4. Home Heating

This project was challenging and it came about when my gas combi boiler nearly packed up.

I then spent an agonising time considering different options. The preference was for fossil fuel free system. It also had to be suitable for teenage girls, who shower frequently and are unlikey to want to be chopping and carrying logs.

The system would have to be flexible and ideally incorporate solar thermal hot water heating. My roof runs Northeast to Southwest is not ideal for solar I would also need a heat store and work out how to combine solar with a wood fuel boiler or burner.

I reduced my heating requirements by putting sheepswool into the loft, separating it from the thin glasswool insulation already there with greaseproof paper. I also put thick curtains over the porch and backdoors.