Originator And Project Manager For A Low-Energy Domestic Retrofit
2 Fairways Renovation
Teddington, England, United Kingdom
Whilst on a professional career break, spurred on by my keen interest in sustainability, I undertook a personal project to retrofit my family's 1960s suburban home to make it more energy-efficient and sustainable to run.I led the design and planning phase, setting the project objectives and commissioning input from a range of construction professionals, resulting in a comprehensive remodeling brief. I then issued the project for tender, evaluated responses, and selected a main contractor for the £750K (+VAT) project. Notably, I also secured government funding for the installation of an Air Source Heat Pump via the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. During the 15-month construction phase, I independently managed the project, liaised directly with the main contractor, performed site work reviews, led the management of variations to the contracted scope of work and effectively evaluated interim payment applications. I was also responsible for budget/cash flow management and communication with a number of local stakeholders. I also commissioned testing of the building envelope's airtightness and thermal performance.I now promote the importance and benefits of low energy retrofit through my local networks and communities. I have created a blog to share my experience of undertaking such a project and to examine the extent to which its aims have been achieved. I am also a member of, and contribute to, the National Energy Foundation's SuperHomes scheme. I also monitor our home energy use, on an on-going basis, in order to evaluate the success of the retrofit; to optimise our use of newly installed renewable technologies and to minimise our energy demand from the grid. Our home is also currently being monitored by SuperHomes as part of their Rating scheme for domestic retrofit.I'm an advocate for sustainable living and creating energy-efficient homes to reduce their operational carbon footprint.