03/09/2012 - See a Superhome for yourself!

Kit and Ellie Knowles live in what appears to be a normal, semi on the outskirts of Manchester. Built in 1909 it has lots of original features such as with solid brick walls, stained glass windows, and it is part of a conservation zone.

Traditional houses such as this do not immediately appear to lend themselves to energy efficiency improvements, but Kit took on the challenge head on. As a professional sustainability consultant, he had a huge range of new technologies to choose from. Over 18 months he and his wife have transformed what was a run down property into a state of the art Superhome.

There are many energy saving measures installed, including heat recovery ventilation, extensive draught proofing and air tightness membranes throughout, triple glazing, rainwater harvesting system, external insulation, LED lighting throughout, a micro-condensing boiler and a 93% efficient log burning stove among many others.

But it was equally important to retain the character and appearance of the property. He has created a light, airy, beautiful home, that from the outside looks just like a turn of the century, Arts and Crafts suburban home should.

The results of all their hard work have paid off.  The property has made a carbon saving of 61%, and Kit has reduced his energy bills by a staggering 80%

You can come and see for yourself, at 3 The Thorns, Chorlton in Manchester. This weekend, from 7th-9th of September, he will be opening his home for all to see. Click here to make a booking or for more information about this spectacular home.

ADM Systems have helped many people retrofit traditional homes with eco ventilation products. Heat recovery systems, ground to air heat exchangers and central vacuum systems all contribute to energy savings, and make your home a cleaner, healthier place to live in. If your home is a traditional property, and you’d like some advice on how to reduce your fuel bills and improve its sustainability, contact one of our experts.

24/08/2012 - Bank support sought for self-built homes

Kate Allen, writing for The Financial Times, reported last week on the latest developments in finance for self builders.

Individual homeowners built more homes than any of the UK’s major developers last year, leading to calls for more bank support for the self-build sector.
Over 15,300 people built their own home in 2011, according to Savills, compared with 11,171 completions by Barratt, the largest developer, Taylor Wimpey’s 10,180 and Persimmon’s 9,360.

The major housebuilders have slashed their development projects by 30-40 per cent since the peak of the credit bubble in 2007. Self-build completions, however, have remained fairly steady, prompting suggestions that the government’s Funding For Lending scheme should provide low-cost loans to aspiring self-builders through the big banks. “The main lenders tend to put self-build into the ‘too difficult’ box, most lending comes from small local building societies,” said Ted Stevens, chair of the National Self-Build Association.

Raymond Connor, chief executive of Buildstore, added: “Just £1bn from Funding For Lending would make a massive difference to self-build. There is then the possibility of banks lending on to self-builders more cheaply.”

Under terms of the Funding for Lending scheme, neither the Treasury or the Bank of England can direct loans to specific borrowers or industries. The BoE has said repeatedly that it does not wish to interfere in commercial decisions because all credit risk remains with lenders. Despite the self-build sector’s sudden prominence, the government’s forthcoming economic stimulus package will focus on boosting the number of units delivered by the major housebuilders. But it has enacted changes in planning policy that industry experts predict will help the number of self-build projects double over the next three years.

These policy changes aim to transform the self-build sector into a mainstream option, suitable for affordable housing and first-time buyers as well as the wealthy and the elderly, who can trade in their existing homes for new ones tailor-made for their retirement. Buildstore estimates that retirees account for one-quarter of all self-build units. “We’re seeing the transformation of the somewhat elitist nature of self-build, the ‘Grand Designs’ image,” said Mr Connor.

The Homes & Communities Agency has launched a £30m fund to provide short-term project finance for self-build schemes – an amount industry experts suggest is far too small.
About £800m is currently lent to self-builders each year and is expected to increase to £1.9bn over the next three years, according to a Datamonitor survey cited by Ted Stevens, chair of the National Self-Build Association. “Self-build was always the Cinderella side of the housing world,” Mr Stevens said. “I’d like to think that instead of it being regarded as the scary, dangerous, mad thing to do, I’d like to think that in five years’ time it will be commonplace and mainstream for people who want affordable housing.”

ADM Systems work alongside self builders, supporting, advising and guiding on all aspects of planning and installing ventilation systems. If you are involved in a self build project, and would like to talk to one of our experts, contact us.

Architects create ‘world’s most sustainable listed building’ in Edinburgh

The Scotsman reported yesterday on how The Old High School, off Cowgate in Edinburgh, has been made airtight to improve its energy efficiency, and put it on course to become the world’s most sustainable listed building.

The building is being transformed from a draughty but historically valuable 18th century building into a worldleader in sustainable building. Instead of the latest all-singing, all-dancing gadgets which typically send developers’ budgets through the roof, the architects and building firm Graham Construction are using an approach which seems to owe more to TV’s Blue Peter than to Grand Designs.

One of the key features of the centre will be the application of sticky tape to seal window frames.

It is one of several measures which are actually far more innovative than they look at first glance.

Project chiefs claim that on paper the centre is already the most sustainable listed or refurbished building in the world. If all goes to plan during the main building phase, which has just begun, it will become the first ever development of its kind to achieve “outstanding” rating from BREEAM, the world’s leading sustainability rating system for the built environment.
Project architect Calum Duncan said: “People looking at it will not be able to see that it is a worldclass energy efficient building. A building doesn’t need to look like a spaceship to be energy efficient, but people tend to think that it does.

“It’s really important for sustainability not to lose energy. This is a category B listed building which is draughty and leaky so we need to make the new and existing parts airtight.
“There’s a lot of sticky tape involved and airtight membranes....(which are) developing technologies. The tape is more sophisticated that it sounds, but it is not a ‘look at me’ technology.
He added: “There are actually a great deal of developing technologies that are used, but they are not necessarily obvious or particularly glamorous.”

Airtightness is a fundamental credential for sustainable buildings, and heat recovery ventilation systems work best in such environments. This project is interesting to us here at ADM Systems because it shows that energy efficiency is not just confined to new builds, and what is classically perceived as ‘eco-build’ property design.

If your property could be more energy efficient, even if it’s an old or listed building, please contact our technical engineers to talk through the range of options available to you. As completely independent experts, we can draw on all types of products from different manufacturers to find the best solution for you.

09/08/2012 – Olympic Velodrome's energy efficiency due to ventilation

The Olympic Velodrome is one of the most stunning of all the buildings in the Olympic village, and thanks to its unique design (provoking some tongue in cheek comparisons: a soup bowl; a riding saddle; a Pringle…) it is also one of the most energy efficient buildings constructed for the 2012 games.

Engineering and Technology Magazine recently explained how this was achieved. The architects, Hopkins Architects Partnership, worked alongside UK based engineering consultancy, BDSP Partnership, to create a structure of striking beauty that operates at 32% below Building Regulation Part L. No mean feat considering the complicated needs of its users.

The cyclists’ optimum competing environment is a hot and humid one at 28°, with a minimum temperature of 24° evenly spread in the track area, creating minimal air movement. This allows the cyclists, and their fragile bikes,  to move through the ‘thinner air’ at higher speed. The spectators, however, sitting above the bowl shaped track, demand a significantly lower temperature. Added to this the conflicts of the Olympic coverage; televised events require a minimum of 2,000 lights, whereas spectators only need 300 usually, the task involved a great deal of science and creativity.

The chief engineer from BDSP, Gustavo Brunelli, explains the approach, ‘In this climate a velodrome does not really need artificial cooling, so we thought it would be a good idea to take advantage of natural ventilation during the mid-season and summer.’  

As the building has a sleek design, the ducting and ventilation system were integrated in such a way as to not spoil the aesthetics. Brunelli comments, ‘We worked very closely with the architect in relating to fluid dynamics to find out how we could get the natural ventilation of the building to work at an optimum. The Pringle shaped roof was designed to wrap around the track and make its as compact as possible so there is less air to heat.’ The compact building is heavily insulated, and its facade lends itself to driving air in and out.

In winter, the situation is reversed, and heat is pumped through short duct-runs, where pressure loss is minimal, combined with some underfloor heating in the centre of the track. Air enters through the same ducting under the seats, and then out through the upper tier. The additional glazed louvers on the concourse provide extra air flow. All of the mechanical ventilation equipment is squeezed into the cavity behind the upper tier of seating, meaning this cavity doubles up for both natural and mechanical ventilation, and a plant room. Thanks to its unique shape and beautifully architected curves, the Velodrome is one of the most efficient buildings in the Olympic Village. Simple, but brilliant.

If you would like to know how ventilation systems can save energy bills for you, reduce your carbon footprint and make your home more comfortable, or have a property you think could benefit from expert help, contact us.