Existing Building and First Plans 2006/7

 

Although we started studying climate change in February 2006 we have a lot to learn. I started by running the BBC Climate Change Experiment on 2 of my computers. I then joined the Yahoo Group ClimateConcern and have been contributing actively. I took the Open University course on Climate Modelling (S199) last year, but it is rather too specialised for my purposes.

 

The truth is very difficult to separate from disinformation so I started to assemble documents on my website www.3as.org.uk/climate , but then I met Tom Holloway, The Secretary of U3A International UK who agreed to help. Together we launched the U3A Climate Study Wiki. This is a facility for people to build a knowledge base together.

 

So far we have assembled over 250 study documents to enable beginners to start to learn for themselves. They appear on http://u3aclimatestudy.pbwiki.com/ and your comments would be welcome. The objective is that others will add documents and make this a valuable resource for all.

 

Intentions

It is intended that various types of energy are considered to include ground source heating, air source heating, solar but probably not wind energy. Maximum thermal insulation will be attempted. Existing double glazed units may be upgraded. Ample ventilation is important.

 

Estate agents will be consulted at the planning stage to assess a probable valuation but it is considered that a premium will be possible for an eco-house in 2012.

 

This document will be expanded and adapted as the plans become clearer.

 

 

Details of the Demonstration Site

 

Land Registry copy to show orientation of property. The original building is in the upper part. I have drawn the single story extension below.

Land was later purchased to extend the rear garden to 27 metres from the back wall.

 

The Estate Agent’s view of the front (all garage!)

 

 

 

and a later view

 

 

Floor areas present and intended

 

Existing Floor sizes and planned changes

Ground Floor			Area sq mts	Increased to
Lounge	5.46	4.65	25.39
Dining Room	4.57	3.66	16.73
Kitchen	4.52	3.18	14.37
Hall and Cloaks	6.00	2.30	13.80
Other Ground			2.99
Gross ex Garage		6.00	73.28	73.28
Garage	5.08	3.18	16.15
Total Ground Floor	9.22	9.70	89.43
1st Floor
Bedroom 1	4.55	3.02	13.74
Bedroom 2	3.51	2.31	8.11
Bedroom3/ Office	2.36	2.46	5.81
Other 1st Floor			16.48
Total 1st Floor Gross	4.55	9.70	44.14	73.28
Proposed 2nd Floor				30
Total Existing	13.77	19.40	133.57	103.28

Heated Space	117.41	176.56
Existing glazed area	17.35	sq metres
Proposed additional glazed	4.23	sq metres

 

 

 

The existing floor plan

 

 

Some ideas of what might be achieved (not to scale)

 

1st Floor

 

 

Second Floor

(based on a different roof line)

 

 

Roof to provide solar generation

 

 

Front with improvements to kerb appeal with drive round drive and steps

 

 

The front of the house is approximately 13 metres from the road and about1 metre above the road level. This provides an opportunity to present the house more attractively. The road is bounded by a hedge and one small oak which could form the centre of the drive around drive, which would then finish in the shared section of the drive to the right. There may be some problems getting the levels looking right.