AGENDA AND MINUTES
Date & time Wednesday, 28 July 19.45 to 21.00 ACTIONS/ NEXT STEPS
Chair Sheelagh
Minute-taker Sheelagh
Attendees Kelda, Julia, Sheelagh, Andrea, Frances, Steve, Charles, Robin, Chris, Joan, Rob
Apologies Claire, Bill, Lynn
Mins of last meeting Approved Checking circulation Matters arising See below
Actions from last meeting Covered in items below.
Agenda item 2
New members and guests were warmly welcomed.
Presentation by Transition Buxton members on home energy and insulation experiences.
Steve Taylor explained work undertaken on two contrasting buildings.
1) a workplace Grade 2 Listed large Victorian building. Conversion to low energy building included insulation of outside roof (most successful) and some internal walls; opening roof lights; natural ventilation (most successful) ; collection of rain water; use of grey water; compost toilet. Smart movement and light sensors good, reducing bill to 25% of previous amount. Heating methods include underfloor, radiant panels, blown air and pre-heated ventilation: all work well.
2) a 1980s detached house. Work started 2013. Extra roof insulation; ASHP (beware choice of placement), Solar Thermal plus PV (brilliant); cavity wall insulation; very efficient Accoya window and door frames, which are natural and guaranteed, plus proper seals to ensure air tightness. Underfloor heating throughout.
3) Advice: Have a plan (long term), start with a trained assessor (inexperienced consultants and builders give bad advice causing problems). Architects not trained in low energy buildings still, separate qualification. Start with a retrofit coordinator to ensure access to government grants, quality and value for money. Only a few available and fully booked. PAS 2035 are guiding principles: every house is individual; need a whole house approach; fabric first (insulation, air tightness); admin by professionals who have recent knowledge; risk management approach; ventilation key.
4) Stone buildings: Roofs easy, walls and floors tricky; Walls are porous so any insulation has to porous too. Need an expert as can cause huge problems. External insulation safest but not always desirable. Floors tricky. Do not neglect ventilation for health reasons. Plan for living space/roof space/underfloor/chimneys.
Charles Huff: Major job on a 70s house. Solar panels, lots of choice. Solar thermal faces east and gives hot water. Radon problem improved by plastic membrane over new floor base and creation of external escape hole. Installed triple glazed glass from Yorkshire Green Doors, bamboo floor covering, wall insulation. Air is recycling and filters require changing frequently.
Robin Edwards: 1980s bungalow. Added internal wall insulation, new combo boiler, low energy lights, electric oven and hob, tabs on all radiators, interlined curtains, all batteries rechargeable. Aim is to reduce grid electricity and reduce CO2 emissions. Analysis showed usage peak 17.30 to 22.00, now supplied by batteries and solar PVs. Tesla battery expensive but wants data and control (API). Priority house -> Tesla -> Zappi for car -> grid.
Frances Sussex: 1930s semi Changes require space outside and inside the property. Installed Samsung heat pump 12 KW mono bloc EHSASHP, heat pump and solar panels. Average house uses 6tonnes CO2, now 1.1 tonnes. Cost in region of £18k but over 8 years will £8,998 back through Renewable heat Incentive. Recent electricity bill £5.98. Recent transformation, already pleased. Advice: Consider your lifestyle. Are you staying there? Options? Alternatives? Do the preparatory work: insulation/radiators/distribution network operator/replace doors/insulated curtains. Above all communicate.
Q and A followed. To sum up: do not do it all at once. Changes have to happen in next 15 years. Get a coordinator to draw up a plan.
Everyone expressed their thanks. So much helpful information shared. Speakers offered future communication and answers to individual questions as projects commence.
Agenda item 3
Next steps: How do we take home energy in the community forward? Several present want to start home energy improvements. Agreed that the following useful: • Find appropriate retrofit coordinators • Make a plan • Consider acting as a group for purpose of property assessments • Make this topic of next meeting
ACTION: Research for next meeting: Sheelagh to draw up list
Agenda item 4
Updates on ongoing projects:
Climate Pathfinders Youth Forum: numbers growing; need for Tideswell youth; 25 Sept stall Big Green Week in Buxton; actions planned in Tideswell and New Mills.
Homes for the Future: Sheelagh updated on working group – letters sent to MP Sarah Dines on topic of home energy and retrofits requesting constituent meeting; replies received stating ministerial question posed. Awaiting meeting date.
Friends of the Earth initiative Green Jobs Summit – Andrea reported back on the meeting, very positive. Richard Dyer had welcomed Andrea’s input, it ’crystallised’ some of his thinking.
Local group collaboration – Sheelagh attended meeting of climate and environment groups within PDNP whose aim is to work together re national park issues. Plans to meet with Sec of State for National Parks and include CPYF.
ACTION:Andrea and Sheelagh to develop possible speaker ideas for FoE
AOB
TDEG stall booked for 11 Sept: attendees already committed on this day. Expressions of availability to Sheelagh asap.
ACTION: Update Lynn
Suggested items for next meeting
Home energy retrofit, sharing of research and commencement of plan.
PC Climate Emergency declaration: wanted? Approach? Deferred from this meeting meeting
Minute-taker next meeting:
Date of next meeting: Wednesday 6 October 2021 19.45
This meeting closed at 22.00
