Existing stock – in practice

I’ve received some interesting feedback to the Ecobuild posting on the urgent need for retrofitting the existing housing stock. Russell Smith from Parity Projects writes in to tell me his firm started an eco-refurbishment of a three-bedroom semi detached house last May after two years preparation. He’s also handily producing a newsletter informing anyone interested on developments on the upgrade to the Victorian property. The aim is "to prove that energy and water use can be reduced to the lowest levels possible whilst maintaining the expected comfort levels and routines for the ooccupants, using tools and materials that are readily available to all householders".

The practical measures underline the point made by Paul Ruyssevelt from ESD in his speech on Tuesday. This is very much at the "unsexy end" of the eco movement , hence it receives less headlines. Work carried out on the house includes bricking up windows and doors, replacing windows, removing a chimney breast and lifting floor boards to install underfloor heating. The latest newsletter discusses the relative merits of using concrete or limcrete as well as running through the latest materials suitable for insulation.

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