Mhninja Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 Hello, my intro post. We are looking at having a Forest Centre chalet built by Solo Timber Frame. We have planning for a dwelling on the land in our back garden, 1/2 acre plot. We want to change the design to the Solo build. Has anyone used Solo? they seem very helpful at this initial stage. The intention is to get the U value as low as possible but I am unsure on the best approach for the heating / hot water. MVHR will be installed with filtration along with solar water heating tubes. I'm not sold on PV from an economic point but do like the design of in roof panels, especially with slate tiles. I am considering installing cabling for future battery storage which I'm sure will become the norm in the future. I wonder if it could be possible to just use IR radiators as the heating? We both like cool bedrooms. My wife is not happy about using a wood burner but I really like them! That leaves the hot water to sort. I would like hot and cold water to meet the taps at the same pressure. Is an air source heat pump, thermal store and under floor heating the only logical choice? Any advice welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 32 minutes ago, Mhninja said: I'm not sold on PV from an economic point but do like the design of in roof panels, especially with slate tiles Slate tiles are probably the most expensive you can get, roof integrated modules may be cheaper than normal roofing. Hunt around on here and you will find a few threads about them. 33 minutes ago, Mhninja said: The intention is to get the U value as low as possible No real point going lower than 0.1W.m-2.K-1 in reality, airtightness is very important though. You have to make sure that cold outside air cannot bypass the insulation. 36 minutes ago, Mhninja said: I wonder if it could be possible to just use IR radiators as the heating If you read the the term Far Infra Red, you know it is snake oil. Infra Red heating is a specialist product and not designed for housing, it only works within line of sight, may as well fit a fan heater, which costs a tenner. 39 minutes ago, Mhninja said: We both like cool bedrooms That is just down to sizing a heating system correctly and ventilating it. You have not mentioned ventilation, have you looked into MVHR? You will need some sort of ventilation in an airtight house. 41 minutes ago, Mhninja said: My wife is not happy about using a wood burner She is right, for so many reasons, and it will not be long till they are outlawed I suspect. 41 minutes ago, Mhninja said: That leaves the hot water to sort Sort it with the space heating, an ASHP can do both. 42 minutes ago, Mhninja said: Is an air source heat pump, thermal store and under floor heating the only logical choice? Yes, if designed and installed right. The devil is in the detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeSharp01 Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 1 hour ago, Mhninja said: Hello, my intro post. Welcome to THE forum for people like us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 Just now, MikeSharp01 said: Welcome to THE forum for people like us! Yes, I forgot the welcome as well. Where about in the country are you? Not sure Mike's comment about 'people like us' is good or bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeSharp01 Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 35 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: have you looked into MVHR? Looks like @Mhninja did - mentioned in the post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeSharp01 Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 Just now, SteamyTea said: Not sure Mike's comment about 'people like us' is good or bad. Well I decided that, by definition, if one is here then one is like us because, at the very minimum, we are also here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeSharp01 Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 39 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: ASHP can do both. Yes and there are associated upside and downside risks. EG Upside - it is a single solution, downside - the wasted heat from the tank you need to store the DHW will warm up your bedroom if its in the room below the bedroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 1 hour ago, Mhninja said: I'm not sold on PV from an economic point but do like the design of in roof panels, especially with slate tiles Go with in-roof PV, there's no point going solar tubes now with PV being so cheap plus you can do other stuff with electricity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mhninja Posted June 5, 2021 Author Share Posted June 5, 2021 Thanks for the replies. I don't mind being one of us and we are in sunny Suffolk, well, when it's not raining! We have a very old Gledhill thermal store in our current bungalow, solar input and new gas boiler feed. It's not that well insulated but it's a hell of an airing cupboard! I do like the fact that it equalises the pressure at the taps / shower even when someone flushes the loo. If we did go the PV route what is the most efficient way of transferring this energy into heating water? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Mhninja said: If we did go the PV route what is the most efficient way of transferring this energy into heating water? Combination of immersion heater and a heat pump. You will very really get enough power, for long enough, from any micro renewables to purely choose just one system if DHW heating, so you have to play the numbers games. An immersion heater can be quickly switched on and off as generation is forthcoming, but only has a CoP of 1. A heat pump does not like short cycling, and has a minimum startup current demand, so it is more usual to time it to come one during times of greatest likely PV generation, usually between 10AM and 2 PM GMT (thus does depend on solar array orientation). PV generated power will go to the nearest and biggest load first, so even if there is not enough PV power to fully satisfy the HP current draw, it will contribute to it without intervention. And a well set up system should give you a CoP if 2.5 to 3. The thing with micro generation us to not be greedy about it i.e. think that for the cost it should supply all the power, all the time. And regarding the thermal store's thermal losses, just like a house, and especially UFH, you need to insulate properly. The bigger the temperature difference, the thicker the insulation has to be. There is no magic to be found here, though people will try to sell you some. Edited June 5, 2021 by SteamyTea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 28 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: regarding the thermal store's thermal losses, just like a house, and especially UFH, you need to insulate properly. Which is why I didn’t have a thermal store but a decent insulated DHW tank and limit the water to 48’, you will need a bigger tank but my losses are very low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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