UK’s first PH Deep Energy Retrofit

When in the UK in 2011, I had the chance to tour a Deep Energy Retrofit of a 1870′s Victorian terrace in progress in west London. The Lena Gardens Project was Tom Pakenham‘s brain child.

Like many old inner city’s in Canada, this home was one of the estimated 7 million uninsulated solid masonry buildings in the UK. In order to preserve the heritage the architects had to engineer their way around many issues common to retrofitting solid masonry homes.

I was fortunate to get a tour of the home from Edward Borgstein who showed me how they avoided the thermal bridging at beam pockets. By building a new support structure inside the brick walls, all floor loads were carried by this new steel structure which was tied to the  old masonry structure through glass rods epoxied into the brick. In the end this house managed to maintain the curb appeal.

I just stumbled on the video below that does a nice job explaining what they did and the tumbler link above is a great resource too. Thanks Tom for getting me into the house, I learned a lot and  – I owe you several pints!