One to get Watergarden Going

I had a man round to do the Energy Performance Certificate. Apparently, although the HIPS pack quango has folded, we still need one of these to put the house on the market.

Bearing in mind i've built the place myself & done everything to exceed current building regulations.

I've got low emmision, argon gas filled double glazing, insulation exceeding requirements in the floor, walls and roof, a 30 vacuum tube solar hot water system that heats all the water between the equinoxes and provides a useful pre heat in the winter.

A 12 volt solar electric lighting circuit that provides mood lighting or just lighting in the event of a power cut.

The nice man (who has done the government course) is not allowed to take into account that Cellotex gives twice the insulation value of normal rock wool insulation, he can only write down the depth of insulation.

There is no accounting for low e glass or argon gas filling.

No accounting for passive solar gain.

No accounting for thermal mass gain.

No accounting for a triple insulated hot water tank.

He has rated the house at "e" not very good, and says it will cost nearly £1000 a year to heat. Despite the fact my entire electricity bill for last year was only £300, and thats for running an electric double oven as well.

I can't quantify free fire wood, that doesn't fit into the government form:DOH:

Didn't the government know about any of the modern technology when they set this scheme up, what was it?, 4 years ago?

 

The terms 'government' and 'modern technology' are mutually exclusive.

 

Zig, I had an idea about this. I don't know if you've already done it though.

Have you considered telling the local media about your eco house project? They wont care about outdated government ideas. You could drop a note to all the local media companies (radio stations and local newspapers) and just tell them you built your super efficient house that is so cutting edge that it baffled the government inspector. Give them a very brief overview of the story, just enough for them to decide if they are interested but short enough so they might actually read it.

If even just one of them takes the story on, then you never know, a prospective buyer might be suitably influenced.

 

I'm not too worried about the bit of paper, I can show buyers the electricity bill, can't argue with that.

It does make me wonder though, what chance would you stand if you had a listed cob cottage with no insulation in the walls? The thermal mass of cob is a big part in keeping warm in the winter, once its warmed up it stays warm. But the EPC would just class that as uninsulated:DOH:

 

Government bureaucracy is so far beyond silly.

A totally different thing, but I remember buying a car a few years ago, and then realising the tax on it had one day left to go. I bought my insurance online, so no problem there. I had the buyer's half of the V5 logbook, and a valid MOT certificate. But because I didn't have the full V5 yet because I'd only just bought the car, the post office couldn't tax the car.

Off I went to the DVLA office. I explained the situation, and told them I had nowhere private to put the car (I didn't at the time, I lived in a terraced house with no private parking). I gave them receipts, proof of my ID, my driving license, the buyer's half of the V5, and a printout of my insurance confirmation. But, because I didn't yet have the insurance certificate on headed paper, they weren't interested and I was told to park the car somewhere private. I'd already told them that that wasn't an option. They said if I could produce the insurance certificate, they'd tax my car. I told them (again) that by the time I'd get that, the tax would have run out and I'd be breaking the law. I was once again told to park the car somewhere private and once again explained this wasn't an option. I suggested they phone my insurer for confirmation that I've insured the car. 'Can't do that' I got told. I offered the chap my mobile and told him use my phone if you're worried about the bill. He was having none of it. By now very frustrated, I asked him what he suggests I should do, given everything I've told him, to avoid breaking the law by leaving my car on the street without a valid tax disc. His reply: "Park it somewhere private".

 

Thats beyond belief Dave. Should have got his name & told him you'd give his details if you got fined.

 

The bloke told me not to bother printing it off as no one looks at them, its just one of the things big brother says you have to have to sell the place.

The utility bills will be a better guide, as will the little computer controling the solar water heating which flashes red & tells you not to get into the swimming pool if it is above 60c.

 

Ziggy, it makes you wonder if it's really worth bothering to build an eco house when there's this sort of encouragement from the government. It just proves how interested they are in helping out our planet. The mind boggles!