With thanks to David Myerson for sharing this case study with us.

Type of house: Detached single storey, new build 2024

Improvements carried out: Everything!
Solar panel array – 25 x 435w panels
Battery storage – 30kW
ASHP
MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation & Heat Recovery)
Triple glazing throughout
Underfloor heating throughout
Floor insulation 150mm, wall insulation 140mm, roof void injected insulation (420mm).
Airtight house seal (achieved 1.1 air change per hr)
No gas into house
Rainwater harvesting – 7500 liter tank
Sedum roof

House built on ground screws, no concrete trench foundation, so minimally invasive to site.
(no digging, no earth to landfill)

Future plans for improvements: All done as part of initial plan.

What went right? What improvement have you seen or benefitted from as a result? So far, everything on track. Expect to be off grid from May-September, rest of year will run off cheap night time purchase of energy, stored on our battery and used during the day.

What went wrong? What would you do differently? Any barriers that were identified?: Nothing gone wrong as yet. Would be useful if planners better understood some of processes and benefits of eco build techniques. Would give over more roof to rainwater harvest and less to sedum. Whilst the biodiversity of the green roof is good, water saving is better.

One thing I wish I’d known is: That water from a sedum roof cannot be used as rainwater harvesting

My top tip for a Future Fit Home is: Take time to do as much research as possible before you begin.
Make sure that the people who sell themselves as experts do actually possess the expertise
they are selling. Plan, plan, plan.