Thu, 25 Jun 2026 01:15:11 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6596 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6596 Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:10:00 +0000 Robur
A couple of years ago we started looking at monitoring our post construction building performance, we found the cost of doing this to be quite high so started sourcing lower cost technology to allow us better coverage for the funds available. As time goes by we are continuing to source useful products at affordable prices and are now making them available on www.airsensor.co.uk for wider use.

Our latest find is a CO2 monitor & controller that shows current air quality and allows the switching of a fan (or other active device) at a definable CO2 set point. Useful to determine if adequate ventilation is being achieved in airtight constructions, visual warning for when windows should be opened in schools and offices and control of fans to ensure unnecessary ventilation is minimised.

http://www.airsensor.co.uk/shop.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=8&category_id=2

More tools will become available in the next few months as we develop them.

Apologies for this semi-AD, we hope it is useful to those, who like us, want to monitor buildings but don't have big budgets.

www.airsensor.co.uk]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6567 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6567 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:42:47 +0000 adh
I have a rain harvesting system fitted which automatically switches over to mains water when the tank gets low. However there is no indication of the tank contents which is annoying as it's useful to know when the tank is running low. I know other systems have LED indications, or digital readouts, of the tank level but our system doesn't (Rewatec McRain). I've contacted the company who makes the system but all they have is a visual flag which is attached to the top of the tank and sticks up when the tank is empty! Not ideal in a domestic setting!

Does anyone have any links or information on a third party indicating system I could fit to provide details of tank quantity?

Thanks for any information :bigsmile:]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6378 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6378 Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:35:41 +0100 undrill
Data on how far we could use a thermal store to feed low water content radiators if required.

Any idea?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6277 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=6277 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:27:52 +0100 royjenkins The report highlights the importance of "embodied energy " and "transport embodied energy " and durability/ long life
The Report is now available on Google Documents please use this link to access the Report: https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1SVEgMhb8DCk3iKYiYgJQWVqBhv-b0dRKnffREI1Qu8g&hl=en
Copy the link above into your toolbar.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5447 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5447 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:03:05 +0000 Luke.Smith
Ideally I'm after BRE Green Guide ratings. I know hempcrete is used on a prototype house at the BRE Innovation Park, Watford. However, there appears to be nothing published by BRE about the environmental lifestyle impacts of the material.

:confused:]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5994 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5994 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:59:07 +0100 Paul in Montreal
Total electricity consumption: 14,990kWh
Total gas consumption: 210m³ = 2322kWh
Total energy used: 17312kWh

Total energy per heated floor space per annum (excluding basement): 96.4kWh/m²/year
Total energy per heated floor space inc basement: 65.9kWh/m²/year

Not bad for a 112 year old house with not much insulation ... I guess the GSHP really helps keep the consumption low.

Paul in Montreal]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5611 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5611 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:16:08 +0100 djh

Please complete the survey related to building energy
simulation programs and computer programming at:

http://www.kwiksurveys.com?s=KJNEJM_c97fe163

I'm trying to understand the level of interest in
collaboratively creating software for the building energy
simulation community. Even if you don't do computer
programming, your answers to the survey will be valuable.

The survey will end April 9 and shortly after that date, I
will post the results to the BLDG-SIM mailing list.

Feel free to forward this invitation to anyone using
building energy simulation programs.

Thanks for you help

Jason

PS My apologies for any cross posting.
--
Jason Glazer, P.E., GARD Analytics, 90.1 ECB chair
Admin for onebuilding.org building performance mailing lists]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5558 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5558 Sat, 27 Mar 2010 17:09:30 +0000 jamesingram
http://www.aecb.net/cbpd/cbpd.php
"The AECB has developed this on-line database as a resource to display information about the design, construction and performance of low energy buildings. Information about low energy projects can be provided by AECB members who are designing, building or occupying such buildings. The information will be publicly available on the website with the aim of advertising and explaining the actual performance that can be achieved, the energy design standards in use, the construction methods, materials and equipment involved. "

http://www.aecb.net/cbpd/cbpd_index.php]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5432 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5432 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:16:42 +0000 jules
Does anybody have a source of data, or even their own, which indicates the typical range of heating/HW requirements for an average house, preferably in kWh/day or year/square metre floor space or cubic metre volume? I'm sure such figures already exist on this forum somewhere, but it ain't easy to find!

Thanks]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4678 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4678 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:44:43 +0100 SimonH
They now have an interactive map which shows all their their third party generators, broken down by type (wind, water, pv, solar thermal), rated capacity and annual generation.

Whilst there are no month by month figures, you can get an ideas of the range of what real world people are getting per year. There's over 600 sites listed across the UK. All sizes.

You can also get an overlay of wind capacity/solar insolation/rainfall to see what raw resource is avaiable.

F.A.B. I don't know anywhere else where there is this much real world data publicly available. If you do please post a link!

http://www.goodenergygeneration.co.uk/about-us/where-our-energy-comes-from.aspx

Simon.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4899 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4899 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:51:57 +0000 Peter-from-CG-e
Just wondering. My best this month is 41 degrees c top and base of the tank on the only sunny day this november. I was really pleased, specs are home built controller based on Picaxe micro, one (where usually two would be fitted), evacuated gas glass tube panel and a solar spec tank with a secondary heating coil attached to our wood burning stove.

Worst so far is 27 degrees bottom tank, 38 top of tank. Not had to fire up the burner yet. This is my first winter with solar hot water and I am really impressed.

How is your set up doing?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5356 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5356 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:41:16 +0000 adwindrum
Has anyone had an air tightness retest done 5 or 10 years down the line?

Is air tightness a geeks phenomenon that isn’t expected to endure the test of time...]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5245 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5245 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:14:48 +0000 RobinB
Their results UK measurement method - 0.38 ach @50Pa or 0.41m3/(hm2) @ 50Pa,

Hope link works, you might need to sign up to read it all.

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3156902&channel=747&c=3]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4821 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4821 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:52:09 +0000 shelterre
Any pointers would be welcome.

Thanks]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4994 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4994 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:07:53 +0000 lenchambers https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4504 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4504 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:48:29 +0100 RobinB
The initial calcs were done based on Windows u 1.1, walls u 0.13, roof 0.2, floor 0.17. 4 square metres flat plate solar collectors. First variant increased roof U value from 0.2 to 0.14, the second added 1 KW PV, the third left off the solar hot water panels.

I was surprised to see no change at all in energy requirement for space heating in any of the variant (12052.18kWh/year). Assuming it was an error I called SAP-man and he said that was correct and that it's not a design tool and some default value - based on he know-not-what was used.

Does this make sense? I couldn't believe at first that there was no difference! Am I at the eco-point where the changes I can make will add very little benefit for quite a big outlay? And that perhaps the added materials would not recoup the cost of their manufacure (in carbon or money terms) in their lifetime.

For example would it make much difference if the wall were just 0.19? ( I could save the hassle/expense of insulated plasterboard).

Is there another way to go about this that isn't too expensive?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4597 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4597 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:05:33 +0100 georgetomos
Has been occupied constantly and summary of energy use is as follows:
Main heating system - Woodburner and some passive solar
Water Heating - Direct LPG water heater
Cooker & Fridge - LPG
LPG consumption has been an average of 35 Kg per month. (cooking, fridge and hot water)
Wood log consumption has been 1.5 tonnes to date
The 390 W PV array runs all the lighting , small power and also the pump from the spring to the holding tank.
This has been beefed up by a further 260W for the coming winter - we'll see how it goes.
I have no data on the PV performance only that to date and no call for the backup generator, apart from guests leaving things on by mistake a couple of times, there have been no issues - we will see how things are in the winter.


link to website below www.beudybanc.co.uk]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4555 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4555 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:32:36 +0100 GBP-Keith
I'm of the opinion that consumption actually rises and I would really like my assumptions proven incorrect, if possible.

What I would need:
system explanation.
one year of data (electricity consumption) prior to the installation.
one year of data following installation

All other monitoring data would be nice but not necessary.

You can either post your data here or request my e-mail through our helpdesk:
https://www.greenbuildingpress.co.uk/support.php

regards, Keith]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4466 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4466 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:59:31 +0100 Steffen595
I am trying try to make some infrared pictures of my house, to check for heat losses.
I just modified my webcam like this

http://www.hoagieshouse.com/IR/

but it would still need an infrared light source (2.5 lux sensitivity) . Is there anything else, like a CCTV module I could hook up to my PC?

Cheers,

Steffen]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4097 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=4097 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:56:01 +0100 delboy
Can anyone recommend a logger which measures both power load and overall energy consumption? The logger would then be able to upload data into Excel.

I'm envisaging a bit of kit which measures power load every 5/10/30 seconds and every 1/2/5/10/30 mins (for example), as well as giving energy used every hour/day/week/month/year.

If anyone can recommend anything in particular, I'm interested.

Cheers

PS Also if I'm missing something obvious please say so]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3505 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3505 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:45:45 +0000 Matt
The turbines were installed in Feb 05 (fairly sure on that....cannot get exact date!), 2no Proven 6kw, about 200m ASL on north slope of a hill on the south shore of Loch Tay. Cost £45,708, including and educational package for those who stay at Ardeonaig Centre and the local villages. Projected savings were IRO £2000 per year.

Since then the output reads 42,378kwh (on centre 'display' board) in the 4years.

Assuming (current, not 2005) cost of 11p per kwh or electricity we have £4661 of savings, or £1165 per year.

The project has a computer 'on' 24/7 to record data and send back to various places / run the display board:

60w load (estimated for computer) X 24 hours a day x 365 days per year X 4 years = 21,024kwH, or £2,312

I don't know the maintenance costs of the turbines.

Is my maths right? :confused:]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3850 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3850 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:22:28 +0100 a_russell https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2977 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2977 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:35:37 +0000 Ed Davies
http://www.rapidonline.com/Tools-Fasteners-Production-Equipment/Test-Equipment/Thermometers/Miniature-infrared-thermometer/72890

It works quite well and I've used it quite a bit to help understand what happens with heat in my house. However, while doing this experiment:

http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2849&page=1#Item_29

I found a bit of a trap with using them.

The first time I tried the experiment I measured the wall temperature and it showed 9 °C. I removed the glazing and measured the temperature where it had been and it, I thought satisfactorily, showed a slightly lower reading. I then swapped over to the area which had not been covered and tried again and it showed a still lower reading and as I watched started counting down in temperature.

My first thought was that the batteries were being affected by the cold as I use rechargeables which are only 1.2 V whereas this device really prefers 1.5 V and only works of the rechargeables when they are pretty much full. However, it does have a battery level warning and that wasn't on and it was cradled in my hand so kept a bit warm - particularly the batteries which are on the bottom.

I tried it indoors and it seemed to work fine. I left it outside for a while then tried it on various things and it seemed to give sensible and stable readings.

My conclusion is that when the thermometer is being used to measure things much cooler than itself the radiation from either the lens or the shield around it is sufficient to mess up the reading. The moral of this story is, therefore, to cool the thermometer down as much as possible before use with cold objects.

At some point I might try wedging some foil round the shield to reduce its emissivity.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1677 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1677 Sat, 03 May 2008 20:38:57 +0100 GBP-Keith
8 no BP Solarex 60 watt 12 volt panels.

Wired in pairs to give 24 volts.

20 metres from battery bank connected using 10mm cable.

Battery bank is 1680 amphours.

BP 20 amp solar charger.

Top array of this photo:]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3411 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3411 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:32:21 +0000 Paul in Montreal
For the past 30 days (average temperature -13.5C) I consumed a massive 11m3 of gas, i.e. 119kWh. We use gas for hot water and cooking (family of 2 - and I like long ~15 minute) showers. Shows what a nice job the desuperheater on the GSHP does in preheating the hot water :)

Paul in Montreal

For the year of 2008, we used 2350kWh of gas; for the year of 2007 2214kWh - the extra in 2008 is because my Mum came to stay for 3 weeks :shocked:]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3334 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3334 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:53:41 +0000 MarkK
we'd like to monitor:
collector temp
cylinder temp
useful solar energy delivered to the cylinder
total DHW usage (volume and temp)
pressure drops in solar circuit

the problem we've found is this:
1) you can use extra bits of resol kit that talk to the controller, plus a wireless broadband router.... cost is £400+....too much
or
2) some nifty and cheap temp, pressure and flow sensors but they're commercial and need an expensive data logger or mini bms system to interpret... cost £800 plus

both of these are too much for a domestic install.

thanks for any pointers!]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2686 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2686 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:06:38 +0100 Hoovie System is an Evacuated Tube system, facing South mile from the coast of East Devon. Solar Contoller is a Resol and Storage is a 170L Thermal Store, not usually heated by any other means (There is an Immersion fitted as a backup in case of Boiler Failure and a feed from a Rayburn Gas-Fueled Range, currently not connected and used infrequently even when it will be)
Solar Heated Water is fed to a Fully Modulated Combi Boiler that raises the water temp to 60 Cel and then sends to taps (via a TMV that reduces temp to 53Deg for safety)

Data

System logs 4 temperatures every 5 minutes - Collector on Roof, Return after pump, Top of Storage Tank, Bottom of Storage Tank

I will post Graphs of the data so anyone interested can judge the effectiveness of Solar Systems over time once I work out how to post images!]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2342 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2342 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:02:11 +0100 GBP-Keith
1. Our consumption goes up and down with the amount of available energy. Some element of draconian rule is enforced during shortages and profligate uses goes on in times of high generation such as cook-ins washing and bathing.

2. The monitoring of the wind turbines is approximate due to the lack of DC total generation meters and the absence of advance monitoring components in wind turbine installations at present. Not sure why this is. it may be that wind turbine manufacturers are shy of us knowing the true output of their kit.

3. A small amount of generation from a micro hydro has to be worked in here soon but the contribution is tiny and the unit is only used in times of extreme energy shortage.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2968 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2968 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:40:56 +0000 brushedmoss
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-10/1325697/power.jpg]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2976 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2976 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:14:00 +0000 tony
The house will have a basement -- it is very easy to build in probes/thermocouples but quite difficult to retro fit them.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2543 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2543 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:23:25 +0100 Ben GreenHomes https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2057 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2057 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:10:58 +0100 Mantra The thesis is on solar heated hot water panels. There is very little UK based reliable data.

Having looked at articles, papers, some 'test bed results' and what the 'SAP2005' is based on, there is a serious mismatch on what others conclude to be or accept as rigorous data.
So, my thesis is to collate and analise as much UK data as I can get, and so increase the knowledge base, decrease conjecture and maybe dispell a few myths along the way.

Can anyone help?

Mantra]]>