Wirksworth Transition Community Land Trust

We’re excited to be able to offer free tours and explanations of energy efficiency work carried out to a range of houses in the Wirksworth area, thanks to the kind help of local homeowners. The venues are listed below. Numbers on the tours are limited, first-come-first-served – if you are interested in visiting, please contact us by email, through facilitator Mary Ann Hooper, at wirksworthtclt@gmail.com.  She will send you a list of when each venue has tours so you can then email her again to say which tours you would like to go to. Alternatively, you can wait to book in person by going to The Maltings, St. Mary’s Gate, Wirksworth, on Saturday 1st October from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm.

The Trust is also active working with a Retrofit Energy Assessor on a case study home in Wirksworth, and will be having a session on the outcome of the assessment and about retrofitting at the Maltings on Saturday 5th November. That event will also include a number of energy efficiency product suppliers, such as insulation, solar panels, and heating.

TOUR VENUE 01

Stone quarry worker house, built between 1800 and 1850. Later it was a pub, now being renovated as a ‘deep retrofit’ using Passivhaus standards where possible based on the principle of Fabric First so it reduces the demand for energy.

TOUR VENUE 02

House built 2000-01 to be as ecological as possible but in early days of understanding – better than average insulation, sustainable materials, solar panels for water heating (solar panels for electricity added later). Has water harvesting from roof to tank below garden, used for flushing toilets. Currently trying to make the glass conservatory more effective.

TOUR VENUE 03

1965 semi-bungalow with half ground floor converted to solid floors with underfloor heating, and the rest of the house radiators. All electric, no gas. Extensive insulation added, PV solar panels, air-source heat pump, double-glazing.

TOUR VENUE 04

1935 brick bungalow bought in 2010. Retrofit with underfloor, external wall and loft insulation, PV solar panels, double-glazing. In 2021, thermal camera showed heat loss all around the eaves. Now waiting for work to extend insulation from loft over the top edge of the external wall insulation to eliminate heat loss. Installing on-demand ventilation system for air quality. Having external shading of south-facing windows.

TOUR VENUE 05

House built in series of phases from 18^th c, onwards, in gritstone, limestone and brick. Modernised 2020-21 with external hempcrete insulating render. Windows replaced with conservation quality sash windows. Roof spaces insulated, living room floor dug out and insulated, underfloor heating. Rain from rear roofs piped into troughs in garden.

TOUR VENUE 06

Built 2015 in conservation area. 2 bed, open plan ground floor, garage. Wall insulation with Durox Supabloc 7 (7.3N) and 100mm Cavity therm. Roof insulated Xtratherm and sheep wool. Double glazing. All electric with air source heat pump, heat recovery ventilation.

TOUR VENUE 07

House (on 4 levels) built 2019 over ruined barn. Meets Passivhaus standard but not certified. Has Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF) foundation, insulation, air source heat pump, double & triple glazed windows, airtight, Mechanical heat recovery ventilation system for controlling indoor air quality.

TOUR VENUE 08

To be confirmed

TOUR VENUE 09

Original is a 1750s farmer’s cottage, now much extended and modernised, with insulation everywhere, double glazing, underfloor heating, ground source heat pump, solar PV, wind turbine, wood stoves, sun pipe.

TOUR VENUE 10

To be confirmed