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I'm having second thoughts about using Polyisocyanurate (PIR) boards for our external wall insulation (EWI). PIR is the best commonly available insulator, so it will enable us to get the most insulation into the limited thickness that we have available. Unfortunately, I've just learned that PIR has some problems that …

Excellent advice from fostertom on external wall insulation (EWI):

The ideal is EWI to walls, continuous with similar EPS [expanded polystyrene] on OSB [a kind of plywood] boarded over the top of the rafters, tiles/slates replaced but a bit higher up. The roof OSB is adequately airtight, without any …

I have a 3kW electric kettle, and a 2kW induction hob, and I find the induction hob faster and more convenient. (My wall sockets are all 240V.)

However, I've just actually measured it, and the situation is more complex... I timed how long it took each of them to boil …

Things I have learned today about soldering pipes...

1. It's not a one handed job. As a beginner, I wanted to hold both the blowtorch and the solder in my right hand. So I heated the pipe with the torch, then put it down and applied the solder. Bad idea. I …

I'm going to have to choose some windows, and a window fitter soon.

Most of the windows that we want to reduce are in solid brickwork, so at least I can do the new brickwork myself. I like that idea, because it will allow me to add chamfered jambs, which …

I calculate that we'd need over 100 LED spot lights (at about 200 lumens each) to get 500 lux in the big room. That's £1000 of light bulbs! So now I'm considering fluorescent bulbs (T5) concealed behind an architrave or coving.

Altima have an all in one solution, but frustratingly …

Almost Passive House is a blog about a new build project in the US. They are obviously trying to achieve much the same thing as we are with Westacre. I found then through a Google search for lighting, but they also seem to have useful information on heat-recovery ventilation.