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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
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General: Is it the existing stock...stupid?

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    In Germany existing building stock is being refurbed to using PassivHaus technologies. Some have achieve the PH standard also. Sadly I've no stats on how many building have been refurbed to this level but I have seen 2 appartment buildings. In Hannover and Frankfurt schools are also being refurbed to PH standard. There are complications and thermal bridges can not always be resolved the range for a PH refurb is between <15kWh/m2/annum to 32kWh/m2/annum. The existing UK building stock will equate to 70% of the building stock of 2050. As I understand it Germany wants to reduce its CO2 emissions 36% by 2020 as a consequence the whole of Germany is being retrofitted to virtually the AECB Silver Standard by 2025. The policy applies to all pre-1978 masonry buildings (except for listed ones which are usually internally-insulated).

    Mark
    • CommentAuthorJohn B
    • CommentTimeMar 10th 2008
     
    Chris, I'm inclined to go for a Transition Town as there is more likely to be the support of like minded people. The trouble is that old market towns tend to have lots of houses with small gardens, and unaffordable houses with big ones.

    Mark, How come Germany can do this when all we can do is talk about new coal fired power stations?

    Can anyone recommend a good web site or book that covers this area? I have quite a good general knowledge (for a non building professional), but think I need to know more to be able to choose the right place to buy. I want to be able to do my own quick plan and costings before making an offer. Then I can get the experts in to (hopefully) confirm I've got it right.
    • CommentAuthorjon
    • CommentTimeMar 10th 2008
     
    I caught the debate Mike

    Can't say that I remember any of it other than that it was enjoyable but not in a way that actually meant anything

    jon
    • CommentAuthorBowman
    • CommentTimeMar 11th 2008 edited
     
    Posted By: Mike George

    Not quite sure what point you are making with your second paragraph.



    Oh I love a good moan! My second paragraph was a bit rushed (well very), but my point really is that the vast majority of people, politicians included don't realise the issues that are going to face us over the next thirty years, much less what to do about it, and yes I totally agree that tackling the existing housing stock should be a much higher priority. A bit of extra loft insulation, changing a light bulb, and banning carrier bags??? Is that really the best our society can come up with, I don't know whether to laugh or cry?

    p.s. Oil just hit another high $108
  5.  
    How do you force improvements in the existing stock?

    What about a statutory duty on gas suppliers (and where there is no mains gas, then the electricity supplier) to send a DEA into your house, at their expense, every 5 years, or on request, for an inspection (we could then scrap HIPs).

    HMG could mandate that certain energy efficiency measures are now compulsary and would be organised free of charge by the utility. Cost to be recharged to a central fund that would be financed through issuing bonds with the interest and repayments funded by a levy on energy bills.

    This removes the initial cost to the householder which is what puts most people off and spreads the cost over time through higher utility bills (which are themselves a good thing as they would reduce consumption). The aim would be the gradual improvement of the EPC rating for the whole of the existing stock over the next 20 years to the best that it can be at reasonable cost.
    • CommentAuthorBowman
    • CommentTimeMar 11th 2008
     
    Ditch ALL these daft grants, ditch VAT on all certified products, require all builders undertaking work requiring inspection to be qualified just like plumbers and sparks, link stamp duty and council tax to SAP or the code for sustainable homes, force utility companies to charge more the more we use not less, and dare I say it educate, educate, educate.

    Gosh sorry if thats a bit aggressive :shocked:
    • CommentAuthorarthur
    • CommentTimeSep 22nd 2008
     
    Part of the problem is that even the cheap, cost-effective, easy things aren't free of complications. Loft insulation raises issues of how not to utilise storage space that installers can't be bothered with. Draft proofing doors and windows is fiddly and unless the owner is a keen DIYer its tricky to get done - tradesmen aren't interested and getting them to pay sufficient attention to detail is difficult.

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