Hi from England

mnbv69 · 10-11-12, 08:31 AM

Hi All,
I've been interested in renewable energy ever since I first paid a utility bill (nearly 20 years).
Currently I'm completing a 70m2 extension on a house we bought last year. It's been designed to be largely passive-solar heated (large south-facing windows and concrete slab ground floor). I'm planning LED lighting throughout. Insulation meets or exceeds new-build standards in the UK. After that I'm planning more insulation to the existing house and also new windows, then probably PV as the main roof faces south.

My reason for visiting was mainly to find a low-cost temperature logging system so I can monitor the house and see if the passive solar heating design works.

Daox · 10-11-12, 08:46 AM

Welcome to the site.

It sounds like you have a pretty good handle on what needs to be done. I'll just throw out that air sealing is also a major concern that should be looked at if it hasn't already.

A few of the members here have used different logging techniques from automated ones to manual methods. I assume you're interested in automated methods? Do you know anything about electronics and programming? An arduino can fairly easily do what you ask, but it will require some building. I believe Strider has an arduino logger setup in his house.

mnbv69 · 10-11-12, 08:58 AM

Thanks daox.

Yes air sealing will be something I need to do soon, as I'll be fitting the windows and doors. The basic structure should be quite airtight as it's aircrete block, 100mm rockwool, aircrete block. Will be rendered outside and plastered inside. I've seen tapes like "proclima" that I may use to help with this.

Forgot to say that I'm fitting a Passivent humidity-sensing stack vent system to the four wet rooms for ventilation.

I've used an arduino before - may even still have it - so I'll take another look at that.

Daox · 10-11-12, 09:41 AM

Here is a link to Strider's logging project: http://ecorenovator.org/forum/applia...g-project.html

Here is a very quick and simple setup I made, although I apparently had some accuracy problems that need working out: http://ecorenovator.org/forum/applia...re-logger.html

10-11-12, 08:31 AM	#1
mnbv69 Lurking Renovator Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: UK Posts: 8 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Hi from England Hi All, I've been interested in renewable energy ever since I first paid a utility bill (nearly 20 years). Currently I'm completing a 70m2 extension on a house we bought last year. It's been designed to be largely passive-solar heated (large south-facing windows and concrete slab ground floor). I'm planning LED lighting throughout. Insulation meets or exceeds new-build standards in the UK. After that I'm planning more insulation to the existing house and also new windows, then probably PV as the main roof faces south. My reason for visiting was mainly to find a low-cost temperature logging system so I can monitor the house and see if the passive solar heating design works.

10-11-12, 08:46 AM	#2
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Welcome to the site. It sounds like you have a pretty good handle on what needs to be done. I'll just throw out that air sealing is also a major concern that should be looked at if it hasn't already. A few of the members here have used different logging techniques from automated ones to manual methods. I assume you're interested in automated methods? Do you know anything about electronics and programming? An arduino can fairly easily do what you ask, but it will require some building. I believe Strider has an arduino logger setup in his house. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-11-12, 09:41 AM	#4
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Here is a link to Strider's logging project: http://ecorenovator.org/forum/applia...g-project.html Here is a very quick and simple setup I made, although I apparently had some accuracy problems that need working out: http://ecorenovator.org/forum/applia...re-logger.html __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-11-12, 08:58 AM	#3
mnbv69 Lurking Renovator Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: UK Posts: 8 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Thanks daox. Yes air sealing will be something I need to do soon, as I'll be fitting the windows and doors. The basic structure should be quite airtight as it's aircrete block, 100mm rockwool, aircrete block. Will be rendered outside and plastered inside. I've seen tapes like "proclima" that I may use to help with this. Forgot to say that I'm fitting a Passivent humidity-sensing stack vent system to the four wet rooms for ventilation. I've used an arduino before - may even still have it - so I'll take another look at that.