Retrofitting housing for a cheaper, super sustainable future
Last month, Your Local Link was kindly invited to have a look around Duncombe Square, the City of York Council’s first Passivhaus scheme. As part of one of the largest Passivhaus schemes in the UK, the development is situated on Burton Stone Lane, featuring 34 homes designed by the award-winning architects Mikhail Riches. Visiting these stylish and sustainable new homes got us thinking…
Our city faces an exceedingly high demand for affordable new housing, while much of the existing housing stock is prone to damp and mould – this is largely due to the presence of older buildings, their proximity to the Ouse, and of course, that good old-fashioned Yorkshire weather! For those residents who have not yet managed to snare a spot in Duncombe Square, which Passivhaus features could be suitable for retrofitting in older homes, reducing (or even eliminating) bills in the process?
Air Source Heat Pumps
Environmentally friendly and effective in reducing energy bills (along with your home’s carbon footprint), air source heat pumps work by absorbing heat from outside air, compressing this into a gas, and transferring it in either an air-to-water or air-to-air cycle.
Solar PV Panels
By converting natural sunshine into electrical energy, solar panels are proven to reduce carbon emissions, lower electricity bills, and even increase the value of your home. They also use perhaps the most renewable energy source of all – the sun!
Triple Glazing
Triple glazing makes use of three glass window panes containing heavy gas, such as argon, to provide effective soundproofing, minimise cold and condensation, and improve the energy efficiency of your home.
Insulation
Insulation works by reducing heat transfer via convection, conduction, and radiation. By ensuring your home retains heat as it should, insulation can help to reduce energy bills and lower your home’s carbon footprint.
Ventilation
Insulating your home is an easy way to prevent moisture and mould, improve air quality, and save energy. Mechanical ventilation systems include Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) and Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV). Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) units are installed at Duncombe Square.
Damp Proofing
Damp proofing involves eliminating or preventing moisture (such as condensation, rising damp, or penetrating damp) from entering your home. It’s an easy way to prevent structural damage, prevent mould, and maintain the value of your property!
To learn more about Passivhaus standards, head over to www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/what_is_passivhaus.php. Find out how to prevent condensation, damp and mould in your home at www.york.gov.uk/condensation. Visit www.york.gov.uk/news/article/1744/council-s-first-passivhaus-homes-unveiled to learn more about the Duncombe Square development.
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