MortarThePoint

16k feels expensive to me, but it all depends what you're after. I expect there is a lot of opportunism at the moment as prices are high and everyone wants one. Could save you £8k to wait a year. As a reference: https://dunsterhouse.co.uk/helena-garden-office-right-w4-3m-x-d2-7m Their prices have probably rocketed too though

Replacing it could be a lot more expensive than the gas saved. If what really bugs you is the noise from just washing hands, the cold water tap isn't a bad shout. I've seen small Ariston undercounter electric tanks that may be of interest.

Think caref6about the damp layer as well. Your first picture uses two layers on non perforated blue engineering bricks. Using plastic doc can create a real weak spot for walls like this. If you're making a 9" wall and it only has to look good on one side I can imagine you incorporating 100mm X 100mm reinforced concrete posts built in to one face. The posts would be buried a couple of feet down and lend a fair amount of strength. Would need to be confident that the posts wouldn't 'rot'.

https://thepihut.com/products/sparkfun-high-precision-temperature-sensor-tmp117-qwiic I can't remember which TI TMP sensor I used before but the TMP117 looks good. You can probably find cheaper, but one module is above.

From Pilkington themselves: "The float process emits approx 0.8 kg CO₂ per kg glass sold from both direct (fossil fuels and carbonate decomposition) emissions and indirect (electricity generation) emissions. Approximately 0.3 kg CO₂ are released per kg glass sold during the extraction, processing and transportation of the raw materials to our sites. Therefore, approximately 1.1 kg CO₂ is released in order to manufacture 1.0 kg of non-processed, glass." https://www.pilkington.com/en/global/commercial-applications/sustainability/sustainability-faq That wording is a bit clumsy or obtuse. But if you take that to mean 1.1kg CO2 is released in order to manufacture 1.0kg of float glass stock, then that's more favourable and the numbers come out as (1.1CO2/kg*10kg) / (0.23CO2/kWh) = 48kWh to make a 10kg glass pane. With ASHP that's a 48/(22.8/3.5) = 7.3 year payback time. Over the next 10 years the grid is supposed to be getting greener though which would lower that 0.23 kg_CO2/kWh figure and raise the years to carbon payback. Processing and other aspects of making a triple glazed unit, let alone the frame uplift, will take than above 10 year. With ASHP: 10 - 20 year payback CO2, 100year payback £. Without ASHP: 3.5 - 6 year payback CO2, 30 year payback £.

This paper [2] suggests 3.08kg of CO2 per kg of flat glass. The UK electricity grid generates at a CO2 per kWh of 0.23kg/kWh[3], that means that 1kg of flat glass is 13.4kWh or a 10kg glass pane is 134kWh. With an ASHP, just that part has a payback of over 20 years and without an ASHP and no PV it would be just under 6. This sourcse [5] suggests 0.5kg of CO2 per kg of flat glass (620,139 tonnes CO2 / 1.3 million tonnes flat glass) but that's on the low side of sources. This secondary source [4] puts the value at 8.4kg of CO2 per kg of glass but that seems high. [2] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288785551_CO2_emission_of_building_glass_production [3] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2020 [4] http://www.greenrationbook.org.uk/resources/footprints-glass/ [5] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416675/Glass_Report.pdf

£12.50+VAT/m for TP652 88/8-15 ouch. That's £75+VAT for a 1800x1200 window. ?

https://www.sealantsonline.co.uk/Products/Tremco-illbruck-tp600-compriband-foam-tape/TRE5040A They don't list the 20mm wide 8/15 but perhaps worth the phone call.

TP652 Compriband Trio Plus. The tape itself includes the airtightness. Has anyone used this one and gone through airtightness testing with it?

Based on the U values, I'd say one set is double glazed and the other triple glazed. If so, you might want to take a look at this other thread. Also, the company that's quoted triple glazing may do double glazing option and vice versa.

It feels like there are a whole lot of environmentally focused products that perhaps work or are needed when you are Passive house, but simply don't stack up for a house with an ASHP or GSHP. The likely 10 year payback in the PH case is still not great and there are other solutions that, like you've pointed out, have better bang for the buck. I'd still like some cheap wax in the walls though.

Yes, of course I haven't factored that in. Good point. With LiFePO4 I think you get near best case life from keeping the state of charge between 20% and 80% (don't charge to 100%). That increases the capacity required to 167%, so 4kWh of usable battery capacity would require 6.7kWh of nominal battery capacity. I think your 3x thoughts are more to do with AGM type batteries. The charger and inverter wouldn't get any more expensive and I feel I was generous enough with £400 for those. That makes for a 4kWh usable battery costing £670 + £400 = £1070 or £270/kWh. That's still near halve the cost of a likely PCM store. PCM might start to have a look in if there is no ASHP available.

I'm just reading of the graph rather than calculating the Joule-Kelvin effect. I suspect commercially available PCM looks to be a 100year payback candidate, i.e. never as it wouldn't last that long. If so, the environmental cost of manufacture would also never be recouped. It might work for a solar thermal hot water system, but again other technology would probably beat it there too (PV+batteries or just batteries).

Keystone Lintels has a PSI value calculator which says "Frame to overlap cavity min. 30mm". Probably still better to have more overlap.

I've found this interesting paper [1] that compares different window positions relative to the cavity and their affects on condensation and thermal bridging. Six different positions were compared (modelled) and conclusions drawn: Aligned with the outer face of the façade. Fixed into the external leaf and overlapping the cavity 30mm. Fixed into the external leaf and overlapping the cavity 70mm. Aligned with centre of the cavity. Fixed into the inner leaf overlapping this leaf by 50mm. Aligned with the inner face of the room. Whilst position 2 is the most common form constructed as it is "a much more robust detail" but doesn't perform as well from a thermal bridging (best: 5, 4, 3) or condensation perspective (best: 3 and 4). My Take: Given that (3) is a position near to (2) it probably doesn't reduce robustness of installation too much and so represents a good balance. The paper acknowledges that it only considers the thermal impact, not other factors (e.g. maintenance and drainage). I'm using Thermally broken lintels so suspect that would change things a bit. My gut feeling is it would reduce the benefit of 4 over 3 over 2. What choice have most made here? [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378778816316383

Oh dear, I think I have thought of two more issues unfortunately. I hope I'm wrong on the first as that's an absolute killer for commercially available PCM for everything other than immersion heater based applications in which case they are still debatable (e.g. you'd be better of with the batteries or having a small ASHP or showering in the morning which is most likely anyway). Someone please spot the mistake as this is a bloodbath. @SteamyTea or @Jeremy Harris can you throw it a lifeline? 1. Capacity measured in Heat or Electricity Equivalent? If the 12kWh Sunamp capacity is for heat, which I suspect it is (above assumed it was electricity equivalent) then the numbers are much less favourable: 12kWh(heat) = 4kWh(electricity) [1] Sunamp charged up by running the ASHP off peak. Expected cost ~£500 - 750 per kWh electricity. 4kwh Lithium batteries charged up off peak, inverter to then run ASHP. Expected cost around £200 per kWh [£100/kWh for LiFePO4 batteries and £400 for charger and inverter guestimate] (£0.21/kWh * 85% * 4kWh) - (£0.12 * 4kWh) = £0.71 - £0.48 = 23p/day I also falsely assumed you'd have the heating on all yeah (D'oh). Guess 200 days per year so £46/year or £460 across 10 years. [1] assumes a constant COP of 300%. 2. COP worse at night The Sunamp side of things gets worse due to reduced night time COP of the ASHP as well unfortunately. At night the outside temperature will be lower and so the COP likewise. Using the graph below, the COP at 3C is around 225% and the COP at 8C is around 300% (based on 50C flow temperature which has the smallest kink). (£0.21/kWh * 85% * (12kWh/(300%/225%))) - (£0.12 * 12kWh) = £1.61 - £1.44 = 17p/day [Assuming the capacity is 'electricity equivalent'] (£0.21/kWh * 85% * (12kWh/300%)) - (£0.12 * (12kWh/225%)) = £0.71 - £0.64 = 7p/day [Assuming 1 above] (£0.21/kWh * 85% * (12kWh/300%)) - (£0.12 * (12kWh/275%)) = £0.71 - £0.52 = 19p/day [Assuming 1 above and avoiding the kink] Guess 200 days of heating per year so £34/year or £340 across 10 years best case, £14/year or £140 across 10 years worst case. Perhaps 50% of the heating days manage to avoid the kink (overnight temperature above 3C would mean £26/year or £260 across 10 years. First google result for "ASHP COP graph" https://originaltwist.com/tag/cop-for-ashp/

I'm not sure the economics of a Sunamp compare favourably to batteries unfortunately. Comparing two approaches: 12kWh Sunamp charged up by running the ASHP off peak. Expected cost ~£167 - 250 per kWh. 12kwh Lithium batteries charged up off peak, inverter to then run ASHP. Expected cost around £150 per kWh [£100/kWh for LiFePO4 batteries and £600 for charger and inverter guestimate] I'd expect both to have a similar efficiency (about 80-85% round trip?). Economy 7 tariff prices are around 21p/kWh day and 12p/kWh night. Storing "12kWh" saves: (£0.21/kWh * 85% * 12kWh) - (£0.12 * 12kWh) = £2.14 - £1.44 = 70p/day That's £256/yr or £2560 across 10 year service life. Not fantastic if the outlay is £1800 up front. Not sure if off peak electricity is more polluting than peak (suns not out, but demand for wind may be lower). If it's the same, the it's less environmentally friendly to store and use due to the losses. If you charge from your own solar, or can have a cheaper homebrew PCM heat store then that's more likely to pay off.

Are you happy with how in insulation worked out. Looks easy to install.

Brilliant, shows that you did a very neat job of it.

That's a far more sensible price and I think Rockwool is less likely to puff up and restrict the ventilation gap. If I'm worried abut the ventilation gap, I guess I can use a mesh though https://www.insulationsuperstore.co.uk/product/insulation-support-netting-2m-x-100m-white.html ~£0.26/m2 @NSS you appear to have used some cool looking green straps to hold your rafter insulation in place. Can you recommend a product there?

Thanks, I do like the look of Rockwool but for our design I need to eliminate any added formaldehyde and I thing that has some (likely a very small amount). The Lambda isn't the best, but as @ADLIan points out probably doesn't make much odds: λ=0.032 175mm R=5.47 λ=0.035 175mm R=5 λ=0.038 175mm R=4.60 [I need to leave a ~50mm air gap within the 222mm rafter depth] I'll need additional material under rafter to hit what I need and I am considering 60mm of Pavatherm which has λ=0.038 adding R=1.58 or 50 or 75mm of DriTherm λ=0.032 adding R=1.56 or 2.34. Next time I'd go full fill rafters (225mm mineral wool) with sarking board outside (possibly Pavatex).

Good thought. I was also wondering if anyone has used Knauf FactoryClad 32 as I am seeing that for a fair bit cheaper than others.

Yes these can act as a diode as well.

An oscillator can be lossy so no need to violate Physics, but I am as sceptical as you. I think phase change materials (PCM) will be like a battery holding a constant voltage as the current varies. A thermal diode is a thing, but currently only at very low temperature:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_diode