A journey of eco-friendly house renovation: Part 2
In Part 1, Andy Stevens described how he and his partner began to transform their 1930's home in Hither Green into a low carbon, energy-efficient space. Now with the heat pump installed, they turn their focus to the roof.
With our new heating system sorted, the next challenge on the horizon was our leaking roof. After careful planning, we decided the sequence: first, replace the roof, then create a loft room with good insulation, install solar panels and complete a house rewiring.
As well as fixing immediate issues with the house, the overall work would mean we’d reduce our heat loss (thanks to better insulation), boost energy efficiency (via rewiring) and even generate renewable energy (hello, solar panels!).
Installation adventures
The whole installation of this part spanned roughly three months. We managed to keep living in the house throughout, despite the inevitable disruptions. The builders were great at making it habitable each night.
We hit a major snag when the roof was taken off, followed by storms and delivery delays meaning a roofless Christmas break! There were a few cold and noisy nights and a couple of leaks.
On the upside, the solar panel installation was a breeze - it was up and running within days. Watching it come together so quickly felt like a great win.
Adjustment and surprises
The most significant change came with the solar panels. When they went live in February, we were surprised by how much energy they generated, even on gloomy winter days. To our surprise, we met around 25% of our energy needs on dark, cloudy days.
Then March arrived, and with the sunshine, we found ourselves generating almost all our energy most days—and even selling excess back to the grid!
Financial impact and benefits
The solar company estimated a six-year return on the cost of installation (£8,000), we initially thought this was very optimistic and had been sceptical. However, just a few months in, we’re exceeding their projections - it might even be an underestimate!
Our energy bill for March was only £8 (including the standing charge) and we predict we’ll have an overall credit in April. Our main motivation for installing solar was to reduce our carbon footprint, but from our experience it also makes financial sense if you can afford the initial costs.
Our solar app tells me that in 2 months we have saved 161kg of carbon, which is the equivalent 392kg of coal burned – not bad for a small solar installation in London.
What’s next?
Well now all our money is gone so nothing, for a while! Looking ahead, we’d love to enhance the insulation further to optimise the heat pump and improve winter comfort.
New windows and doors are likely our next steps - when the piggy bank is topped up!
Read Part 1 here A journey of eco-friendly house renovation: Part 1
