Martin Hobson and Fiona Coles

Both lived in Leeds area for 32 years. Previously we retrofitted a 1950’s semi but nowhere near the standard we have achieved in this house. We have lived in this one
for 17 years. Inspired by all the passive house information we could get our hands on as DIYers (particularly from AECB and green building forum). We aren’t building professionals but have achieved a lot.

Phone: 01133459011

Email: martinhobson@gmail.com

100m2 semi bungalow, on a suburban street in a small village 8m north of Leeds. There are just the two of us living in the house. The house was built in 1938, it had 50mm of mineral wool insulation in half of the loft when we moved in, and no wall or floor insulation . It used 15000 kwh pa (of gas space heating in 2006). It now uses 1600 kwh pa (of electricity from our heat pump) for space heating (2022). The heat pump (and hot water) is run from solar electricity generated on site and time of use tariff (overnight house battery charging between 12.30 and 4.30 am). We no longer are connected to gas. We buy the electricity grid energy from octopus.

• New softwood framed triple glazing u value 1.0 ‘(eco plus’ from Green
Building Store) upstairs Fakro triple glazed velux (U 0.9)
• Internal wall Polyurethane insulation (average thickness 100mm) plus
60mm cavity fill (rockwool) average U: 0..18
• 300mm mineral wool and sheeps wool U:0.12 (60% of roof) in loft space
• 175mm Polyurethane roof insulation filled and taped joints, ‘room in roof,
50mm between rafters, and 125mm underneath including ‘kneewalls’. U:
0.15 (40% of roof)
• 150mm Polyurethane floor insulation (65 %) 175mm mineral wool (35%)
between joists, then OSB glued and taped, then reclaimed hardwood floor
average U: 0.17
• ITHO’ advance’ compact MVHR
• Ecodan 6k heat pump
• Mixergy cylinder for hot water
• 6 kw photo voltaic panels (grid tied)
• 12 kw pylontech house battery
• Low energy lighting throughout
• Low energy appliances throughout
• Water saving devices include; dual/ low flush wc’s, low flow showerhead,
large rainwater collection butts in garden, large pond , no mains water used
outside