St. Audrey’s Lane, St. Ives – Before

Originally a 2 bedroom detached home, built in the mid 1960’s

• No cavity wall or internal wall insulation
• Inadequate levels of loft insulation
• Old, ineffcient gas central heating system
• Poorly constructed single storey extension
• High levels of heat loss
• Potential to improve air tightness
• Dated kitchen with inefficient appliances
• No water efficiency measures
• Garden with little encouragement for biodiversity

After – Improvement measures undertaken:

• Replacement of existing windows with high performance, triple glazed upvc
  units.
• New foam insulation material to fill cavity walls. Fitted internally with insulated
  dry lining on the east wall and north wall at first floor level only. The south wall
  has been fitted with 50mm of external insulation with a proprietary render
  finish. The extension was constructed using the traditional brick and
  blockwork method, however the cavity space was enlarged to increase its
  thermal qualities.
• Replaced the existing loft insulation with 270mm mineral fibre.
• Insulation board has been fitted between the shallow rafters in the sloping
  areas of the ceilings in the bedrooms, bathroom and landing. Also, additional
  insulated drylining has been fixed to the internal sloped ceilings to prevent
  heat loss even further.
• Replaced loft hatch with a sealed, insulated fitting that can be clipped down.
• Dual flush toilets. Water saving taps, shower fitments. New 140 litre bath
  (capacity to overflow). Water efficient appliances.
• Rainwater harvesting system for rainwater collection for flushing of downstairs
  WC. Back-up mains has been installed for when there is lack of rainwater.
• LED lighting has been installed for significant savings on energy use and
  extended lamp life.
• Space heating is provided by an air-source heat pump (ASHP) and
  ‘SmartRads’.
• A domestic energy management system has been incorporated into the
  property, which will adjust the heat output and hot water use and generation,
  allowing optimum use of the heating system and solar thermal hot water.
• Water heating is now mostly provided by the flat panel solar thermal hot water
  system fitted onto the south facing roof.
• Solar photovoltaic panels have been positioned on the south facing roof
  above the garage and porch to generate electricity, making use of the Feed In
  Tariff (FIT).
• Sedum blanket roof with specialist water-proof membrane and pocket habitats
  fitted onto single storey extension to assist with water attenuation.
• The driveway has been replaced with a sustainable urban drainage system
  (SUDS) using permeable paving to allow surface water to pass between the
  blocks and disperse gradually.
• A wet room has been installed downstairs which contributes to the property
  being a lifetime home.
• New kitchen and bathroom fitted to comply with Decent Homes Standards.
• Internal walls painted throughout with eco-friendly paint.
• Energy efficient kitchen appliances have been installed.
• The front and rear gardens have been redesigned and created to encourage
  biodiversity, recycling, composting and home grown produce. The rear
  garden incorporates a pond, meadow area, woodland area, allotment and a
  large variety of plants and shrubs.