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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
These two books are the perfect starting place to help you get to grips with one of the most vitally important aspects of our society - our homes and living environment.

PLEASE NOTE: A download link for Volume 1 will be sent to you by email and Volume 2 will be sent to you by post as a book.

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    • CommentAuthorPeterW
    • CommentTimeJun 8th 2013 edited
     
    Hi all

    Following a couple of discussions, here is a simple Excel based heat loss calculator and domestic heating sizing method.

    Based on the Energy Saving Trust paper fact sheet and calculator, you will need to download both as the instructions are in the PDF

    http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Publications2/Housing-professionals/Heating-systems/Domestic-heating-sizing-method-2010-edition

    https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4rLWre5MvQQWm5CMVJ2VTdUcUE/edit?usp=sharing

    If you do spot any errors in it please let me know and I will update it

    Thanks

    Peter:bigsmile:
  1.  
    Very useful , shame EST have taken this ( there was an online tool for the whole house boiler sizing method ) and many other useful docs. off the web ( or just moved them to an untraceable location !)
    I believe they had a big budget cut when the CONLIB came to power.
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2015 edited
     
    I'm looking to do the heat loss calculations for my new build. Having looked at the above spread sheet it has limitations, i.e. no choice around 3g glazing or timber frame.

    Where can I find the appropriate heat loss spread sheet?
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2015
     
    Posted By: TriassicI'm looking to do the heat loss calculations for my new build.

    Which 'the' are you talking about?

    Meeting statutory obligations?

    Getting an accurate idea of heat load / heat demand?

    Something else?
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2015
     
    Posted By: djh
    Getting an accurate idea of heat load / heat demand?
    So I can size the heating system.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2015 edited
     
    So I can size the heating system.

    There's a lot of published reports rubbishing SAP, so I'd either go for a dynamic model such as HOT2000 or if your build is within its parameters, trust PHPP.

    For heating system sizing, it's the heat load that matters. Plus you need substantial overkill to heat the place from cold after a long holiday or power cut etc. You also need a backup plan for power cuts. But electric fan heaters are cheap, as are camping gas stoves etc.
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2015
     
    Duh, thanks, I'll take a look at Hot2000.

    Posted By: djhBut electric fan heaters are cheap, as are camping gas stoves etc.
    We currently use an electric fan heater and it's great for heating from cold.
    • CommentAuthorandyman99
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2015
     
    I am also just starting to try and model my house with hot2k (as of yesterday!) If you haven't already discovered them, there are some introductory tutorials on YouTube.
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeJan 16th 2015
     
    Thanks for the pointers to YouTube, I'll take a look.

    I've just started loading data into Hot2000 and I must admit I had a few head scratching moments and more than a few empty cells, but slowly but surely I'll get there.

    I was wondering if there is a user guide as well as YouTube? I've also found some of the insulation thicknesses a bit thin and no obvious user override.
  2.  
    Posted By: TriassicI was wondering if there is a user guide as well as YouTube? I've also found some of the insulation thicknesses a bit thin and no obvious user override.


    You can create your own "code" elements with whatever thicknesses you want - the built-in ones are a representative sample, but you can define what you want from the individual material elements available. Being accurate with window sizes, overhangs and location also helps correctly calculate the solar gains. The good thing about hot2000 is that its models have been verified against real test buildings (especially the model it uses for basements and the heatloss into the ground). If you have actual air tightness measurement figures, you can use these, too, to determine the air leakage losses. There are weather files available for the UK - if you can't find them, whisper me your email address and I'll send you the zip file I have.

    Paul in Montreal.
    •  
      CommentAuthorJinni King
    • CommentTimeJan 1st 2018
     
    Thank you so much for the xls version of the energy saving trust, very useful for some quick and dirty calcs to estimate radiator sizing in my retrofit.

    Also, i stumbled upon the 'missing' Energy Saving Trust paper fact sheet pdf. I've saved it to my google drive...here's a link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=17IKCsiba61Sdw0fSwpZGAe2lMY41qgYx
  3.  
    Are these resources up to date or has there been any significant changes or improvements?
  4.  
    There are 1001 free spreadsheets and software online, this one is very good
    https://heatpunk.co.uk/

    BUT

    Garbage in = Garbage out

    If you don't know accurate ACH and insulation and thermal bridge values to input, then the output will be a best guess, the 'default' values will over size your heating system by 30% or more

    BUT

    For radiator and UFH sizing that doesn't matter. It costs very little more to fit a big radiator, than to fit a small one. So just fit the biggest you can.
  5.  
    Edit to add:
    We have big windows on the south rooms, so the solar gains add lots more heat there, than on the north rooms. None of the calculations account for this accurately.

    So again, don't worry or rely too much on calculations, none of them are 'right', but you only need 'near enough' for radiator sizing and then round up.

    (Sizing the heat pump itself will be a different matter - then you don't want too big a heat pump as they don't run efficiently)
  6.  
    They pretty much come in 8, 12 or 16 variants.... I'll do some rough calculations over the weekend.

    Most pumps are inverter type so shouldn't matter too much if oversized anyway?
    • CommentAuthorcc64
    • CommentTimeAug 20th 2024
     
    heat-engineer is excellent

    there is a free to use tool

    and also a more customisable on for which £18 pcm is charged; worth it
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