Search

Insulation vs ventilation etc: How buildings ‘work’ in relation to retrofit

EdinBRIC recently held a well-attended hybrid event on insulation and ventilation, with expert speaker Jon Stinson of Building Research Solutions.

His presentation discussed the principles of building physics in relation to domestic energy efficiency and retrofit. 

Contrary to common belief, energy efficiency in buildings does not simply mean blocking all the draughts and insulating everything. Jon Stinson’s presentation explains why this is, covering various topics including the fundamentals of building physics, energy balance and thermal energy exchange, water transfer and ventilation, and thermal fabric retrofit measures. 

If you are interested in retrofitting your flat, particularly if you own an older sandstone tenement flat, this presentation serves as an excellent introduction on the topic. It offers valuable insights into how buildings handle energy, heat, moisture, and air, equipping you with the necessary knowledge to move forward with a retrofit and improvement project, without the risk of unintended consequences. 

You can now watch the recording on YouTube and access the slides and the presenter’s notes

EdinBRIC, Edinburgh Building Retrofit and Improvement Collective, is a community-led collective which aims to improve homes to make them warmer and more energy efficient. Find out more about what they do on their website

Recent articles
Recent articles

Under One Roof’s response to the Heat in Buildings Bill Consultation

Scotland has set a target to reach net zero by 2045. As part of reaching this target, the Heat in Buildings bill proposes to make new laws around how we heat our homes and buildings to increase their energy efficiency and reduce their emissions output. Under One Roof responded to the Heat in Buildings Bill Consultation to highlight the importance of considering the unique position of tenement flat owner-occupiers and landlords when it comes to transitioning to net zero and zero emissions heating systems.

Electric vehicle charging and tenements: what to do?

With the ongoing transition to net zero, there are more and more electric vehicles on the roads to help reduce carbon emissions. In December 2021, 21.4% of all new car sales in Scotland were electric. But if you live in a flat without off-street parking, where can charging points for electric vehicles be installed? 

The story of Under One Roof: a conversation with co-founder Annie Flint

This International Women’s Day, we’re delving into the archives of Blocktalk, the podcast for UK Property Management Professionals, hosted by Brian Welsh, Managing Director of CPL Software. In a conversation recorded back in March 2022, Annie Flint, co-founder of Under One Roof, shares her journey and insights into the world of tenement living and property management.

A short guide to maintaining gutters

Cleaning your gutters is a key way to maintain your property’s value as it can prevent damage caused by damp. Due to climate change, rainfall in Scotland has increased significantly over the last 70 years and gutters need to be maintained to cope with this change.

Response to Cladding Bill Consultation

The Scottish Government has published a consultation to their proposed Cladding Bill, which seeks to address a number of issues related owners manging the issue of cladding in certain buildings in Scotland.

Latest updates

Under One Roof’s response to the Heat in Buildings Bill Consultation

Scotland has set a target to reach net zero by 2045. As part of reaching this target, the Heat in Buildings bill proposes to make new laws around how we heat our homes and buildings to increase their energy efficiency and reduce their emissions output. Under One Roof responded to the Heat in Buildings Bill Consultation to highlight the importance of considering the unique position of tenement flat owner-occupiers and landlords when it comes to transitioning to net zero and zero emissions heating systems.

Electric vehicle charging and tenements: what to do?

With the ongoing transition to net zero, there are more and more electric vehicles on the roads to help reduce carbon emissions. In December 2021, 21.4% of all new car sales in Scotland were electric. But if you live in a flat without off-street parking, where can charging points for electric vehicles be installed? 

The story of Under One Roof: a conversation with co-founder Annie Flint

This International Women’s Day, we’re delving into the archives of Blocktalk, the podcast for UK Property Management Professionals, hosted by Brian Welsh, Managing Director of CPL Software. In a conversation recorded back in March 2022, Annie Flint, co-founder of Under One Roof, shares her journey and insights into the world of tenement living and property management.

What is retrofit?

Retrofit refers to the strategic improvement of existing buildings, so that they are better able to meet modern energy efficiency standards. It can involve installing a new low to zero-emissions heating system in a building or simply adding double glazing, with the common aim of decreasing energy consumption and reducing carbon emission outputs from homes. 

Under One Roof’s response to the Heat in Buildings Bill Consultation

Scotland has set a target to reach net zero by 2045. As part of reaching this target, the Heat in Buildings bill proposes to make new laws around how we heat our homes and buildings to increase their energy efficiency and reduce their emissions output. Under One Roof responded to the Heat in Buildings Bill Consultation to highlight the importance of considering the unique position of tenement flat owner-occupiers and landlords when it comes to transitioning to net zero and zero emissions heating systems.

Electric vehicle charging and tenements: what to do?

With the ongoing transition to net zero, there are more and more electric vehicles on the roads to help reduce carbon emissions. In December 2021, 21.4% of all new car sales in Scotland were electric. But if you live in a flat without off-street parking, where can charging points for electric vehicles be installed? 

Help and information

If you live in any kind of building containing flats, you have rights and responsibilities, along with your co-owners, to maintain and manage your building.
But, every building is different, so get professional help for anything more than a simple problem. 

Working with your neighbours will make sure you always deal with problems fairly and help maintain harmony in your building.

Repairs are inevitable and need to be tackled quickly before more damage is caused.

Follow these steps to ensure the repairs process goes smoothly and all owners pay their share.

Not satisfied with your flat? Check out what you can and can’t do to your flat to alter and improve it before deciding to sell and move on.