We couldn’t resist the opportunity to vent about the recent visit of the ‘Beast from the East’ to Mabel’s Farmhouse. Having survived a winter without heating and hot water – stoically shivering in front of our tiny coal fire while telling friends and neighbours that this type of experience is ‘character building’ – the brutal beast arrived. The unprecedentedly cold start to March took us a bit by surprise and we were totally unprepared for the challenges it would bring.
The term airtightness, beloved of Passivhaus designers whose houses boast such high thermal performance and low heat loss that central heating is rarely turned on, is given a slightly new spin by Mabel’s current condition. Standing in the lounge, which is triple aspect and punctuated by single-glazed Crittall windows that have…
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Homebuilding & Renovating (Digital) - 1 Issue, June 2018