MicroCHP helps upgrade Victorian terraced house
MicroCHP is one of the technologies being installed in a Victorian terraced house in London as part of the ‘Retrofit for the future’ programme initiated by the Technology Strategy Board. The 2-bedroom, mid-terrace house at 88 Lothrop Street was built around 1880 and has solid walls. It was awarded a fund of £150 000 to deliver an 80% reduction in carbon emissions using a range of technologies. The retrofit was designed by ECD architects and works carried out by United House.
The Baxi Ecogen microCHP unit has an electrical output of 300 W — sufficient to run equipment such as a television, low-energy lighting and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.
Space and water heating are controlled by a WattBox which automatically adjusts heat and water timing to suit occupants, while minimising energy consumption, by monitoring occupant behaviour patterns and temperature preferences.
LED lighting has been installed throughout, with white goods in the kitchen being A++ rated.
The house is being monitored in use for two years to enable the effectiveness of the interventions to be assessed for future projects.
Because of the location, roof-mounted renewable solutions were not permitted — even including solar panels that resemble traditional roofing, leading to the adoption of CHP as an alternative.
