I wrote in Blogpost 26 that I was looking forward to the next heatwave and seeing if I could manage overheating in the EcoBungalow better. This last week has been extreme, with record temperatures recorded across Europe. How has the EcoBungalow performed? The short answer is: I feel it does better at keeping the house warm in winter than keeping it cool in summer. During the design stage, the EcoBungalow was assessed using the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP). The PH

Warning: this blogpost contains a lot of geeky detail! Like all Air Source Heat Pumps, the Viessmann has an app to control it and provide feedback. It has a very handy annual analysis of energy use and thermal energy generation. Lots of lovely detail that means we can delve into how much energy is used to heat the EcoBungalow and provide hot water, how much this costs, and how it relates to the design-stage calculations in the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP). Energy

Research shows that 94% of UK homeowners with heat pumps are satisfied or extremely satisfied with their heating. This compares to 85% for the most common heating system in the UK, the mains gas boiler. Yet we constantly see in the media and on social media claims that heat pumps are noisy, expensive to install, expensive to run, don’t work in old houses and don’t work in the cold. What’s the truth? I’ve been living with an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) for 18 months now

I can’t believe just how low my energy use has been for the first calendar year of living in the EcoBungalow. Perhaps I shouldn’t be quite so surprised. This project was meticulously prepared and executed, from buying the right sort of house through to getting a good architect on board and – most crucially – being constructed by a well-qualified builder with an eye for detail. But, even so, just ….. WOW! I’m using so much less energy for a house that is always pleasant to l

The EcoBungalow has been through the coldest quarter of the year. It’s far exceeded my expectations in how comfortable it has been. But...