Tindall Street, Balsall Heath

This semi detached property built in the 1840s has been substantially extended and converted from the original 2 bedroom house to a 4 bedroom house with a studio loft. Completed in 2009, the UK’s first retrofit house to “zero carbon” standard (Code for Sustainable Homes level 6). It generates all its own renewable energy with no use of fossil fuels, and has won six design awards including Civil Trust Commendation and RIBA Architecture Award. 

Key changes made:

As part of the substantial extension made to the original property, we installed certain measures to get the house to zero carbon. Insulation is a key factor in reducing heat loss; therefore we installed it in internal walls, ceilings, floors and the roof. Triple glazing was also used extensively throughout the property. We utilised specific materials such as clay blocks, rammed earth floors and the existing Victorian brickwork to regulate internal temperatures. Combined, this allowed us to make the switch from central heating to using just a wood stove along with solar thermal panels. The other major change was a Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery system installed throughout the whole house.