Oxford Road

Semi-detached house built 1897

Margaret and Peter

Margaret is an architect specialising in low-carbon design, and Peter is a Cambridge University professor.  Margaret says:

 ‘We’ve worked on improving insulation since we moved here in 1988.  Our green concerns and desire for greater comfort – I now work from home – as we approach retirement has prompted the current works.  We aimed both to create a larger house and carry out an ‘eco-retrofit’ to improve on improvements already made. ’

Extensions have been well-insulated (cavity wall, roof and floor), and external wall insulation is in progress.  An 3kWp solar PV system was installed in 2011.  The couple have adjusted their lifestyle to minimise energy use, keeping the heating level low, using a smaller A+ fridge and second fridge only when needed, and switching off appliances at night.  'It's possible that we've saved more energy through lifestyle changes and installing solar PV than we will have when all costly renovations are complete.'