Oaklands End, Cradley - 26th October

Energy-saving improvements

Low-cost improvements
Glazing
Lighting systems and electrical appliances
Renewables: heat
Renewables: electricity
Water management
Recommended

Location

Oaklands End, 23 Oaklands
Cradley
Malvern
Herefordshire
WR13 5LA

View on map

Opening times

Opening times: Saturday 26th October
Tours at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.

Please note: One step into property, downstairs toilet, stairs if you wish to view upstairs improvements, car parking on driveway.

This event has now finished.

Other Turn up for house tours at given times

Andy welcomes you to his 4-bed extended detached home with swimming pool plus recently commissioned 2nd solar PV array and battery storage.

Modifications:

Solar PV, blown cavity insulation, heat pumps, extra loft insulation, LED lighting, 300 litre hot water storage tank, Solar PV diverter to put excess PV power into immersion, double glazing, hi-spec extension on northwest face of house, foil insulation under wood floor on concrete beams, optimised 2nd heat pump for swimming pool heating and rainwater capture. Insulated boards and PVC panels on inside of most external walls. EV charger.

Motivation to retrofit:

I have always been interested in energy efficiency and studied the subject as part of Environment Sciences BSc at UEA, graduating in 1979 - ahead of the times!

Approximate costs:

£500 for loft and wall insulation, £10,500 house solar PV (funded by 25-year scheme), additional £10,800 for garage solar PV and 15kWh battery storage system (Aug 2023), £10,000 ASHP less £7,000 grant. EV charger £1,400.

Approximate energy savings:

Reduced electricity consumption from 17 to 11MWhpa by 2021-22. Further reduced since to < 10MWhpa in 2023. Targeting < 8MWhpa for 2023-24 (net of EV!). ASHP in 2015 saved £100pm oil bill for an extra £60pm electricity.

Benefits:

Improved comfort, all-day warmth, affordable swimming pool. Some days do not require grid power input.

Future plans:

Original house has suspended concrete beam ground floor - noticeably colder under foot than the new extension in winter. I would like to insulate underneath it, using blown fibres. I am concerned that a solution needs to deal effectively with radon gas - if that is a real risk for my location.