My interest in energy efficiency stemmed from taking up a new challenge in motorsport back in 1985 chief engineer at TWR Jaguar.
Rushing around in circles trying to beat others going nowhere hardly seems the right place to start an ‘eco’ campaign, but the Group C sportscar regulations of the time gave you just 510 litres to cover a 1000kms race. The rule book, other than that premise, was really quite small by today’s standards giving a great degree freedom on engine choice, aerodynamics and tyres.
Much of my work centred around efficiency of the engine, car, tyres, aero, drivers and team.
Being of Scottish decent, the idea of being ‘frugal’ was not foreign to me.
That efficiency drive netted us a number of World Championships and a couple of Le Mans wins.
When I first moved up to Norfolk in early ’92, my company car (Carlos Sainz GT4 Celica) would only just make a return trip to Heathrow on a single tank of fuel. I know there are fuel stations along the way, but not ones with a company account at them! So began my fascination with road car economy without sacrificing speed or fun. I had learnt a few things in the Gp C era.
When I moved away from Norfolk to be closer to Bentley near Crewe, we took on a 200-year grade 2 listed old ‘draughty castle’ as my son called it.
I never really considered the running costs until I retired a few years ago. Energy cost alone were running at almost £9k per year. The stone mullion windows probably lost more heat through the frames than the fact they were not double glazed!
We had become fond of Norfolk, had left family and friends there so decided to retire back there last year. Downsizing was the aim, and if that came with more modest running costs, then that would be a bonus. I have to confess our aims were purely driven by comfort and frugality rather than the higher ‘green’ conviction of saving the planet.
House number 9 out of the 10 we viewed was intriguing. Within 3 miles from where we had previously been, a 10-year-old, individual ‘eco’ house built by the current owners in the land beside their previous home. ‘We built this as our forever home to put right all that was wrong with our previous house’ said the owner.
Then their daughter moved up to Lincolnshire following work….
Amongst the features which gives it an A efficiency rating are:
The only currently planned changes are to install a roll top bath in the ensuite and modify the garage internal length by a couple of inches to allow the A8 in.
I was hoping to reduce energy costs by 50% and when added to cleaning and cost of a gardener for the 1-acre plot of the old house, we should see a considerable saving.
But, the current projections in the middle of winter indicate that the energy costs will be about 25% of that of the old draughty castle, which makes me very happy and just a little better about the planet.
This is the back of the utility room. Plant room might be a better title. What could possibly go wrong?
Rushing around in circles trying to beat others going nowhere hardly seems the right place to start an ‘eco’ campaign, but the Group C sportscar regulations of the time gave you just 510 litres to cover a 1000kms race. The rule book, other than that premise, was really quite small by today’s standards giving a great degree freedom on engine choice, aerodynamics and tyres.
Much of my work centred around efficiency of the engine, car, tyres, aero, drivers and team.
Being of Scottish decent, the idea of being ‘frugal’ was not foreign to me.
That efficiency drive netted us a number of World Championships and a couple of Le Mans wins.
When I first moved up to Norfolk in early ’92, my company car (Carlos Sainz GT4 Celica) would only just make a return trip to Heathrow on a single tank of fuel. I know there are fuel stations along the way, but not ones with a company account at them! So began my fascination with road car economy without sacrificing speed or fun. I had learnt a few things in the Gp C era.
When I moved away from Norfolk to be closer to Bentley near Crewe, we took on a 200-year grade 2 listed old ‘draughty castle’ as my son called it.
I never really considered the running costs until I retired a few years ago. Energy cost alone were running at almost £9k per year. The stone mullion windows probably lost more heat through the frames than the fact they were not double glazed!
We had become fond of Norfolk, had left family and friends there so decided to retire back there last year. Downsizing was the aim, and if that came with more modest running costs, then that would be a bonus. I have to confess our aims were purely driven by comfort and frugality rather than the higher ‘green’ conviction of saving the planet.
House number 9 out of the 10 we viewed was intriguing. Within 3 miles from where we had previously been, a 10-year-old, individual ‘eco’ house built by the current owners in the land beside their previous home. ‘We built this as our forever home to put right all that was wrong with our previous house’ said the owner.
Then their daughter moved up to Lincolnshire following work….
Amongst the features which gives it an A efficiency rating are:
- High grade modern insulation.
- A combination of triple and double glazing.
- Full underfloor heating upstairs and down.
- Whole house air vent heat recovery system
- Massive thermal buffer with heat exchanger hot water.
- Integrated Solar panel array
- Full rainwater harvesting
- High efficiency back up oil fired boiler
- Permanent hot tap (haven’t boiled a kettle since I arrived)
The only currently planned changes are to install a roll top bath in the ensuite and modify the garage internal length by a couple of inches to allow the A8 in.
I was hoping to reduce energy costs by 50% and when added to cleaning and cost of a gardener for the 1-acre plot of the old house, we should see a considerable saving.
But, the current projections in the middle of winter indicate that the energy costs will be about 25% of that of the old draughty castle, which makes me very happy and just a little better about the planet.
This is the back of the utility room. Plant room might be a better title. What could possibly go wrong?