Get a whole year of cutting-edge eco-building news for just £24.00 pa.
Built upon 30 years of experience, this fabulous new medium will feature inspiring and in-depth articles on eco-building projects from across the spectrum and from all over the UK, most of which are written by the very people that designed or built them. Perfect for architects, builders, developers, self builders and anyone interested in keeping right up-to-date with green building trends and friends.
For subscription options:
please go here
|
|
|
Nation’s heritage set for environmental renovation |
|
 
|
|
|
|
29 Jan 2009, 4:23 PM
|
Over the next five years the National Trust aims to renovate more than five thousand buildings to meet a set of minimum environmental standards that include installing maximum loft insulation, water saving devices, rainwater storage, double or secondary glazing, thermostatic heating controls and efficient lighting systems.
|
Overseeing this plan of works is Stephen Kane, Deputy Head of Buildings at the National Trust: “What we’ve realised is that we need to start adapting our buildings now in order to be able to survive the conditions we are going to face in the future. But it’s not going to be easy and we realise there are challenges ahead.”
With building stock that includes castles, farm cottages, lighthouses, pubs, urban terraced houses and churches, the National Trust has an eclectic portfolio of heritage properties.
“The majority of the buildings we will be renovating are historic and with that comes with some constraints. We need to be sympathetic to the aesthetics, planning consents and historical significance. For example, we can’t put uPVC windows in the majority of our tenanted houses,” explained Stephen.
Most of buildings owned by the Trust are Victorian or earlier, they were designed and built to perform in a different way to that which is expected of them now. Central heating, roof insulation and draft proofing all change the way the buildings perform and can impinge on their long-term integrity.
Changes will be measured, and to a degree limited, but because they are happening to such a large number of properties the overall benefits in terms of reducing the amount of carbon produced will be considerable.
Castle Drogo in Devon is currently undergoing renovations that will bring it inline with the standards. Inside a new reception building visitors will find recycled glass on the floor and rainwater water supplying the toilets. Hidden away in the roof space will be recycled newspaper, providing a greener insulation. An old inefficient oil boiler will be removed and replaced by a biomass version that will be fuelled by local woodchips.
Kane talks about the scale of the work ahead: "It’s only a mammoth task because of the number of buildings we are talking about. As we are a charity we don’t have the funds to make huge changes using the latest technologies. Most of the changes we are talking about can be done in any house and can make a huge difference to energy and water wastage and bills.”
As well as working towards achieving reductions in energy use and waste the Trust will try to use local and sustainable sources for materials and services, minimise construction waste and avoid the use of cement, CFCs, HCFCs and PVC products.
Renovating buildings is a continual process for the Trust and these new minimum environmental standards are not the only way the National Trust aims to reduce its effect on the environment. By reconnecting disused water wheels, using natural building materials, collecting rainwater on an industrial scale and working with its energy partner, npower on installing biomass fuelled systems and solar technology, the charity is committed to finding ways to lighten its load on the natural world.
The National Trust will update all inhabited buildings, including mansion houses, tenanted properties, holiday cottages, offices, shops and restaurants.
The renovations will follow a strict order of priority, with maximum roof insulation first followed by draught proofing including unused chimneys, improved insulation to cavity walls, solid walls and floors, double glazing in modern buildings or new windows, secondary (seasonal) glazing in traditional or listed buildings, and lastly water economy measures such as rainwater harvesting. More efficient heating systems may be installed where appropriate.
Credits:: A National Trust property - Lytes Carey Manor by Neil Kennedy, Copyright but reused under the creative commons licence
|
|
|
| Positive review of this story |
Paul  |
1 Apr 2012, 11:30 PM |
 |
Supply of Solid Wall Insulation If you need Internal Wall Insulation we are the company that supply the product, we can also get grants to lower the cost of fitment and product. It is ofgem approved and part of the Green Deal so where it cost full money to fit other brands of insulation we can lower your costs
Contact me on 0845 402 3585
|
|
