Best Insulation to use in New Build?

88manta

we're building a new house next yr - a 2250 sq. ft bungalow.

We will using Geothermal linked to underfloor heating.

Which is best - horizontal or vertical bore hole??

What is best insulation to use?

We are considering 95mm insulation (CavityTherm made by Xtratherm) in the cavity and 62mm insulated board on the inner leaf.

We are still considering attic and floor insulation.

What sort of energy rating should we expect to achieve?

Plus, is it cost effective to have solar panels combined with the geothermal?

My plan is to put up PV panels on roof of a garage in a few yrs instead.

Any help / comments will be appreciated.

Luke

sinnerboy

Hire a BER assessor now . One who is also a building designer ( Engineer / Architect / Architectural Technician) .

Your queries are vague and unfocused and will remain so until you at least do this .

BobMcBob

There is a lot of useful information here on boards, worthwhile spending a good few hours searching the relevant forums (construction and planning and it's sub forums). Certainly it has changed the way I am approaching my new build for the better. Simple example is wide cavity (~250mm) with pumped bead insulation rather than internal insulation.
You will need professional help as above, but it is very useful to try and inform yourself as much as possible as well - a previous house extension was left to the architect and builder and I have definitely learnt a lesson there.

Again search the boards website

BmcB

floorplan_ie

Agreed.
Read boards first- pick up a feel for the answers to your questions. Then get a BER person who has a good construction background, ask questions that you've developed from boards to check for competence.
Make sure you are engaging the BER person for a proper service too- not just a "I just want a cheap cert, I don't care what it says".

kboc

88manta wrote: »

we're building a new house next yr - a 2250 sq. ft bungalow.

We will using Geothermal linked to underfloor heating.

Which is best - horizontal or vertical bore hole??

What is best insulation to use?

We are considering 95mm insulation (CavityTherm made by Xtratherm) in the cavity and 62mm insulated board on the inner leaf.

We are still considering attic and floor insulation.

What sort of energy rating should we expect to achieve?

Plus, is it cost effective to have solar panels combined with the geothermal?

My plan is to put up PV panels on roof of a garage in a few yrs instead.

Any help / comments will be appreciated.

Luke

oh, this sounds familiar. This was me in 2007.

As suggested, don't go any further until you engage a person who can help you.

There is very few people in Ireland that can objectively answer all of the above, and more if you want, who are not trying to push their own product onto you. There are some, you will have to pay for their services, and in the scheme of things 1 or 2 thousand is nothing as you will save it in your first or second winter.

I could pm you one that I know of, if you want.
K

1100010110

Keep reading the C & P forum, lots of personal accounts of first hand experience of living with these decisions in reality, and for my two cents, hire a pro without a product to sell and get them to explain the concept of thermal mass to you, especially when going with the geothermal with underfloor option.