New build question

EFW · Jun 5, 2012

Hi folks
I’m in the real early stages of planning my new build house. I’m trying to keep my bills to a minimum and be eco-friendly, if I can. I’m interested in having all my electricity provided by solar panels or as much as possible, or with other renewable energy sources.

The house area has just less than 7500 square feet in size.The house roof area is about 1500 square feet (60x25) and the pool roof area is around 500 square feet. The back of the house is south facing just outside of Glasgow, Scotland.The house will be fully automated (cctv/AV around the house/auto blinds, lights etc.).
I have little/no knowledge of solar energy, and would like to know if it’s possible to use solar for the following.

My house is a 5/6 bedroom detached house.
There will be 4 levels, basement, ground, 1[SUP]st[/SUP] and2[SUP]nd[/SUP]/loft.
Basement – Games/Bar room, cinema, and gym and plant room.
Ground floor – Family room, kitchen/breakfast room, study, dining room, toilet and laundry room. There will be an Indoor swimming pool, 10m x 5min size attached to the kitchen.
1[SUP]st[/SUP] floor - Four bedrooms, all with en suite, one over the attached 3 car garage.
2[SUP]nd[/SUP] floor - 2 rooms, one which will be a bedroom and the other room will be storage.
Your thoughts/comments.

Regards

Kevin

sedgy34 · Jun 5, 2012

welcome!!

i would go with solar pv have an in roof system looks better for a newbuild,also solar thermal,underfloor heating (heatmiser controls)you have options of controling blinds as you mentioned etc all lighting i would go for all L.E.D low consumption, go with a water harvesting system,and a heat pump. that would be eco friendly if the budget is there

babba · Jun 5, 2012

Can we all come round and have a party, what kind of car do you drive ?

dansk · Jun 5, 2012

whats that got to do with the op's questions?

babba · Jun 5, 2012

A prius is a good choice and a wind turbine but can we survey together as without further info on your present set up and usage Im stabbing in the dark.

EFW · Jun 6, 2012

Hi folks,
Many thanks for your comments so far. Of course, once its completed, then I will throw a 'New house/Moving in' party and invite you all. I drive a Ford Galaxy Titium, if that helps. ATM, I live in a 4 bedroom detached house with the wife and 4 kids. My grandfather died 10 or so yrs ago, and left a small farm, which is around 19 arces, the farmhouse is more like a shack, than a house. I was laid off from work last yr, and not been able to find something suitable, got me thinking about the farm and potential. We have sold some land to the local developer, so we have enough money for what we need, I hope.

Myself, wife and the 2 eldest have and use computers everyday. Kids all have mobile phones.

We plan to have AV fed around the house, family room, kitchen, dinning room, master bedroom and bath. Tvs being feed from Sky/Freeview to all bedrooms.The bedrooms will have access to movies from the movie server located in the plant room. Each bedroom will have access to the internet wired and or wireless.

The lights will be automated, along with cctv and alarm/fire systems. There will be underfloor heating to all rooms/floors

Kitchen will have all the normal modcons, oven, american style fridgefreezer, coffee machine, dishwasher etc. Landry room will have washing machine and tumble. We plan to use the pool everyday. In the basement will be a bar/games room with a tv. The cinema with be a 8 seater.

I was unaware of the 'in roof' pv solar tiles, they look pretty good.

Kev

sedgy34 · Jun 6, 2012

EFW said:
Hi folks,
Many thanks for your comments so far. Of course, once its completed, then I will throw a 'New house/Moving in' party and invite you all. I drive a Ford Galaxy Titium, if that helps. ATM, I live in a 4 bedroom detached house with the wife and 4 kids. My grandfather died 10 or so yrs ago, and left a small farm, which is around 19 arces, the farmhouse is more like a shack, than a house. I was laid off from work last yr, and not been able to find something suitable, got me thinking about the farm and potential. We have sold some land to the local developer, so we have enough money for what we need, I hope.

Myself, wife and the 2 eldest have and use computers everyday. Kids all have mobile phones.

We plan to have AV fed around the house, family room, kitchen, dinning room, master bedroom and bath. Tvs being feed from Sky/Freeview to all bedrooms.The bedrooms will have access to movies from the movie server located in the plant room. Each bedroom will have access to the internet wired and or wireless.

The lights will be automated, along with cctv and alarm/fire systems. There will be underfloor heating to all rooms/floors

Kitchen will have all the normal modcons, oven, american style fridgefreezer, coffee machine, dishwasher etc. Landry room will have washing machine and tumble. We plan to use the pool everyday. In the basement will be a bar/games room with a tv. The cinema with be a 8 seater.

I was unaware of the 'in roof' pv solar tiles, they look pretty good.

Kev

when your ready we can do all the above and more if you want,also dont forget the sprinkler system!!!

Earthstore · Jun 6, 2012

There are two types of in roof systems, one uses panels which are built into the roof, the other uses solar tiles which have two cells per tile, they do both look neater than a roof mounted system, however they come at a price, the tiles are expensive and do not perform as well as a panel, and mounted system will out perform both of them through the summer months as it would cool better with the air gap beneath them.

It is quite surprising how a PV systems performance will drop as the panels heat up, which is why systems tend to peak in April/May time, with clear skys and cool temperatures.

If you are having underfloor heating upstairs I would recommend using block and beam construction, as this has a better thermal mass and works much better than wooden floors.

Also if you are having a heat pump it is best to run your underfloor heating pipes at 100mm centres, something that quite often gets overlooked.

You have a great opportunity to build a fantastic house with all the technology that is available now, but you need to have good advice, and the sad thing is it is a minefield.
Just one other point is insulate, insulate, insulate, and have the house designed with this in mind, because it also needs to breath.

I hope this helps.