Simon & Rah transform a Victorian mansion into a net-zero living space

Airtightness and ventilation Heating and hot water Roofs and loft spaces

Rah and Simon transformed their family’s forever home into a model of energy efficiency, aiming for net-zero targets despite initial challenges. Overcoming objections, they set a legal precedent to install solar panels, paving the way for self-generated electricity.

Summary

Off gas

Legal precedent set for having solar panels on listed properties

No more mould or condensation

The Home

House Type: Victorian Mansion (Listed Building)
No. Bedrooms 4
Wall Type: Cavity
Area: Somerset

Overview

Rah and Simon purchased their family’s forever home two and a half years ago, with the intention of adapting it to meet net-zero targets. Despite their properties listed status, and initial planning objections, the couple were able to set a legal precedent to install solar panels to generate their own electricity.

Rah and Simon had an initial £30,000 budget which covered the cost of their solar PV, a SunAmp thermal store, an induction hob, and a heat exchange ventilation system.

Background

In 2021, Simon & Rah purchased a Victorian mansion, with the intention of making it their forever home. Their vision was to create a net-zero and future-proofed living space. However, the property had been poorly modernised in the 1950s, with badly installed insulation and windows, as well as a highly inefficient boiler. The windows were a mix-and-match of double glazed and 1960s metal-framed panes. The previous owner had begun the home’s sustainability journey by installing a solar-assisted heat pump and updating one of the windows, but there was still a lot to be done.

Assessment

Not knowing where to start, the couple commissioned Futureproof to assess their home and provide a long-medium term retrofit plan. The report provided three different scenarios based on what could be completed at different timescales but still considering a whole house approach. However, the report failed to account for the cloister rooms. They were once open to the air but have since been glassed in, and the software could not recognise these as part of the thermal envelope of the house.

The report enabled the couple to decide on their priorities and budget for the upgrades. Although the report advised a fabric first approach, Simon and Rah decided to focus on what they could do themselves and prioritised the solar panels over fabric measures to start with so that they could get off gas sooner.

Simon and Rah have since discovered that their adjoining neighbour’s cloister room roof had added glass panels with thermal and solar film to their roof. So, they are now considering doing the same with a double-glazed outer layer with solar and thermal film, achieving a treble glazed effect, allowing them to continue using these rooms in the winter with infra-red ceiling panels as backup heating, starting with a trial installation in their daughter’s room. By using the ceiling space for infrared radiators, they will be able to free up floor space. Additionally, a thermal imaging survey revealed cold bridging where the roof meets the walls, highlighting the need for further insulation.

Overall, despite encountering technical challenges, the Futureproof report proved to be a valuable learning tool and provided the couple with a clear strategy for investing in their energy-efficient upgrades.

The Challenge

It took a year and a precedent-setting case to get the green light for installing solar panels on this listed building. The panels are paired with a battery and a SunAmp thermal store to act as a secondary battery, maximising heat storage. However, the challenge came with setting up the system so that all the products can work harmoniously with each other. To make this happen, all the old radiators, copper piping, and toxic carpets were removed, and a heat exchange ventilation system was installed.

Joe from Futureproof recommended DMEV (Decentralised Mechanical Extraction Ventilation) which prompted the couple to do extra research. They consequently upgraded to MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery). This will also reduce our eventual heating costs by 30% which turned out to be a great solution, as it helped combat black mould and condensation that the building had experienced the previous winter. Before the installation of the ventilation system, the old, broken boiler was removed, and a temporary solution was implemented until solar panels could be installed. Now, every hour, the air in every room is completely changed, thanks to extractor/inductors.

The next challenge is to insulate the stone-built walls. They were thought to be solid, but Simon and Rah have recently found out they have cavities that could be filled with eco-friendly material such as waste wool or eco filler.

Result

Even with the lack of insulation the property is noticeably warmer. The installation of the MVHR has stopped their issues with condensation and mould. They will be looking to address the insulation and windows next. Secondary glazing is a popular choice for those looking to improve the energy efficiency of their home, especially in listed buildings where changing the external aesthetic can be difficult. It involves adding an extra layer of glass/acrylic to the existing window, which helps to reduce heat loss and noise pollution. It’s a cost-effective solution that can make a big difference to comfort levels.