David Lawson-Evans – Case study
Background
David Lawson-Evans was previously facing unaffordable bills, paying £135.00 per month for gas and electricity.
Measure(s)
David moved into a bungalow which has been labelled a ‘Passive House’: this house was built as part of the Warwickshire Rural Housing Scheme, which included seven ‘affordable housing’ properties. The house has been built using external cavity insulation and underfloor insulation of 300mm. The floor is wooden throughout the house. All windows and doors are triple-glazed and have a coating which absorbs and retains the sun’s heat. The house further benefits from ten solar panels and an airflow system which recycles the hot air by filtering and regenerating into each room.
Impact
Moving into the Passive House has provided David with significant benefits, including financial savings. He estimates his monthly bills up until December 2022, generated from all heating, cooking, washing, water usage, and occasional tumble-drying, to have been approximately £50.00 per month, with at least 50% cost savings on his previous energy bills.
Despite only a short period of residence, David and his household have noticed a significant increase in the air quality relative to previous homes, with no dampness or condensation evident. The newly installed airflow system allows David’s household to keep the windows closed and still experience fresh air delivered to each room. This has allowed them to feel thermal comfort without incurring extra costs, as has been the case in previous years.
With their new heating system, David’s household no longer feel concerned about turning the heating up, particularly as this is supplied through the solar panels. Through this low-carbon heating system, the Passive House has drastically reduced David’s household’s footprint.
Given the insulation measures, “the house seems to remain at a constant 22°C” David says, “which, although comfortable, is sometimes too warm”. The heating came on for the first time on 9th December 2022, when the outside temperature was -3°C. The wooden flooring and warm indoor temperatures mean there is no need to wear footwear inside the house. There is also less necessity to close internal doors, as the inner sealing of the house minimises any draft or loss of heat.
Summarising the benefits that he has felt by moving into the Passive House, David said “I can only say that efficiency [of the house] is incredible. To have a home which has no drafts, no cold, low bills and even a [possible] rebate of unused generated power from the energy company has got to be a bonus”.