What stops heat escaping from the homes?
There are many ways in which heat can be lost from a home. At Hockerton, the massive insulation and earth covering are key features in this respect. This then leaves glazing and ventilation as potential weak points in the design. The key means to preventing heat loss are: • High levels of insulation to all external surfaces of the house • Reduced temperature gradient between inside and outside of house by use of buffer zones, i.e., conservatory and porch • The roof, rear wall and two end walls are earth covered • Use of glazing configurations (triple and double glazed, with low E coat and argon fill) with very low heat loss specifications in the main part of the building. • Careful management of the ventilation of the building through the use of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. For more detail see HHP Technical Factsheets TF2: Choice of Materials (In construction), TF3: Thermal Design & Energy Conservation, & TF6: Ventilation & Air Tightness. Copies can be purchased via the S
