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Helensburgh Workshop

On Saturday, we were privileged to be asked by the Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network to run a face-to-face HeatHack workshop. Here’s what went on.

I always enjoy giving face-to-face workshops, and this was no exception – the smaller size gave us a better chance to discuss the problems the attendees face and tailor the content to them. Having said that, this was a highly varied group that covered just about everything! The buildings ranged from listed Victorian spaces to one constructed in 2008, and from occasional use to vibrant daily service. Two of the people there were making plans for buildings that are not currently in use.

We spent some time on the practicalities of installing solar panels, which is something we don’t always get to talk about. The West of Scotland is very wet, and panels tend to make the water flow differently on the roof – which could overwhelm some of the rhones and drains. That’s fine as long as you plan for it as otherwise you’ll be rescaffolding to fix the problem! They’ll also want to enquire carefully about how the panels will be attached, to avoid water seeping through the attachment points. I spent extra time on ventilation as well. Keeping the building dry is the most important action any group can take.

I was careful to draw out the information about heating controls and how much energy they can waste if they aren’t right for the building and its users – because this is something groups can easily overlook, but often, it will be a few years before there are major heating system changes. I’m working towards Guide Book improvements that will make it easier for groups to think through what could be improved about their controls. Meanwhile, they can be monitoring the temperature, which always raises surprises in these spaces. Even our hosts, the beautifully refurbished halls of Helensburgh Parish Church, recognised some of our warning signs. This isn’t surprising because few suppliers really understand the modern controls that are available and how users behave in shared buildings.

Photo Credit: AlasdairW, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0via Wikimedia Commons

I learn from these events, too. One of the problems that was new to me is that of the delays and work involved in establishing ownership for a building if the deeds can’t be found. I was familiar with the problem of working out exactly where boundaries lie and how tight spaces can affect plans for heat pumps and overhangs, but these were the first groups to describe wider problems than this. We’ll probably run into this more as we encounter more asset transfers.

I’m always very impressed by the dedication of the people who look after our community spaces – it takes a lot to look after an existing community building, much less bring one back in to use. Many, many thanks for the services you all provide to help others and to the Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network for the opportunity to give the workshop.