Moira Close
Moira Close is the location of 12 of our energy saving homes in Haringey, North London. They each contain ‘Green Features’ to reduce environmental impact and to improve environmental performance, in particular reducing fuel use and carbon dioxide.
Green features at the houses include conservatories, triple-glazed timber windows, solar shading, solar panels and condensing gas fired boilers, all in an effort to reduce the homes’ impact on the environment.
Solar Panels at Moira Close
Green features at the houses include conservatories, triple-glazed timber windows, solar shading, solar panels and condensing gas fired boilers, all in an effort to reduce the homes’ impact on the environment.
Solar Panels at Moira Close
The homes feature well insulated timber frame construction and timber windows with argon filled low e glass, which provide insulation to the homes. This reduces the need for high heat from central heating, which reduces utility bills and environmental impact. The homes with habitable rooms on the south side of the properties were fitted with larger windows than the kitchen and bathrooms on the north side, which has smaller ones. This increases solar gain for the south facing windows and reduces the amount of heat loss for north facing rooms, thus retaining heat. There was no increase in the overall window area so there were no extra costs for windows and space heating requirements are reduced. The homes also feature a lobby at the entrance to each house which helps reduce heat loss through the front door and also provides extra protection to the home.
Efficient condensing gas boilers are also used at the properties. These are controlled by a programmer and thermostat and have a seasonal efficiency of over 90%. The radiators have thermostatic valves that turn the radiators off automatically when a room is warm enough and switches them on as a room cools down.
During the summer months, the solar panels situated on the south facing roofs, use the sun’s warmth to provide the majority of the hot water needs of the houses. Throughout the rest of the year the solar panels provide approximately 40% of the homes’ hot water requirements, the rest being provided by the boiler to top-up the heat. Solar panels are an expensive initiative but when you see the reduced costs of fuel you see the financial benefit as well as the positive impact on the environment. With solar panels comes solar shading and this is provided over the south facing windows to prevent solar overheating in the summer months.
Two of the homes at Moira Close have unheated south sided conservatories to act as a buffer space to prevent heat loss. These also feature solar shading to ensure they do not overheat during the summer months, so the floor space can be constantly used as another room.
These energy saving homes have reduced the fuel costs for heating and hot water by about £50.00 per year, proving that the environmental initiatives do save money for its occupants. These homes have reduced carbon dioxide emissions compared to some houses built to 2002 Building Regulations, which helps to reduce pollution and benefit the environment.