Landlord claims Passivhaus first

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Environment

A 1940s semi in Elliott Drive, Wellesbourne, Warwickshire (pictured) is expected to see heating consumption drop by around 85%, low carbon engineering consultancy Encraft has claimed.

Encraft was appointed by housing association Orbit House of England to retrofit one of its 14,000 homes as part of a pilot scheme to see how adapting existing properties to Passivhaus and other low carbon standards could help slash tenants’ energy bills.

It is also claimed to be the first Wimpey no-fines (sand free concrete) construction house in the world to achieve the standard.

The Passivhaus principle is to construct or retrofit a house to minimise its need for heating and cooling by maintaining a constant temperature through effective insulation, air-tightness, triple glazed windows and the installation of a mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) system.

Energy reduction is being monitored by Coventry University and the savings are being compared with those achieved by the other half of the pair of semi-detached houses which Encraft also retrofitted but in a less extensive, more affordable manner.

Encraft Passivhaus consultant Helen Brown explained: “This project marks a turning point in the UK Passivhaus and EnerPHit sector. Not only is it the second EnerPHit project, and the first to be certified by a UK-based certifier, it has also achieved higher air tightness results than those required by Passivhaus standards, thus dramatically reducing energy bills for tenants.

“58 Elliott Drive was the first Wimpey no-fine house in the world to be retrofitted to this standard. It shows what can be achieved with this kind of building and how it can be applied to the rest of the UK housing stock.

“This gives us hope that in these times of austerity and fuel poverty, we can really make a difference to thousands of families on a limited income, in a cost-effective way and with respect for the environment.”