Marvin

Hi @vab89 I have done a bit of digging.... My way of approaching your plan would be to check out the following personally before getting involved with Architects and builders. The major obstacles of concern for me would be: Planning: When I have been involved with extensions involving a separate access they were denied and access had to come via the main front door....!! Conservation rules: What are they? I think you will need planning permission. Check for an Article 4 Direction (A4D) which is part of planning legislation that allows the council to remove permitted development rights including changes of use from an area or a particular property in certain limited situations where it is necessary to protect local amenity or the well being of an area. Look at web site, link below, and scroll down to the bit titled: Do I need planning permission to carry outworks to a house in a conservation area? https://urbanistarchitecture.co.uk/how-to-get-planning-permission-in-conservation-areas-in-london-and-the-uk/#:~:text=Basic single-storey rear extensions,build one under planning permission. Check previous planning applications in your area: A similar application was permitted in your area, however no front door and no second story: Use this reference 22/04965/HSE https://publicaccess3.croydon.gov.uk/online-applications/ TPO: As others have said if you need to do works near a tree with a TPO, be it access requirements or foundations or drainage, this can be expensive. With limited knowledge of your home and grounds I would make the assumption that piling would be the only way forward IF a change to the existing foundations were required. However access and space for the equipment become a challenge... Drainage: Where does the rain water go? Sewer? soakaway? Will the work involve digging more holes in the ground?? I'm only being Mr negative to try and save you money. Good luck Marvin

I always usually do studwork filled, Vapour barrier PIR sealed and then fire resistant plasterboard, because then item cut into the walls (electrics for instance avoid cutting the membrane.... Others may disagree.

and then again still problems with radiation, water coolant challanges and high investment running costs....

Another dreamy headline. Will this be the one? https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/nuclear-fusion-breakthrough-clean-energy-b2466344.html

We produce twice what we use but still buy electricity because we don't produce it when its needed. Sound familiar?

Probably more like having 2 cars and driving one at a time: Tax, Insurance, MOT, purchase and deprecation all year if you use them or not. My point is I expect the UK cost of electricity to increase above the rate of inflation going forward because of all the deals, subsides, price caps, repayments, grid issues and so on. Really what we need to do is to improve storage techniques by utilising as many ways of storing energy as possible, looking at how the energy will be used before deciding how the energy will be stored.

Another added cost coming up..... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67494082

Hi @MikeSharp01 This sounds like the future once manufacturers have ironed out all of the bugs, a bit like driverless cars.

Hi @JohnMo We use weather compensation mode all the time on our ASHP, however we find we need radiators with thermostatic valves to cope with excess heat in particular rooms due to solar gain moving through the building with the sun, kitchen produced heat and rooms with TVs computers, lots of LED lights and people in. For us we would have serious problems without them.

A clear article clarifying https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/workplace-cancer/silica-dust The dust there talking about is 100 times smaller than a grain of sand.... Roughly 1 in a thousand exposed are expected to suffer ill health as a result....

Hi @joe90 My guess is electrolysers

I think designs have changed over the years. I think someone thought "why don't we put the wind turbine under the sea..."

HI @SteamyTea and @saveasteading https://tethys.pnnl.gov/project-sites/meygen-tidal-energy-project Mygen: To date, the site has two of four turbines fully operational and generated its first 50 GWh of renewable power in February 2023. The project aims to have the additional turbines operating by 2027. Good luck asking for money...

There seems to be something missing from this discussion. It's all about trying to iron out the peaks and troughs of energy production, all be it in a different way.... We have the same problem at our home, but on a much much smaller scale: Our PV energy production during the year is more than enough to meet our needs.... if only we could store it from the summer until the winter. If we were to go off grid we would need an energy production system that produced our needs over the winter which would be idle over half the year when considering the yearly cycle, and on a immediate basis, to some extent, all year. We could have a much smaller immediate energy production system during peak demand, if peak demand was supplemented because of stored energy. As I understand it, energy produced for the national grid uses systems that, whilst can produce electricity at the flick of a switch, require a long lead in time to be ready to flick the switch. When looking at this graph you can see that the higher fluctuating energy producers - wind wave and solar - are producing an increasing percentage of our energy demands. However they are less reliable in there ability to supply demand. (The one exception being wave which for some mad reason is not being utilised). This means the power has to come from other sources like gas or nuclear. Taking a simplistic view of the situation you could say that the gas and nuclear energy suppliers have to be able to cover the wind and solar supply demand at any moment. Everybody is trying to break the problem of energy demand and energy storage and this is just another spoke in the wheel. About 60% of UK household energy use is for space heating and about 35% of UK's electricity is domestic use.

I have found poor soldering of the cables to the panels before...

Welcome @builderbob89 Let the fun begin....

Looks like the can is 12 years old... date on side....06/07/2011

Hi @Mr BlobbyNo. Because I made a mistake and your right to point this out! There are several Ofgem discussions I read which discussed past, present, and future levies, but the main driver presently is the shared cost between the existing energy providers, due to the recently failed energy providers. All the money received by an electricity company goes in the same pot anyway and then dished out. From SO Energy: These industry costs include the increases in fixed network costs, this is the cost of maintaining cables and pipes that distribute energy, costs which have gone up nationwide due to changes in the labour market and inflation. An increase in policy costs applied by the government or Ofgem, such as green levies and the rise in the warm home discount rebate. Most significantly, the cost of moving everyone whose firm went bust to new suppliers as part of Ofgem's Supplier of Last Resort Process is added to everyone's bills via an increase to standing charges. https://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2023/07/martin-lewis--why-are-energy-standing-charges-so-high--what-can-/ https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-12562287/Why-standing-charges-going-energy-price-cap-falling.html

No. The Bypass is dependant on the resistance on the water caused by the length of the UFH zone pipes. However your well below the 0.47 Bar (4.7meter head pressure) that the pump is producing. Basically you want it to be set high enough that when all the zone valves are open no water passes through the Bypass valve but low enough that the pump doesn't try too hard to send the water through the Bypass valve when all zones are closed. I guess where you are is about right if you have only turned it a little. Where does the marker say you are at?

Hmm.. Is the grout swimming pool suitable. What are the pebbles? Porcelain? natural stone? Are they porous? do they need sealing? Do you seal all internal angles with silicone?

Officially a minimum of 3 meters. I use drain roads, cable access rods or a hose pipe to measure the length of the pipe underground. Which ever will go down the pipe depending upon the access angle /size.

What they want is their heads banging together....

Er... When the bypass valve is closed, the water from the pump goes more forcefully to all the zone valves. If any zone valves are open the water will flow through the zone. If they are all closed the pumping will cause the pressure to rise and the pumped water will go through the BYPASS valve as a way out (assuming its not tightened down too much) Some pumps show what pressure they run at, and that pressure has to be taken into consideration when setting the bypass. HOWEVER @JohnMo is right - wait and see what the result is.

Only in as much as it might need turning to 0.3 or further. ( change the valve a bit and wait a while to see the result, by turning the black top clockwise when viewed from above). If you still hear water passing then perhaps turn a little more, doing this when ALL zones are open.

No internal pipe insulation??