Low Cost Thermal Upgrading of an Existing House

Abstract

The paper discusses the improvement of the thermal insulation of existing houses to reduce their energy consumption, with particular emphasis on solid walled buildings, and gives details of some of the methods available for insulating such buildings. The techniques used to improve the insulation of a Victorian house in Cambridgeshire are described in detail and the U values and heat loss of the improved house are compared with the original building and with current Building Regulations. The reduced energy demand allows the use of an unconventional heating system using coke and wood as fuels, and relying on natural convection to distribute the heat throughout the house. The operation of the house is described together with estimates of fuel consumption, which have been confirmed by the first year of operation.