Our solution is underfloor heating downstairs, a couple of radiators in bathrooms, and an electric boiler and cylinder to do the floor and supply hot water.
Originally we'd looked at air source heat pumps, but were told that with such low energy usage the smallest unit would be only fractionally used, and constantly switching on and off, meaning it would be many years until we recouped the installation cost through lower energy bills.
We will have solar panels on the roof, which will push us nearer to the sustainable model, if not all the way there.
We will have solar panels on the roof, which will push us nearer to the sustainable model, if not all the way there.
On the subject of floors, our new favourite thing is polished concrete. Originally dismissed in favour of liquid screed for cost reasons, since we're only doing this once, we've decided to take the hit. The example pictures we've been shown are stunning, we're hoping for similar.
The roof is now insulated and waterproofed, and awaits the solar panels. I took a pic:
Not much use in spending future summer days up here as the parapet is so high you'd be basically sitting in a bitumen-lined cell. We will have a perfectly serviceable garden to sit in, and no it won't be the graveyard.
In other news, we've now changed our plans on cladding the house, cancelled the professionally installed cement board panels, and await quotes for simple rendering, with sections of burnt larch to echo (celebrate?) the site's history. Those panels will be black and will stand out against the render, which will be light in colour to sit well with the lime-mortared stonework around it. Again, the rendering is a much cheaper solution and helps to pay for the polished concrete floor.
It was a bit surreal yesterday, when we actually had a conversation about bathroom fittings, flooring and décor. After these past two and a half years it really does seem like a dream.
Pinch me someone :-)
More later
I’ll pinch you :-)
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