Tigh-Na-Cladach: Home Owner's First Experience

Alison Cowie, New Business Developer of Fyne Initiatives has visited the residents of Tigh-Na-Cladach and has written an article in Fyne Homes' summer 2010 newsletter. She found the flair of the development resembling more a holiday apartment in Spain than flats in Dunoon. Following are excerpts of the article:

Karen purchased her 2 bedroom 'Passivhaus' in the middle of May and looked very relaxed as we chatted over a cup of tea at her kitchen table. Her home is an accredited Passivhaus, the first of it's kind in Scotland and the first affordable Passivhaus in the UK. The concept of Passivhaus is a building that is so airtight that it does not have a requirement for a conventional heating system. The house is fitted with solar panels to heat the hot water - anticipated to reduce the costs by up to 50% per annum, an air to air heat pump for minimal heating needs and a Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery unit (MVHR) which ensures ventilation and extracts warmed air from the kitchen and bathrooms for re-use.* The heating requirements are expected to amount to approximately one tenth of what an average traditional house uses.

Whilst the property will be monitored over a 2 year period, I was interested to hear what she had to say about her experience so far. I admit I was relieved when she said,

"It seems to work, it is definitely warmer than the average house and I haven't used the heating since moving in, although the test will come during the winter. I knew about the concept of the MVHR which uses warmed air to heat fresh incoming air, however it is quite amazing to experience it working in practice.  I haven't had my immerser on either as the solar panels are providing so much hot water. The temperature is averaging between 20-22 degrees throughout the house and that is even with the doors and windows opened!"

Karen is just as enthusiastic about the overall design of the Tigh-Na-Cladach homes. "The house has definitely met my expectations. Having the sea to the front of the property and the woodland to the rear makes it an encredible setting. The homes are very soundproof and ideal for families, the large windows mean I can watch my daughter if she is playing outside. Living here is very sociable as there are plenty of families living close by and the children can play safely away from the main road."

* Annotation of the SPHC team: It is the heat that is being re-used in MVHR systems, not the air as such.

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