We are in a good position to think about these things as we are starting from scratch, so much easier than retrofitting a place.

We always knew wood had to be in the mix somewhere for the heating as we planted 300 trees to coppice when we arrived. The plan is to heat the downstairs with underfloor heating using a wood burner with a back boiler. A solar water panel will also be in the mix.

The hot water will then be stored in a large well insulated tank which will provide us with both hot water and heating.

Now we are just scratching our heads over the size of woodburner. We don’t want to find ourselves with one too small and be struggling. Equally we don’t want one so large that it will see us running out into the snow to cool off.

There  is just so much to take into account. We have super insulation, it will be a well sealed building with no drafts, it’s south facing with protection from the north.

Decisions, decisions.