To heat or not to heat...

After speaking to Seamus from http://viking-house.ie I am inspired and even more confused. After much thought I had settled for substandard passive house insulation, an exhaust air source heat pump with integrated water store and a woodstove with backboiler. The system would need a MVHR (Multi Vent Heat Recovery) system to supply the house with preheated fresh air.
As I am still trying to save money I looked into the whole MVHR system as it's pricey and needs a lot of ducting running around the house which will cost time and money to install.
I found these very interesting units called FiWi HRV (Fine Wire Heat Recovery Ventilation), that work without ducting, on the Viking House web page.

Only two of them are needed to ventilate our house. This should work out considerably cheaper than the MVHR. However, I will need to scrap the heat pump, rethink my insulation and heating needs and construct a thermal slab, get a thermal store, a load of solar thermal panels and life happily ever after....
...if i had triple glazing :-(
Why is being green so bl**dy expensive ???

Solar panels

After having the solar panels, that power the motor home, sitting behind the windscreen all winter, I have decided to bring them outside again for the season. Although they do a great job keeping the batteries topped up all winter they certainly perform better in direct sunlight.
Last year I just had them standing next to the van but with the first volunteers arriving soon, dogs running around and pigs at the project you just never know who is going to knock one over or even step on it.
And of course there is Caithness wind. Worst enemy of everything that isn't bolted or anchored to the ground...

This pallet is made from plywood which is very heavy compared to other pallets. The perfect base for my project. I won't have to pour concrete and bolt it all to the ground. Hopefully.

Some old posts cut to length, screwed to the base, and the back of the frame is done already. The damage on Nessie you can see in the picture is from last years 112 mph storm. It lifted a large 150wp solar panel off the ground although it was tied to the bumper. The glass shattered on the panel but it still works. I plan to repair it one day. Poor Nessie got bruised and battered.

Another pallet added to the front at an angle, screwed onto the base and the top of the back frame. Feels pretty sturdy, but will have to see if it needs bracing when the wind is up.

That's where the bottom panel is going to sit. There are three 13wp amorphous briefcase panels I bought last year at a really good price (ebay). I recently tested them in full sunshine and they can output up to 0.91A each. Realistically they produce 2A, which should be enough for Nessie and her ever changing visitors.

Solar panels added and screwed into place with strips of wood. Job done. I wish my projects would always go that quick and smooth.