John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Retrofitting MVHR and shading is what we should be doing before considering aircon. But good system likely more expensive than aircon, so funding is needed. 041
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Or - if outside air is cooler than extract air in summer - you can bypass the heat exchanger and bring the cooler air in. At all times filtered fresh air is supplied, CO2 and moisture laden air is extracted. In a house without MVHR, closed up to keep heat out, CO2 builds and causes fatigue. 021
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 25/06/2026For those that don’t know, MVHR (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery) provides constant filtered fresh air. Supply and and extract air pass over a heat exchanger. In winter it recovers heat into the supply air. In summer heat from intake transfers directly to exhaust air, cooling supply air. 220
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 25/06/2026The quiet rage I feel as a Passivhaus consultant living in a 5-year-old house that overheats horribly every heat wave, knowing how simply some minor design changes, shading and MVHR could have avoided it completely. Sitting here contemplating simplest way to retrofit MVHR and shading. 491
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 24/06/2026I have layered curtains and blinds. They’re definitely better than nothing, but the solar heat is already through the windows at that point. Stopping it coming in makes many times more difference. Downstairs (with blankets) now several degrees cooler than upstairs (without) 110
Reposted by John ButlerThe Woodlouse (John Butler) @the-woodlouse.bsky.social · 24/06/2026Keeping the sun out is a lot easier than trying to cool the house afterwards. Wish I could do upstairs too, and that UK standard house design was actually fit for purpose. 25 degrees inside and rising, but rising much more slowly than without the blankets. 64112
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 19/02/2026Yes, exactly the same here. Affordable housing is desperately needed. 100
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 19/02/2026They could easily fit at least 5 good sized flats in there. There is a shortage of available housing here. Creating one insanely large flat does nothing to help address that. It's 475 m2 for a 3 bed flat. That's ginormous! They'll have to shot across the living room to hear each other. 230
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 19/02/2026I just read a planning application to convert a historic storage building into a shop and flat, and now I'm angry. Not because they want to convert it, but because my 84 m2 two bed semi-detached house (which feels like a luxury to have to myself) would fit into their proposed 3 bed flat 5.7 times! 100
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 15/01/2026Update: social sustainability included at building and works level, not much (anything?) in Standards for construction product level, which is disappointing. Is there anything at raw material sourcing level? About to look. 020
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 15/01/2026Moral of this story: always check your facts! Glad I did. In directly related news: spending this morning reading EN standards documents... 010
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 15/01/2026That's EN 15643-2021: Sustainability of construction works - Framework for assessment of buildings and civil engineering works. Detail provided in EN 15643-3:2012 and 16309:2014+A1:2014. Pleased to see social and economic impacts are integral, alongside environmental. 110
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 15/01/2026Writing some course material about sustainable building materials. Started writing that the standard LCA approach was detailed on environmental impact but ignored social sustainability. Thought: must check this is true. It is NOT! The framework standard very much includes social sustainability 110
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 06/12/2025But you were probably just asking about alternatives to foam, sorry! For new installs expanding foam tape around outside of frame is brilliant, but I don’t see how it could work for windows that are already installed. 100
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 06/12/2025If masonry too uneven to tape to then a bead of airtight sealant (e.g. Orcon F - *not* silicone) before the tape might be needed. The paint on membranes are pretty good too, though, and might be the simplest. 100
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 06/12/2025It’s a useful insulated gap filler, but that’s about it. There are expanding foams that are meant to be airtight as they don’t shrink, but not sure they bind any better to masonry. I think good ole Tescon Vana tape is unbeatable! Or other pro clima airtight tapes. 100
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 05/12/2025Well done! Good to know it’s worked. Good point about sound too. I’m sure a lot of street sound I get is around rather than through the windows. Thankfully it’s a quiet street! 100
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 05/12/2025I can feel the draught coming in around the outside of my window frames. This house is only five years old. To fix this properly I'd need to hack into the plaster all around each window and remove the cills. Such invasive work shouldn't be needed in new houses, but frequently is. 030
Reposted by John ButlerLuke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 30/11/2025This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started 32532481218
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 30/11/2025Sees local newspaper post about rising sea levels. Don’tLookAtTheComments Don’tLookAtTheComments Don’tLookAtTheComments. Looks at the comments. AAAARGH! 030
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 24/10/2025Nope. Stopped using it and locked my accounts quite a long time ago and finally deleted them earlier this year. I don’t want anything to do with anything supporting Musk, and he’s distorted twitter to meet his desires. 110
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 24/10/2025Hello! Yes, I have a separate account for creative/performance projects, more personal things and general waffling, to keep this one clear for sust build stuff. 120
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 24/10/2025I’ve very much neglected this account. General life pondering and rubbish-talking now happen on my other account. Not sure how many of the Passivhaus/low-carbon/low-impact construction people are still active on here, but just in case: Hello! [waves]. 161
Reposted by John ButlerGareth Dennis @garethdennis.uk · 15/07/2025The UK still needs HS2, delivered in full. There's no viable alternative. Me, from years back, making this point: 817430
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 08/07/2025If you're not familiar with @thedailytism.com , I HIGHLY recommend becoming familiar with them. They're brilliant. Searingly funny, on a daily basis, making the world better one highly-entertaining satirical article at a time. Having now worked with them, I can confirm they're also just top humans. 0142
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 08/07/2025For better or worse I've shared this from @thedailytism.com on my LinkedIn so I might as well share it here too. I am a sensible professional consultant. I'm also a creator of darkly funny musical shows about zombies (@the-woodlouse.bsky.social ). Both are true! thedailytism.com/advertorial-...thedailytism.comAdvertorial: Whaaat? This cishet autistic white dude with beard actually has Edinburgh show worth seeingA cisgender, heterosexual autistic white guy with a beard has wowed commentators by having an Edinburgh Fringe show that people actually want to go and see on purpose, it has been claimed. Do Zombies... 192
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 30/06/2025I find internal overheating hardest to cope with when there's no air movement. On a breezy day I prefer to keep windows a little open as the cross ventilation makes it feel cooler. Today is still and feels airless, so I'm shifting to closing the windows and breaking out the fan. 020
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 30/06/2025It's national Get That Slightly Squeaky Fan Out of the Loft Day for those of use that don't live in a house where overheating risk was properly considered. It's already 24° in my office but the air movement from the fan helps it feel more comfortable, squeak not withstanding. 111
Reposted by John ButlerThe Woodlouse (John Butler) @the-woodlouse.bsky.social · 07/06/2025This episode is amazing. If you want to know what it’s actually like being autistic (as opposed to the stereotypes) it’s a must-listen. I’m autistic & this episode is just about the most validating thing I’ve listened too, ever. Also, effing funny. Also the best (wholly justified) righteous rants. 0208
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 16/05/2025It’s definitely decidedly weird, architecturally. My heart sinks a little everytime it starts to loom out the landscape as I drive to Dorchester. 110
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 12/05/2025Migrants have not done “incalculable damage to our society”. People scapegoating, othering, and encouraging hatred of migrants (and others) *have* done that. 0103
Reposted by John ButlerNightmareliner Ontario @mostlyharmless.northsky.social · 01/05/2025UK MPs: 1. The Supreme Court ruling is not "the law", nor has it changed existing legislation. 2. The EHRC's interim update is also not "the law". It isn't even "guidance". 3. The upcoming EHRC guidance, likewise, is not "the law". Again, the legislation hasn't changed. 1/ 29042
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 28/04/2025Good things: 1. Finally able to concentrate on work again enough to make progress through the first of several late reports 2. Coffee break in the sun outside my back door, staring at the sky 3. See my first swift of the year gliding about above 4. See a Kite (the bird variety) drifting about above 000
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 04/04/2025Workspace officially decommissioned until after house move next week! Hopefully up and running again with minimal delay. Brace, brace. 040
Reposted by John ButlerSara Gibbs is Scary Enough Already @sararoseg.bsky.social · 27/03/2025This analogy definitely works if your kid has a disability or health condition that means they can’t get a Saturday job and if they don’t get a Saturday job, you let your kid starve to death 12361118
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 26/03/2025It also features an excellent introduction to heat pumps from Paul Rychnovsky. He managed to explain the functioning of them so clearly that I actually understood it properly at last :-D 030
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 26/03/2025The recording of my recent webinar is now up. It's a an overview of some key retrofit physics and what that means practically onsite for installers and for successful low energy retrofit. youtu.be/ca1rPFt51a4?...youtu.beDorset Retrofit Reimagined: Building Skills for a Retrofit Future - Webinar 2YouTube video by Dorset CAN 142
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 24/03/2025Heads-up that I've changed my bluesky handle to @jbsustbuild.bsky.social from @thewoodlouse.bsky.social to avoid confusion with my creative alter ego (@the-woodlouse.bsky.social). It's always possible that this will make things worse, but at least I've tried! 010
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 24/03/2025Potentially combinations of them all, depending on the day. 010
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 18/03/2025Excellent investigatory air / smoke test and thermal image survey by @thermalimageguy.bsky.social . Very thorough, very clear, and incredibly helpful! 110
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 18/03/2025Watching a very depressing but incredibly useful smoke test video of a post retrofit house. Lots of leakage at floor to wall junction (suspect leakage through floor, and wall not properly sealed to floor), and a fair bit around windows (both through window seals, and join of window to building). 140
John Butler @jbsustbuild.bsky.social · 13/03/2025Outstanding work here from @thedailytism.bsky.social 010
Reposted by John ButlerStraw Building UK @strawbuildinguk.bsky.social · 20/02/2025EPDs & straw 🌾 what do they tell us about embodied carbon? 🌍 Watch our latest webinar with @thewoodlouse.bsky.social 🎥 ➡️ youtu.be/rCIBXu-LKaQ #strawconstruction #embodiedcarbon #epds #sustainablebuilding #biogeniccarbon 031
Reposted by John ButlerStraw Building UK @strawbuildinguk.bsky.social · 11/03/2025Timber framing or load-bearing straw bale? 🌿🏗️ 25th March, 1pm - 2pm, Hawkland will explore their approach to timber framing for straw bale builds, using their latest project as a case study. 🎟️ Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/timber-fra... #strawbalebuilding #timberframing #naturalbuildingeventbrite.co.ukTimber Framing for Straw Bale Construction with Chris Hawker and Ben NotherTimber framing for straw bale with Chris Hawker & Ben Nother. Case study, best practices & Q&A. 033