Green Homes Network

Rather than restrict their architect to simply achieving current building standards, the Carters encouraged them to create a comfortable and future-proof self-build property – a “home comfortable for us and attractive to others should we have need to sell it”.

As Mr Carter says: “In our case we were starting from scratch and have done several things we could do at little extra cost which would have been difficult or expensive to do later”.

The Carters’ timber framed home, built in 2016-17 is heated with an air source heat pump and underfloor heating, along with a log burner for occasional use. They chose the option of underfloor heating because, with a low temperature water system, the size of radiators required would have been too large for their taste.

They also generate their own electricity with a solar PV system on their roof and the installation of a Tesla battery enables them to store any energy they don’t need for use at a later time.

Installing renewables as part of the build made maximising effectiveness of their renewables systems straightforward with heat loss and energy efficiency addressed at the same time; installing insulation, double glazing, zonal heating controls and A-rated appliances throughout.

A mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system was also installed. This enables a good rate of air change while losing less heat than through window vents. So the home is both well insulated and well ventilated – and never “stuffy”.

Being based in a rural location off the gas network meant investing in a renewable heating system was an obvious choice. The Carters’ first port of call was the Green Homes Network where they read case studies to help assess their own requirements with the advice of their chosen installers.

Their installers, found locally, were able to assist with the technical aspects of their plans and the couple are now also receiving payments for the heat and electricity they generate from the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive and Feed-In Tariffs schemes.

To those thinking about installing renewables Mr Carter recommends researching the options and costs when thinking about the merits of each technology. The Carters considered both air and ground source heat pumps and are confident either could have been a viable option for their own circumstances. For air source heat pumps Mr Carter advises:

“Think about the controls. The air source heat pump controls would vex anyone without a technical background should you need to alter them.  We have decided that setting the thermostats to heat all the time (rather than off/on periods of the day) suits us best. Think about access for maintenance or modifications. We decided to have a ‘plant room’ to keep everything together in one place (heating equipment, water supply, ventilation equipment and electrics). And heat pump location is important – drifting snow can ‘bung it up”, Mr Carter says.

This is the first home the Carters have heated with renewables and they are certain the work has been worth the time and effort. Of living in a property with an air source heat pump and built with energy efficiency in mind Mr Carter says “our new home is great, I can say is that it is different and most satisfactory”.

Dated - 7 February 2019