When:13th March 2013 10.30pm to 14th 8.30am Where: from north of Muswell Hill to Fitzroy Park

Conducted by: Thermal Image UK www.thermalimageuk.com

Arranged by Highgate Society Sustainable Homes Group

Thermal Images Around Highgate

• 20 Victorian/Edwardian Houses, (including 2 flat conversions and one block of flats) •2 Georgian House

•11 homes from 30’s to 60’s (including 2 blocks of flats) •Some with extensive work to retain heat - some with less

Aim of this evening: •To discover the findings that were most useful

•To discuss actions that can be taken

•To enjoy the evening

Aim of Thermal Image exercise: Sustainable Homes was set up within Highgate Society to combine the conservation aims of the society with concerns about the effect of high carbon emissions on the world we live in. Capturing real examples of heat loss of actual homes around Highgate brings to life the opportunities for homeowners to enjoy warmer homes with lower heating bills whilst lowering carbon emissions around Highgate. The material from tonight can be used to help visitors to our website to think about reducing their heat loss.

character comfort low carbon

Health Warnings •Thermal Images don’t provide answers, but do point to areas to be considered

•The heat scale can be different in different images. •Apparent heat loss symptoms may just be reflected warmth - apparent low heat loss may just mean that the area was unheated.

•Highgate Society Sustainable Homes does not give advice or recommendations – we just try to point you to sound sources of advice

Common heat loss themes: Glass above Front Doors

Windows – variable double glazing Seals and draught proofing

Air leaks

Walls Cold Bridging

Possible Damp

Loft insulation patchy

Findings from full home image exercises were from inside as well as outside – warm is good!!

Glass above Front Doors

Almost exclusively Victorian/Edwardian properties

Thermal Image customer’s secondary glazed neighbour’s single glazed

http://www.ggf.org.uk/energy-savings-calculator Glass and Glazing Federation quick assessment developed with the Energy Savings Trust

House Type?:Detached/ Semi/ Bungalow / Other / Terraced /Flat

Windows – not all double glazed windows are the same!

Frame Type Single Glazed Double Glazed Windows Replaced before 2002

4-6mm spacer

8-10mm spacer

12-14mm spacer

16-18mm Spacer

20mm spacer

Steel o o o o o o

Aluminium o o o o o o

Timber o o o o o o

PVC - U o o o o o o

Since 1 April 2002 building regulations have applied to all replacement glazing

Is this window different?

Windows

Single glazed balcony windows Double glazed

balcony windows Upper windows new sash double glazed

Lower windows draught proofed, some with

fleece and thermal lined curtains

TABLE 1: CONDUCTION HEAT LOSSES THROUGH THE GLASS AND WINDOW

For glass only: For glass & frame:

Directly Measured Using FRAME mode

DETAILS OF THE TEST ASSEMBLY

U-value of glass

(W/m 2 K)

Reduction in heat loss

through glazing only

Temperature of innermost surface (°C)

U-value of whole

window, (W/m 2 K)

Reduction in heat loss

through whole window

COMMENTS

Window as found 5.3 - 12 (glass) 4.3 -

joinery repaired 5.3 - 12 (glass) 4.3 -

Heavy curtains 3.3 39% 21 (curtain) 2.5 41% This also reduced air infiltration by 34%

Well-fitting shutters 2.0 64% 17 (shutter) 1.7 58%

Plain roller blind 3.4 37% 18 (blind) 2.7 38% When the blind was tightly fitted, the U-values fell by about

0.3 Reflective Roller blind 1.8 66% 19 (blind) 1.9 57% Reflective side facing towards

the outside Honeycomb blind 2.1 60% 20 (blind) 2.1 51% Insulating blind

Low-emissivity secondary glazing

2.0 63% 19 (glass) 1.8 58% Aluminium frame secondary system with spring balances

Low-emissivity secondary glazing and shutters

1.4 73% 20 (shutter) 1.6 62% With both the glazing and the shutters closed

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_AD_L1B_2011.pdf

Windows – English Heritage research on Victorian Windows (Oct 2009) http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/thermal-performance-traditional-windows-summary/sash-windows-research-summary.pdf

Note Building Regulations 2010 L1B Conservation of Fuel and Power in Existing Buildings para 4.19 requires u value of 1.6 W/m2K for windows (‘u’ value is heat lost in watts (W) per square metre of material)

Windows – English Heritage on Secondary Glazing Avoiding Condensation

“ condensation risks will be minimised where the secondary glazing is either: • able to be kept closed in cold weather, because there are alternative means of ventilation • located where the normal direction of air flow is from outside to inside, e.g. on the windward side of a building, on the lower floors, or where a designed natural or mechanical extraction system helps to ensure inward airflow • fitted with devices which avoid reverse airflow in adverse circumstances, e.g. a one-way trickle ventilator or a small fan incorporated in the window • where the primary and secondary window assemblies incorporate some alternative means of ventilating between the exterior and the room interior, but bypassing the cavity between the primary and secondary glazing (e.g. a bypass trickle ventilator on the secondary glazed unit) “

Windows – Possible window failures

See: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/eehb-draught-proofing-windows-doors/eehb-draught-proofing-windows-doors.pdf

Has this window failed?

Does the sealing or draught stripping need attention?

Walls

“Pattern on walls indicates poorly insulated or uninsulated”

“May indicate areas of heat loss or possible damp”

Have owners a good idea of the reason For these?

Solid Wall Insulation – Heritage Homes advice from English Heritage http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/eehb-insulating-solid-walls/eehb-insulating-solid-walls.pdf

“TECHNICAL RISKS POSED BY THERMAL UPGRADING OF OLDER BUILDINGS Altering the thermal performance of older buildings is not without risks. The most significant risk is that of creating condensation which can be on the surface of a building component or between layers of the building fabric, which is referred to as ‘interstitial condensation’. Condensation can give rise to health problems for occupants as it can lead to mould forming and it can also damage the building fabric through decay. Avoiding the risk of condensation can be complex as a wide range of variables come into play.”

EXTERNAL CLADDING: “Planning permission will be required for external insulation in the majority of instances, whether or not the building is listed; the local planning authority should be consulted before work commences. For listed buildings, consent will be needed, and will normally only be likely to be granted in very special circumstances.”

Solid Wall Insulation – Internal

Ceiling and wall at similar temperatures, indicating that minimal heat loss through wall,

Sempatap here also?

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Insulation/Solid-wall-insulation/Choosing-external-wall-insulation

Solid wall insulation

Wall type Installation

cost Savings per

year CO2 savings

per year Payback

time

On internal walls

£5,500 - £8,500

£460 1800kg Up to 19

years

On external walls

£9,400 - £13,000

£490 1900kg Up to 27

years

“You could save around £460 to £490 a year by insulating solid walls. The table below shows how much you can

reduce your heating bills and CO2 emissions by insulating your solid walls.

Figures in the table above are based on a typical gas-heated semi-detached three-bedroom house. Source: the

Energy Saving Trust.

The price of external insulation varies depending on the size of your property, the condition of its walls and

whether other building work or repairs will be taking place at the same time. As a general guide, you should expect

to pay between £5,500 and £8,500 for internal solid wall insulation and between £9,400 and £13,000 for external

solid wall insulation. While solid wall insulation is more expensive than cavity wall insulation, you should see

bigger savings on your heating bills.”

http://www.which.co.uk/energy/creating-an-energy-saving-home/guides/solid-wall-insulation/solid-wall-insulation-costs-and-savings/

Solid Wall Insulation – consider increased comfort and Decreased carbon and £££s, whilst assessing risks

Practicable option?

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Insulation/Solid-wall-insulation

Wall Insulation – Possible Grants and Loans

Carbon Saving Obligation To provide funding to insulate solid-walled properties (internal and external wall insulation) and those with ‘hard-to-treat’ cavity walls. This is not means-tested but can be used in conjunction with the Green Deal. The aim is to provide enough support to make these relatively expensive measures cost-effective.

Cavity Wall Insulation

Again - weighing benefits and assessing risks Again - finding a company that can be trusted

Green Deal Assessments Starting point for Green Deal (as well as any CSO funds) is to look for an assessor @ http://www.greendealorb.co.uk/consumersearch ) Though many heat loss improvements would cost too much to be fully covered by a Green Deal loan, an assessment (typically £100-£200, but sometimes available free) will give good information about opportunities to lower carbon, and possible grants.

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Insulation/Solid-wall-insulation/Choosing-external-wall-insulation

Insulated Render & Cladding Association (INCA). National Insulation Association (NIA). British Board of Agrément http://www.bbacerts.co.uk/installer-approval/approved-installer-scheme-external-wall.aspx

Wall Insulation – Finding an insulation contractor who can be trusted with your home

The Green Deal Oversight and Registration Body (GD ORB), on behalf of the Secretary of State, manages the authorisation scheme for participants in the Green Deal ...... For consumers, benefits include: “Confidence that the people they are dealing with have appropriate training, qualifications and customer service procedures in place; and a clear process for dealing with complaints which includes a designated independent Green Deal Ombudsman.” http://www.greendealorb.co.uk/code-of-practice

Energy Savings Trust recommended products http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Take-action/Find-Energy-Saving-Trust-Recommended-products

Walls – Cold Bridging

http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/key-choices/green/cold-bridging

At its simplest, a cold bridge is a weak spot in the insulation surrounding a house. Cold bridges (also known as thermal bridges) occur whenever there is a break in the continuity, or a penetration of, the insulation. Examples of cold bridges include: •Junctions between walls and floors, and walls and roofs •Reveals around windows and doors •Holes made by pipes and cables •Studwork in timber frame walls (interrupting the insulation) •Steel wall ties in masonry construction

Do these spots feel cold or damp?

THERMAL BRIDGES Whenever insulation is added to an existing building there is a danger of creating thermal bridges at critical details where full coverage may be interrupted. When insulation is added externally these weak points are typically at window and door reveals, but with internal insulation they may also be formed at the points where floors meet external walls. Areas left with reduced or no insulation coverage will not only be colder because of the lack of protection from the outside environment, but will also attract relatively more condensation because the majority of other surfaces are warmer and can no longer share the load. The result can be severe local decay, particularly to timber and finishes. For example, the ends of floor joists embedded in the external walls are at increased risk of decay from condensation.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/eehb-insulating-solid-walls/eehb-insulating-solid-walls.pdf

Again – how to find a builder who understands these principles?

English Heritage advice on Cold Bridging/thermal bridging

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/eehb-insulating-pitched-roofs-ceiling-level-cold-roofs/

Roofs and Attics

Can you reach it? Do you use the room?

http://www.which.co.uk/energy/creating-an-energy-saving-home/guides/roof-insulation/

in some areas the insulation may be less, or may not be tightly fitted to the plasterboard, allowing cool air to flow between the insulation and the plasterboard,

creating a thermal bypass and causing additional heat loss

Do you store stuff? Tank?

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/eehb-insulating-pitched-roofs-rafter-level-warm-roofs/

More Resources

Superhomes is a rapidly expanding network of energy aware households. These homeowners have refurbished their old homes to the highest standards of energy efficiency, and are willing to share their experience. The Superhomes web site has a section on Superhomes advisors http://www.superhomes.org.uk/get-informed/advisors-superhomes/ “However, SEA cannot be responsible for any advice or service that they may offer” It also has a section called ‘My Green Builder’ http://www.superhomes.org.uk/get-informed/my-green-builder/ “My Green Builder helps you find tradespeople you can trust to do a great job. We only list contractors that SuperHome owners have used when retrofitting their homes.”

Muswell Hill Sustainability Group http://mhsgroup.org/trusted-local-installers/ maintains a list of local installers where recent customers have given three ratings on value for money, quality of work and efficiency. “Note Muswell Hill Sustainability Group does NOT recommend any supplier, we just provide a facility for sharing information.”

Sustainable Homes held a 21st Century Homes event in September 2012 where local contractors met Interested visitors. Their details are at http://www.highgatesociety.com/pages/sustainable-homes/21st-century-homes-event/exhibitors.php

“PLEASE NOTE: Inclusion of any companies of organizations in this list does not constitute a recommendation by the Highgate Society or its members.”

Conclusions

Tips on finding right builders? Thoughts on deciding whether to invest in reducing heat loss? Has evening been useful?