Having gained their approval Hardy and Brigid set out to find and plan their dream home. After much searching they discovered that the German home builder meisterstueck Haus had just established themselves in the UK and would offer a quote for the fixed shell cost and honour it for 12 months.
"We wanted a south-facing pitched roof to gather solar energy," said Brigid. "We had thought to use a gas boiler for the underfloor heating and to heat the water in the house when the solar thermal panel isn't kicking in.”We did the sums, however, and realised that when considering the cost of reinstating gas pipework, gas meter, the extra pipework inside the house, as well as the gas standing charge, sticking to electricity was the Financially viable option. So we decided an an air source heat pump."
The eventual specification included two solar heat panels, linked into the house's hot water system, and a heat recovery system in the roofspace, which also supplements the air- source heat pump installed on the north wall. To meet with the couple's green agenda they also specified rainwater harvesting, plumbed to feed the loos and the washing machine. "Getting planning proved completely straight-forward," said Brigid. "We took all the planners' advice and I think, in the end, they were pleased that they'd have an eco-friendly house in the parish."
BUILDING BEDROOMS INTO THE ROOFSPACE WAS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE BUILDING AT AN APPROPRIATE HEIGHT, ALONGSIDE BUNGALOWS IN THE STREET
SOLAR WATER HEATING ON THE SOUTH-FACING ROOF HAS NOW BEEN JOINED BY A PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY
THE OPERATIONAL END OF THE RAINWATER RECYCLING AND AIR-SOURCE HEATING IS TUCKED AWAY IN THE UTILITY ROOM
Built From a Bungalow Part 1
Built From a Bungalow Part 3
Built From a Bungalow Part 4
Built From a Bungalow Part 5
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