SUSTAINABILITY
Open Eco Homes Directory HERE’S A SNEAK PREVIEW OF SOME OF THE HOMES THAT WILL BE SPILLING THEIR SUSTAINABILITY SECRETS
1600, timber frame, Hartest DEEP RETROFIT
Purchased by architect Ralph Carpenter (co-author of the LETI Retrofit Guide) and wife Jenny in the 80s, this stunning space has been retrofitted with natural materials and extended to house the kitchen and downstairs bathroom separately. Windows are triple-glazed and the walls have been covered with 80mm wood fibre board and foam glass along the bottom edge. 1905, semi-detached, Cambridge ZERO CARBON PHASED RETROFIT Featuring extensive cladding (for low maintenance), sash windows fitted with vacuum panels, underfloor and internal insulation, this Edwardian home is set to become carbon-free in two years, with help from low-carbon service Ecofurb. 1929, semi-detached, Impington EXTENSION & RETROFIT The owner of this house has installed a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system that extracts moisture from the building, replacing it with filtered air warmed by the outgoing air as it passes through. The property was extended and retrofitted at the same time, so despite the floor area doubling, the gas bill was cut to two-thirds of the original.
panels, MVHRs, heat pumps and vehicle-to- grid energy transfer.
1967, mid-terrace, Oakington ALL-ELECTRIC TECH & NATURAL MATERIALS This all-electric home has an air source heat pump, demand-controlled ventilation, Mixergy water tank, along with a whole collection of other eco features. Natural materials have been used for insulation, including clay plaster, cork flooring and a green roof. 1975, three-bed semi (cavity walls), Ely ‘LIVING LAB’ Described by its owners as a ‘living lab’, this home boasts a lot of advanced technical elements, including an electric storage boiler, which connects to the existing radiator system and reserves energy overnight when electricity tariffs are lower. The owners also have an e-bike and electric car with two EV charging points, one with bidirectional charging that enables the EV car battery to store electricity for use in the home. 2021, four-bed detached new build, Whittlesford NEAR-PASSIVE HOUSE Boasting thick walls made of hollow clay blocks, this contemporary build is seriously well-insulated. It doesn’t have a heating system installed; instead, it utilises the sun’s natural energy and activities like cooking to warm the house in the cooler months. 2022, new build, Melbourn NEAR-PASSIVE HOUSE Key eco features in this property include structurally insulated panelled walls, a Sunamp heat store, green roof and rainwater harvesting tank to supply the toilet cisterns, washing machine and garden tap.
1935, detached, Oakington ENERPHIT RETROFIT
Guide, which covers how to retrofit the seven main types of home in Cambridge and its associated costs, a presentation on smart electric homes, and an air tightness demonstration. With the autumn heating crisis looming on the horizon, a talk on low-cost home energy savings is also set to make a popular return. Most of these will be held online, but in-person event The Human Library will take place at Cambridge Central Library, where experts unfurl pages-worth of wisdom on creating and maintaining an eco home. Find both invaluable insight and practical steps for reducing the carbon footprint of your own abode. Booking for all events opens mid- August and is a must for any in-person tours. Most Open Eco Homes tours will be recorded and uploaded to YouTube, meaning you can watch after they have taken place – so don’t worry too much if you miss out on securing a place! For more information and a full list of events, head to cambridgecarbonfootprint.org and navigate to Open Eco Homes under the ‘What we do’ section.
This house has been thoroughly retrofitted and extended by local builders, but retains the original look. It features EWI, hanging tiles, brick slips, an air source heat pump and solar PV system. 1963, four-bed detached, Cambridge HIGH STANDARD, MAINLY DIY RETROFIT The owner of this eco home is keen on DIY, offering advice on PV systems, solar
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK AUGUST 2022 71
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