1974 I installed additional insulation (glass fibre) in the loft, increasing the thickness from 50 to 150 mm (2 to 6 inches). I also fitted additional insulation (glass fibre) around the hot water cylinder.
1980 Thermostatic radiator valves (Drayton) were fitted to all radiators.
1980 The (50 mm) cavities of all the external walls were filled (with urea formaldehyde foam).
1988 Some new radiators were fitted (replacing those leaking) and new thermostatic radiator valves (Danfoss) were fitted to all the radiators.
1992 All the original wooden single-glazed windows and external doors (which were rotted and had no seals - allowing draughts) were replaced with uPVC double-glazed units, with double seals.
1995 The original floor-standing Potterton Diplomat gas boiler was replaced with a new wall-hung gas condensing boiler (Potterton Envoy 40), and new outside compensator control (Danfoss BEM 5000), and the original Primatic hot water cylinder was replaced with a new indirect cylinder (Range Supercal), with integral foam insulation. Also fitted were a new hot water header tank (replacing that corroded), a new heating system header tank (previously missing, causing corrosion), cellular insulation on the heating and hot water pipes (previously none), some new radiators (additional and larger), and all new thermostatic radiator valves (Danfoss).
2000 To replace an old refrigerator (GEC) and separate small freezer (Zanussi), I bought a new A-rated fridge-freezer (Bosch KSV 2421). This reduced the electricity consumption for these items by about 53 per cent.
2000 The Potterton boiler was replaced because of its appalling unreliability - about 16 failures in under five years. Potterton has since left the domestic boiler market (but sold the name to Baxi). A new super-condensing gas boiler (Eco-Hometec Micromat EC16/22), with integral outside compensator control, and a new, larger, indirect hot water cylinder (Range Ultracal), with a high-performance coil and double foam insulation, were fitted.
In the kitchen, one old tubular fluorescent lamp was replaced by two new ones (for more light). Elsewhere, incandescent light bulbs have been progressively replaced with compact fluorescent lamps (currently seven).
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