Ferdinand

I tend to think that the boilerplate recommendations are the most flawed area, and that the way they are calculated is not actually that bad for what they cost (which is a tiny amount of money - subject to me not currently recalling how they handle air leakage). And perhaps the rubber-stamping approach by owners / developers / estate agents is a weakness - though I can't see a way around that without a permanent hike in energy prices; that is the only time mainstream people seem to pay attention. (Warning: Fag paper arithmetic incoming) However, even a saving of say 1 tonne kg of C02 per property per year, multiplied by 22-23 million houses, would be 22-23 million tonnes per year. Which is nearly 5% of the current UK total.

How did you evidence the extra insulation? And how much of it was there? (When I renovate something, I make sure there is somewhere the detail can be viewed, or have documentary proof.) If they do not see evidence, there is a series of assumptions in the procedure they have to follow instead. If they insist on following the assumptions despite the sufficient evidence for an easy life, then afaics you need to make them correct, or get a different EPC or a later EPC of your own if you need it for your purposes.

I read that as Cotswold Dolt Upper. As if the Queen counts dolts like Swans. Well, I make it one outright and one possible, from the three.

I would recommend you to take this question over to here as well, where they have 129 pages of similar threads: https://forum.gardenersworld.com/categories/garden-design

In mine I usually install a walkway over the bottom layer between one run of joists if needed, and put the top layer back on. With a notice. Cheaper than repairing a ceiling a tradesman has put a foot through.. *polishes nails for once* ? 57 to 67 seems to be quite a lot to me. How much C02 and kWh did that say it saved?

Welcome. Ideally we need a plan, plot plan, north arrow, entrance indication and nearby buildings - to an approx scale. A google satellite view would be a good start, plus a sketch plan. Probably on a new thread. F

Of course Ferdinand is right. Bah humbug as if it needs mentioning ! Everyone knows that except for: (... List of 4752 named individuals removed for Data Protection reasons ... the Mods)

You may get your loft insulation free if you play your cards right. Find your local ECO3 organisation, and do a touch of homework. Plus: an example of how to approach cost control / optimisation:

Interesting isn't it? All of those except perhaps 4 have been on the "basics" list since the 1980s/1990s ?. And yet, still...

@tjure2k Two more things I need to say. 1 - Take a *really* serious look at doing a newbuild not a rebuild. It will give a better result, exactly what you want and may well (often the clincher) be more cost effective due to no VAT and no CIL (if you are 'eligible' to pay it.). 2 - Issues around cooling on well-insulated houses can be huge, and is a major theme on BH. At one level you can eg get a reversible ASHP, but it needs to be a KEY element of your reno or build.

How has your "pipes only to outside" Joule Aero ASHP worked out? Ref:

Yes, I think solar does still make a difference. I broadly take the "massive disruption" point ??. That is where mine is - extension / rebuild took it to EPC 74C in 2009, and it would be unjustifiablee to gut it for a another decade or two, so it is now tactical. However - on your point quite a lot of improvement schemes have an EPC as part of the process iirc - eg for a time solar FIT was restricted to higher EPC number, some projects do "before and after", and rentals are regulated on it so have to be able to demonstrate a minimum level. Now, an E - due to go to a D soon. Since newbuild is only about 0.7% of the stock per year, it would not shift the average *that* much, and (checking) the ECO programme has now done nearly 3 million "Energy Efficiency Improvement Actions". The English Housing Survey is sample based, so quite robust. However, dig into the data from the EHS and you can see the shifting between bands, and other aspects improving. Not fast enough, as ever, but improving. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945013/2019-20_EHS_Headline_Report.pdf eg EPC C's are up from 11% to 38% in 3 years, whilst the total newbuild is only about 6-8% of the stock. eg eg 2

They do expire - usually after 2 years in my experience, but a - Planning may not notice the date. b - The consultant may update it at a minimal fee. Ask. c - An existing report is useful research for a new one. Check. d - Sometimes the data can be reused or purchased - often for eg traffic surveys or ground testing etc.

I did a thread about a 1960s one here. Not quite the same, but some stuff will be useful - especially perhaps my non-intrusive way of running services. Does it have asbestos? Have a look at raising the door heights (depends on ceiling) and putting in say 100mm of Celotex over the slab.

You can always ask a mod. Just PM any of us, or use the general message form. I've put Mod Cat Avatar back up. In Scotland there are something like 2 million to do. In England something like 24 million. Assuming 80% of dwellings. It needs an industrial strategy like the one applied to battery factories.

In rentals already happening at the edges. 3-4% extra rent is possible here, for example. If houses can only be sold with a C, it will get discounted by cost-to-renovate a couple of years before. The people who get spanked will be those who do poor renovations. There is a certain amount of squealing going on in the LL community, especially about the proposed 10k you have to have spent on EE before you get an exemption. I'm wondering about penning a "grow the f*ck up, you''ve known about this since 2013" to the NRLA mag. My EPC adviser told me an anecdote about a cheapskate who had drylined with 25mm of insulation, when the EPC procedure says ignore anything under 50mm ?. I'd say that the Mail are trashing EPCs because they know it is happening. And I am not so sure that our housing stock is *that* terrible anymore (despite the perma-Henny-Penny lobby) - though by BH standards it is poor. It seems that the average EPC value in Scotland is 67, and in England about 63-64. now. England graph over time from English Housing survey. The drivers of the Social Sector better values are a - Investment by Govt, b - More flats, c - Newer Stock. I've never looked up just how much C02 that has saved already, but it's a lot. Nor have I compared to other comparable countries (which means mainland Europe but we were nothing like so demolished in WW2 so have older stock.) Perhaps Ireland or Denmark are the only real comparators? I wonder what Gas Bills would be if we were all still at EPC E?

CORRESPONDENCE Request acknowledged.

Thanks for this. I started listening. But Ye Gods 34 minutes ?. Might gird my loins later with a cup of coffee and a tot of whiskey. (Listening, hoping most of it is questions ?). Most of your summary seem to be very sensible points. It's good that they are not doing the titfer-tatfer England thing. The overall "68% reduction by 2030" is the same. General question - how much reliance is placed on the Electrical supply being decarbonised? In England quite a lot - but in England there is a *lot* of windpower coming on stream in the next few years. IIRC for "zero carbon homes by 2030", in England decarbonisation of the power supply contributes ~20% of the journey to ZC homes. I'm interested how they will separate out "heating" from eg "cooking" or "using the oven"? Difficult to judge. 1m homes is about 38% of the Scottish housing stock. According to the score-card, in 2018 43% were EPC C or better. 1,000,000 homes is roughly the total rental stock from Councils, HAs etc. That should be low-hanging fruit, based on the above. 43% already done by 2018, and looks to me to be slower than the existing trend. A conservative target to demonstrate "got there early" success? Unless they are really going to hit a brick wall getting Owner Occupiers to comply. A shock for owner occupiers - previously talk has been of 2045 aiui. That may the most challenging measure by the look of it, depending on the date of the requirements. A lot will need big renovations before sale. But I like it. 2030 as implementation date might be more sensible. They have to move rental and owner-occupied in tandem otherwise it would cause a crisis for renters as LLs gave up. Scottish private rental rental stock is some way down from the peak (-10% by 2018 ish). This combined with rent controls could cause a problem - maybe a sell off in the next few years. A canary in the coalmine for England to watch, perhaps - if any Govt consider applying rent controls here. In line with English suggestion. Demanding but sensible. Will need careful exceptions. Targeting oil? (135k oil heated homes in Scotland) What are the alternatives? What counts as a boiler? Suspect that rural wood is a loophole. Is that averaged across homes-needing-improvement or all homes? Ferdinand

(If you want a distraction from useful work today, this is it.) Do you have a data-based reference showing that most people on bikes are not courteous, please? If you are next to them at a junction, isn't that the opportunity to overtake? (And a paragraph reference from the Highway Code, if you have one?) That sounds fair enough comment, @markc. F

I don't think you will. Get him to put some MDF in his chosen surface protector outside for the winter.

Looks good. For next year, you should perhaps have started already: https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/vegetable-seeds-to-sow-in-october/ (Though I would be watching the old runs of The Beechgrove Garden, given where you are.) My gardening has been less productive this year; it feels a little wasted. Though certain projects have persisted.

That's what I say when there is some distraught Mr Toad trying to squeeze past dangerously someone on a bike in order to get forward to the traffic jam at the next junction 7 seconds early, in order to wait 7 seconds longer.

If there is a gate there already, you should be able to argue that it is an improvement. If not, you may need to put it back from the road one vehicle length. Talk to Highways, which will probably be your unitary, National Park, county, or Borough.

You can do whatever you like, subject to any legal requirements and what the vendor is willing to do, and enforcement being practical. But it needs the correct advice, and professional drafting, and that costs.

I love the idea of a "free lancing" website in that typo ? Calling Sir Gawain...