Marvin

Hi @SteamyTea Isn't it more important to look at what happens if we don't hit net zero emissions, this being so far away from what is being achieved? The other thing to consider is the effect on the planet due to counter measures taken to hit net-zero emissions.

I think we are already at that stage. Using your analogy a few mines collapsing killing lots of people will be next. I think the first real pain will be the collapse of food security. The planets history of change also includes many extinct species not killed off by humans, and the planet adaptions have not always been human friendly!

True but sadly the standard of those properties will not be tough enough for the harsher environment. Drainage designed for 100 year events will have to cope with these events every 10 years. Brickwork mortar strengths will need to be increased Roof covering designs will need to be upgraded against higher winds Basically exposed elements will wear quicker. The grade or wind zones will need upgrading from these: https://klober.co.uk/resource-centre/uk-wind-speed-map Let alone trying to finish your building in adverse weather conditions.... Yes "What is most urgently required is a rapid phaseout of human-induced activities that produce carbon pollution,” Let me know when this starts! Presently there are too many inconvenient changes to human behaviour required to achieve the rapid phaseout of human-induced activities that produce carbon pollution which are required to result in net-zero emissions. I think we can only rely on technical developments to offer alternatives that humans will find as acceptable behaviour changes at present. As humans are known for the "needs must" approach to global warming we will not react until the s**t has already hit the fan. Unfortunately there's no instant action giving rise to an instant result in this case. We're not talking about a hair dryer, a shower and a toaster. Elon Musk better get a move on before the weather patterns stop the launching of space rockets! Marvin

Hi @Onoff I thought all these type of properties were renovated years ago! I think it depends what your going to do with the property when its finished. Start with the end in mind....

LABC info dated October 2021 about weep holes.... https://www.labc.co.uk/news/installing-site-formed-cavity-trays

These days you should know that you need a lintel above a widow and that it will need a DPM and weep holes. I don't think that would be a detail an Architect would add in. https://youtube.com/shorts/pg_ozicK-Bg?si=eNzUMmrZQUR9YRVT

HaHa! I first brought this up in a thread on the second of January this year. The design that would work for an individual home involves the thermal store under the floor in the ground, with Mineral wool as insulation, thermal protection from rising heat in the summer, as much PV as possible, as wide an area of sand as possible to reduce the high temperature required, a waterproof structure, rust proof tubes in the sand, a blower and an electrical element above ground, thermostats and some sort of valve control for input and output of heat to the sand and to the building. The main cost would be the excavation, disposal and basement type foundations. Soon realised that an above ground external store would not work for winter heating....

LABC window fixing requirements... Fixing distances for uPVC windows and doorsets Windows and doors should be installed in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. Frames should be fixed in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations or, if no instructions are given, with the following guidance: Wherever practicable, the sides of the frame should be secured as follows: • Corner fixings should be between 150mm and 250mm from the external corner. • No fixings should be less than 150mm from the centre line of a mullion or transom. • There should be a minimum of two fixings on each jamb and sill, with intermediate fixings at centres no greater than 600mm. • If the head is fixed with polyurethane foam, then the fixings at the head may be as follows: a) Frame width up to 1200mm - no fixings; b) Frame width 1201mm to 2400mm - one central fixing; c) Frame width 2401mm to 3600mm - two equally spaced fixings. • Frames should be fixed either by galvanised steel cramps or by noncorrodible screw fixings to the surrounding wall. Note: These fixings do not apply to french doors, patio doors, or bi-fold doors. Manufacturers recommended fixing details should be followed. https://www.labcwarranty.co.uk/hubfs/Technical Manual v10 Files and Images/Manual Sections/Section 8 Windows and Doors.pdf However drilling a hole up into the lintel puncturing the DPM seems mad to me unless you use stainless steel screws and lots of waterproof sealant in the hole.

Plus 1 However the underfloor heating idea depends a lot on the amount of insulation between the source of the heat and the airgap or ground below. If you do use underfloor heating a concrete slab set on PIR insulation will indeed be a a heat store in winter and hopefully a cool store in summer. PV would be a win. What were your thoughts on hot water?

Hi @Fallowfields Bit confused. To be clear: our home quickly heats up (and can get way too hot unless we do something about it ) in the summer because of solar gain.

Screwfix advertise them as 32amp. So what is right????

Reading the box of WAGO connectors 221-413 I am confused by the writing on the side of each connector. One side says 450v/32a, the other side says 20amp 300v. Anyone? so for 240volts??

Hi @Fallowfields We have no mains gas available for our bungalow of about 100m2 floor area which we insulated to the most recent standards. We have a mechanical ventilation heat recovery system(MVHR), ASHP and PV on the roof. A new build is very suited to an ASHP in my opinion because of its standard of insulation and airtightness. We started with bottled gas and a gas boiler with radiators, and later converted to an ASHP. The real benefit with an ASHP for us is using the PV generated energy to reduce the amount of energy the ASHP uses from the grid. This you cannot do with a gas boiler. Its different to use - like the difference say between an AGA and a gas boiler, as in, you need to understand how to get the best from your system. Choose your emitters (radiators or underfloor heating or what ever way to get the heat into the room) carefully. Your thick insulation will slow the home becoming colder in winter and hotter in summer, but realise that solar gain is an important factor to take into consideration. In the mornings, in the summer, our east facing windows produce enough heat to heat the whole building in winter! Good luck. Marvin

Yes, the basic uses averages compiled from hourly records over many years. You can use the PVGIS tool to produce hourly recorded data over 10 years for each hour of each day. You just export an Excel file once you have chosen your PV location etc data. Using that information made me realise how pointless it would be for us to attempt to go off grid! Below is a data output for our setup if we had it up and running for 2011 to 2020 for each month (across the top) and year down the left side. The figures are in kW hours. Comparing the best year to the worst year production is about 4% difference either way from the average of the years. Comparing the best in a month to the worst in the same month is at the bottom. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year 2011 179 241 600 800 856 773 780 690 569 420 248 180 6,337 2012 221 286 612 689 775 702 812 647 585 310 258 185 6,083 2013 182 269 426 695 764 801 920 782 522 393 251 182 6,187 2014 222 353 647 679 795 886 931 744 573 382 228 188 6,627 2015 237 274 546 787 710 843 777 624 662 401 174 155 6,190 2016 207 312 538 707 826 706 805 785 528 460 272 190 6,337 2017 236 264 474 736 795 852 771 727 501 372 267 171 6,167 2018 191 380 431 635 883 879 927 685 611 470 289 147 6,528 2019 235 379 514 731 862 807 911 800 582 327 225 197 6,570 2020 195 286 576 816 971 821 806 737 620 341 235 184 6,588 Average 210 305 536 728 824 807 844 722 575 388 245 178 6,361 spread of KWh production over each month. High 237 380 647 816 971 886 931 800 662 470 289 197 6,627 average 210 305 536 728 824 807 844 722 575 388 245 178 6,361 Low 179 241 426 635 710 702 771 624 501 310 174 147 6,083 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year hi/mid percentage 13% 25% 21% 12% 18% 10% 10% 11% 15% 21% 18% 11% 4% Mid/ low percentage -15% -21% -21% -13% -14% -13% -9% -14% -13% -20% -29% -18% -4%

Hi @FuerteStuActually I had noticed this and forgotten. Yes I had to do the screws up and down prior to installing . But only a few had the problem.

I never thought of it that way. A bit like USA politics....

Hi @SteamyTea Thanks for that. Interesting. I think one of the problems is that every type of new invention is considered as "the" solution. I'm of the opinion that all these alternatives should be used to ADD to the pile of choices not chuck everything else away.

I prefer MK. Installed them in our home with no issues. Working on my brother-in-law's: Cheap socket broken and double light switches time 2 faulty. I'm with @saveasteading's sparks:

Doing mine I used the diameter of the outlet by the flow rate to calculate volume.

I forget all this modern technology! I will look at these on my next job.

Despite the the kW rating of an ASHP the electrical supply has to allow for the millisecond jump of power when the ASHP switches on. Fuse type , size of cable and fuse amperage all different than we expected, prior to reading the CE-iVT9 installation manual.

and don't forget to thank the valves for their 28 years of service. Do they have a name on them?

Could try this https://www.diy.com/departments/kair-ducting-reducer-200mm-to-150mm-8-to-6-inch-duct-pipe-reduction-connector-for-extract-fans-and-ventilation-units/5060272542092_BQ.prd

Hi @Ambaz79 Will the log burner be room sealed?

Hi @Alan Ambrose Stripped off the topsoil and part of the clay leaving the ground slightly sloping and replaced the topsoil. However the garden was not very big. We also found that planting large plants in the boarders meant that in the winter their roots sat in ponds and for example all the lavenders died. M