Retrofitting MVHR and shading is what we should be doing before considering aircon. But good system likely more expensive than aircon, so funding is needed.

John Butler@jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The quiet rage I feel as a Passivhaus consultant living in a 5-year-old house that overheats horribly every heat wave, knowing how simply some minor design changes, shading and MVHR could have avoided it completely. Sitting here contemplating simplest way to retrofit MVHR and shading.

The quiet rage I feel as a Passivhaus consultant living in a 5-year-old house that overheats horribly every heat wave, knowing how simply some minor design changes, shading and MVHR could have avoided it completely. Sitting here contemplating simplest way to retrofit MVHR and shading.

Keeping the sun out is a lot easier than trying to cool the house afterwards. Wish I could do upstairs too, and that UK standard house design was actually fit for purpose. 25 degrees inside and rising, but rising much more slowly than without the blankets.

I just read a planning application to convert a historic storage building into a shop and flat, and now I'm angry. Not because they want to convert it, but because my 84 m2 two bed semi-detached house (which feels like a luxury to have to myself) would fit into their proposed 3 bed flat 5.7 times!

This probably belongs here, really.

The Woodlouse (John Butler)@the-woodlouse.bsky.social · 7mo ago

I've just used a pivot table for the first time. I think my life will be forever changed by this moment. I mean, I've heard people eulogise about how useful they are but somehow I never tried it until now. Data sorted. Tables clear. Chart production hugely simplified. HALLELUJAH!

Update: social sustainability included at building and works level, not much (anything?) in Standards for construction product level, which is disappointing. Is there anything at raw material sourcing level? About to look.

John Butler@jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Writing some course material about sustainable building materials. Started writing that the standard LCA approach was detailed on environmental impact but ignored social sustainability. Thought: must check this is true. It is NOT! The framework standard very much includes social sustainability

Writing some course material about sustainable building materials. Started writing that the standard LCA approach was detailed on environmental impact but ignored social sustainability. Thought: must check this is true. It is NOT! The framework standard very much includes social sustainability

I can feel the draught coming in around the outside of my window frames. This house is only five years old. To fix this properly I'd need to hack into the plaster all around each window and remove the cills. Such invasive work shouldn't be needed in new houses, but frequently is.

This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started

Sees local newspaper post about rising sea levels. Don’tLookAtTheComments Don’tLookAtTheComments Don’tLookAtTheComments. Looks at the comments. AAAARGH!

I’ve very much neglected this account. General life pondering and rubbish-talking now happen on my other account. Not sure how many of the Passivhaus/low-carbon/low-impact construction people are still active on here, but just in case: Hello! [waves].

The UK still needs HS2, delivered in full. There's no viable alternative. Me, from years back, making this point:

For better or worse I've shared this from @thedailytism.com on my LinkedIn so I might as well share it here too. I am a sensible professional consultant. I'm also a creator of darkly funny musical shows about zombies (@the-woodlouse.bsky.social ). Both are true! thedailytism.com/advertorial-...

Advertorial: Whaaat? This cishet autistic white dude with beard actually has Edinburgh show worth seeing

A cisgender, heterosexual autistic white guy with a beard has wowed commentators by having an Edinburgh Fringe show that people actually want to go and see on purpose, it has been claimed.  Do Zombies...

thedailytism.com

It's national Get That Slightly Squeaky Fan Out of the Loft Day for those of use that don't live in a house where overheating risk was properly considered. It's already 24° in my office but the air movement from the fan helps it feel more comfortable, squeak not withstanding.

This episode is amazing. If you want to know what it’s actually like being autistic (as opposed to the stereotypes) it’s a must-listen. I’m autistic & this episode is just about the most validating thing I’ve listened too, ever. Also, effing funny. Also the best (wholly justified) righteous rants.

The Daily Tism@thedailytism.com · last yr.

Have you caught up with the latest episode of Autistic Women Oversharing? It’s us vs the AQ test and BOY do we have some feelings! Play along at home! linktr.ee/thedailytism

This!

Juraj Mikurcik@jurajmikurcik.bsky.social · last yr.

I wish the UK gov would focus on tangible improvement of public services and people's lives instead of blaming immigrants. Where is the positive vision for this country?

Migrants have not done “incalculable damage to our society”. People scapegoating, othering, and encouraging hatred of migrants (and others) *have* done that.

UK MPs: 1. The Supreme Court ruling is not "the law", nor has it changed existing legislation. 2. The EHRC's interim update is also not "the law". It isn't even "guidance". 3. The upcoming EHRC guidance, likewise, is not "the law". Again, the legislation hasn't changed. 1/

Love this chart

Simon Kuestenmacher@simongerman600.bsky.social · last yr.

This chart is internet-famous since Steve Jobs allegedly looooooved it. It shows how much energy (measured in calories) is needed to move objects by weight. A human on a bicycle is outrageously energy efficient. Cycling is the king of transportation!

Good things: 1. Finally able to concentrate on work again enough to make progress through the first of several late reports 2. Coffee break in the sun outside my back door, staring at the sky 3. See my first swift of the year gliding about above 4. See a Kite (the bird variety) drifting about above

Workspace officially decommissioned until after house move next week! Hopefully up and running again with minimal delay. Brace, brace.

This analogy definitely works if your kid has a disability or health condition that means they can’t get a Saturday job and if they don’t get a Saturday job, you let your kid starve to death

Peter Stefanovic@peterstefanovic.bsky.social · last yr.

Jeez. Treasury Secretary Darren Jones compares Labour's welfare cuts to cutting his kids' pocket money when explaining the Government's impact assessment "I'm going to cut your pocket money by £10 a week but you have to go and get a Saturday job"

The recording of my recent webinar is now up. It's a an overview of some key retrofit physics and what that means practically onsite for installers and for successful low energy retrofit. youtu.be/ca1rPFt51a4?...

Dorset Retrofit Reimagined: Building Skills for a Retrofit Future - Webinar 2

YouTube video by Dorset CAN

youtu.be

SBUK’s latest webinar, this lunchtime

Straw Building UK@strawbuildinguk.bsky.social · last yr.

🚨 Today – 1300 (GMT) 
Timber Framing for Straw Bale Construction 🪵📐🏗️
 Designing timber frames for straw bale buildings is a skill - Hawkland brings real-world experience to the table. 🎟️ Register here: bit.ly/4hJkGr2
 #strawbuilding #timberframing #timber #naturalbuilding #biobasedmaterials

Heads-up that I've changed my bluesky handle to @jbsustbuild.bsky.social from @thewoodlouse.bsky.social to avoid confusion with my creative alter ego (@the-woodlouse.bsky.social). It's always possible that this will make things worse, but at least I've tried!

Potentially combinations of them all, depending on the day.

Edmonds Scanner@edmondsscanner.bsky.social · last yr.

What's your early Spring look? 1. pollen zombie 2. pale sea witch 3. frazzled garden gnome 4. feral forest Muppet

Watching a very depressing but incredibly useful smoke test video of a post retrofit house. Lots of leakage at floor to wall junction (suspect leakage through floor, and wall not properly sealed to floor), and a fair bit around windows (both through window seals, and join of window to building).

Outstanding work here from @thedailytism.bsky.social

The Daily Tism@thedailytism.com · 2y ago

“You just seem kind of quirky, you know? Different. Sweet. I wouldn’t say autistic, though.” Harrington continued. “Is it me, or is she getting progressively more purple? And why are her fists clenched?”

EPDs & straw 🌾 what do they tell us about embodied carbon? 🌍 Watch our latest webinar with @thewoodlouse.bsky.social 🎥 ➡️ youtu.be/rCIBXu-LKaQ #strawconstruction #embodiedcarbon #epds #sustainablebuilding #biogeniccarbon