Mr & Mrs Hastie
We write to thank BeGreen Dunbar for their help and advice when building a new house in Dunbar. We moved into their new home the week before Christmas 2011.
We wanted our new home to be as thermally efficient as possible so the construction is of timber frame with 400ml of “Kingspan” insulation on walls, roof and underfloor. The outer construction is of breeze block with a render which does not require painting. Windows are double glazed and the number of windows facing north to the sea is balanced by a large two storey hall window extending into the roof to provide light and solar gain from the south. The house is entirely electric with a log burning stove providing top up heat during cold winter nights plus additional water heating from a back boiler.
Although the building is not of “Passivehouse” standard it is relatively airtight and an air pressure test and thermal imaging are due to be carried out soon.
A ventilation system is fitted which changes the air in the house every 2 hours. There is a heat exchanger fitted to the system so that the fresh outside air drawn into the house is heated by the warm air being expelled losing 5% of heat in the process. An air source heat pump is also fitted to the system which heats the air when required and our experience is that we gain approx. 7deg C. on the outside temperature. A thermostatically controlled 1.5Kw electric heater is also fitted to the system to provide extra heat when required.
Solar PV panels with a capacity of 1.25Kw have generated 538Kw during the past 6 months during what has been a cold spring and early summer. Two Solar Thermal Panels are currently providing enough hot water for a family of four most days. We have been in the house for 6 months so will have to wait till the year is up to assess our electricity costs. Early indications are good with the electrical cost is currently approximately £1.30/day.
BeGreen Dunbar’s help has been excellent with advice on insulation materials, solar PV Panels, Solar hot Water panels, Grant Applications etc. Having a local centre 
for such information and help has been invaluable and the staff have been particularly helpful.
Mrs & Mrs Hastie
The Links Dunbar
