standards using a PHPP model that was incorrectly orientated by 60º. If the Passiv Haus institute check the PHPP prior to the build commencing it's starting to look like a pretty good investment from my perspective. Russ

Thanks for the all the replies. I had a figure of 210 degrees (ballpark'd in exactly the same way as Ferdinand) The figure the consultant has come up with is 60 degrees out and, of course, all the other elevations differ by the same amount compared to what I expected. I explained to the consultant what I considered to be his error, including copying the 'help' menu from the PHPP (leaving plenty of wriggle room for him to 'cough' to the mistake) but he insisted he was correct and that the measurement should be taken from the window perpendicular, clockwise to north, which of course would be 150 degrees... I won't be using him - I need the book! On the thread creep regarding certification, I'm still undecided if I will or not. I want to use the PHPP to ensure that my new build doesn't overheat as that seems to be the biggest problem for a passive house, so the more I can do to design that risk out the better, hence my desire to use PHPP.

Thanks again, I shouldn't have been so vague in my first post but I was trying not to lead the jury.

Many thanks so far. Perhaps I should have added a bit more clarity and detail. Once again, this is the same floor plan (with walls and windows now visible), it's the windows highlighted in blue that I'm after the 'DEVIATION FROM NORTH' for. The second image is a 'help' screen from the PHPP package explaining how to work it out.

Well, I've been on the back burner for a while (again), but slowly making progress-ish. I chickened out and went for a PHPP consultant who has sent me a copy of his first iteration of my plan, having looked through it I'm concerned about several things, the main one being the 'DEVIATION FROM NORTH' on the 'SHADING' tab. Without leading anyone with his or my view, I would be very grateful for anyones input on what they consider the 'DEVIATION FROM NORTH' of the wall highlighted in red on the image below - ball park is fine, the consultant and I differ by 60 degrees. Thanks in advance.

We're planning a similar plinth and hope to use these http://www.planbloc.co.uk/index.php Not sure if you've seen them before but the blocks are various different shapes (apparently inspired by a Guinness glass) and interlock without leaving the straight lines of the normal rectangular flint blocks.

Joe, I'm guessing not (re lazy Susan) because I think that's one of those spinny round things that you put your condiments on. I'm going for one of these, rescued from the bungalow we will (hopefully) be demolishing soon. I reckon this, and maybe a little fan heater should do the trick. As ever, waiting to be corrected. Russ.

Really interested in this. I've been toying with the idea of no UFH and no water storage, just Sunamps, solar PV and E7 for our proposed build, It's really interesting to read here from Roger that it seems like a practical solution. Many thanks for posting.

Similar position to Barney. As it stands I'm considering electric UFH for the upstairs bathrooms, but that is from a position of limited information and best guess. I would appreciate any feedback from a 'passive house' dweller with a similar set-up.