Victorian House

The EnerPHit method was chosen because it is the most robust strategy worldwide to reduce carbon emissions and protect tenants from fuel poverty. Southside Housing Association (SHA) commissioned this groundbreaking retrofit which was supported by Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and the housing association themselves. The whole building was in a parlous state internally and externally and had been vacant for a couple of years. It was also, unusually, in the single ownership of SHA which gave us a unique opportunity.

The design approach was three fold: i) building repairs and conservation of the tenement, ii) energy efficient measures and iii) improved layouts and upgraded finishes such as new kitchens and bathrooms.

A ceiling mounted Passive House MVHR unit (Zehnder ComfoAir 160 LuxePH) was chosen for installation in the bathroom ceilings. These were lowered to take the MVHR unit, attenuators and ducting.

Attenuators: Lindab LRCA 125 500 (best performing)

Manifolds:  Customised Lindab MCU

Ducting: Frankische Pro-ducting 90mm

External Terminals: Maico KWH125

Internal Terminals: Lindab Airy 125, Filtered kitchen extract and Zehnder Venezia

Fire collars had be installed for all duct penetrations through the hallway walls.

The heating demand has been reduced to 25.9 kWh/m2/year through a fabric first approach which is approximately 90% lower than that of a similar sandstone tenement. The lower four flats are fossil fuel free as they use zero carbon technologies (ASHP).

Overall the project demonstrates the potential to conserve Glasgow’s beautiful stone heritage whilst creating flats which will cost less to heat than a new build equivalent, using a range of natural, low embodied materials. The properties are being monitored by the University of Strathclyde in combination with an extensive evaluation of the design and build process by CaCHE in the coming year or so.