Nick Grant
@ecominimalnick.bsky.social
Energy consultant and design engineer. Specialising in Passivhaus building, archives and museums. Love talking bollocks but low tolerance for bullshit.
Teaching building physics with https://coaction.org.uk
The Good Building Book with Jon Broom Jan 2026.
Teaching building physics with https://coaction.org.uk
The Good Building Book with Jon Broom Jan 2026.
The editor kindly sent me her proof for my Dad's 98th birthday today. Every week for the last couple of years he has asked when the book is coming out.
November 8, 2025 at 8:08 AM
The editor kindly sent me her proof for my Dad's 98th birthday today. Every week for the last couple of years he has asked when the book is coming out.
Philosophy doesn’t get any more profound or poignant than this sign in The Sunflower pub Belfast.
October 9, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Philosophy doesn’t get any more profound or poignant than this sign in The Sunflower pub Belfast.
Yesterday was the Cotton Owners & Enthusiasts Rally in Gloucester. I find it therapeutic building, riding and maintaining a machine where every component can be understood and, at a push, manufactured in a home workshop.
August 10, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Yesterday was the Cotton Owners & Enthusiasts Rally in Gloucester. I find it therapeutic building, riding and maintaining a machine where every component can be understood and, at a push, manufactured in a home workshop.
Pushing the limits and smashing through barriers but @jurajmikurcik.bsky.social still managed 3rd place with only 2 timed runs. Spectacular crash but no one hurt. Richard’s Castle Soapbox races are a great community event raising thousands of pounds for local charities.
June 30, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Pushing the limits and smashing through barriers but @jurajmikurcik.bsky.social still managed 3rd place with only 2 timed runs. Spectacular crash but no one hurt. Richard’s Castle Soapbox races are a great community event raising thousands of pounds for local charities.
Another great evening at Buckholt Bryngaer CIC events near Monmouth (Wales) with Dylan Fowler & Suntou Susso playing solo and together plus great Djembe for dancing.
May 11, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Another great evening at Buckholt Bryngaer CIC events near Monmouth (Wales) with Dylan Fowler & Suntou Susso playing solo and together plus great Djembe for dancing.
Nice simple summary from @alanclarke.bsky.social for today's @passivhaustrust.bsky.social Webinar on simple building services for Passivhaus.
May 7, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Nice simple summary from @alanclarke.bsky.social for today's @passivhaustrust.bsky.social Webinar on simple building services for Passivhaus.
Made these two keys for non standard plant cupboard doors that we needed to open a lot.
April 29, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Made these two keys for non standard plant cupboard doors that we needed to open a lot.
Last Friday, heading up Dinmore Hill Herefordshire on a 1930s Cotton to commemorate the Centenary of the last road race in Britain. 93 miles tour. Nostalgia for simpler times with understandable technology but only at the weekend when the sun is out! The Cotton was a brilliant design (for the 1920s)
April 8, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Last Friday, heading up Dinmore Hill Herefordshire on a 1930s Cotton to commemorate the Centenary of the last road race in Britain. 93 miles tour. Nostalgia for simpler times with understandable technology but only at the weekend when the sun is out! The Cotton was a brilliant design (for the 1920s)
Herefordshire wheat field on Saturday.
April 8, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Herefordshire wheat field on Saturday.
Last year George's brakes failed after passing the finish line so was not the reason he won! The ply absorbed the impact well. We check his nuts before every race now.
April 4, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Last year George's brakes failed after passing the finish line so was not the reason he won! The ply absorbed the impact well. We check his nuts before every race now.
Will have to go back, missed those! Mars was worth seeing. Desolate!
March 29, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Will have to go back, missed those! Mars was worth seeing. Desolate!
Page of the Polish polymathCopernicus' book showing heretic heliocentric diagram with evidence that it was hidden by a piece of paper stuck on with red wax. Shows confidence that those searching for books and owners to burn, could not read. Could use other adhesives today.
March 29, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Page of the Polish polymathCopernicus' book showing heretic heliocentric diagram with evidence that it was hidden by a piece of paper stuck on with red wax. Shows confidence that those searching for books and owners to burn, could not read. Could use other adhesives today.
March 27, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Any ideas why the furniture legs in this thermal image look to be cooler at the bottom?? I a pretty airtight Passivhaus with no heat to the room. Just curious. No open doors etc.
March 26, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Any ideas why the furniture legs in this thermal image look to be cooler at the bottom?? I a pretty airtight Passivhaus with no heat to the room. Just curious. No open doors etc.
The Jimmy Kimmel short on the transgender mice that a friend sent me this morning
March 6, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The Jimmy Kimmel short on the transgender mice that a friend sent me this morning
Fitted fibre cable through straw walls using 600mm long auger bit and 10mm PEX pipe as conduit. Ready for connection. Fitted pipe over end of bit and pushed the bit through. Worked well.
February 12, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Fitted fibre cable through straw walls using 600mm long auger bit and 10mm PEX pipe as conduit. Ready for connection. Fitted pipe over end of bit and pushed the bit through. Worked well.
I’m always impressed by the engineering knowledge, craft skills and excellent aesthetic taste of the humble wasp.
January 7, 2025 at 1:41 PM
I’m always impressed by the engineering knowledge, craft skills and excellent aesthetic taste of the humble wasp.
Oversized 12V fan to air test a 260m2 Passivhaus built by Dai Rees in Herefordshire. Couldn't get below 60 Pa on slowest fan speed. n50 of 0.07/h confirmed by Gervase Mangwana with a proper duct blaster. @marksiddall.bsky.social 's record stands for a house in the UK.
December 23, 2024 at 1:46 PM
Oversized 12V fan to air test a 260m2 Passivhaus built by Dai Rees in Herefordshire. Couldn't get below 60 Pa on slowest fan speed. n50 of 0.07/h confirmed by Gervase Mangwana with a proper duct blaster. @marksiddall.bsky.social 's record stands for a house in the UK.
Very good. as ever. I was initially amazed to hear my local council is already on track for zero emissions by 2030 and they have an impressive graph to prove it! Hard to see what all the fuss is about.
November 28, 2024 at 2:40 PM
Very good. as ever. I was initially amazed to hear my local council is already on track for zero emissions by 2030 and they have an impressive graph to prove it! Hard to see what all the fuss is about.
Graham McKay's weekly Misfits post. misfitsarchitecture.com/2024/11/24/y...
Always thought provoking whether I like the examples or not.
Always thought provoking whether I like the examples or not.
November 25, 2024 at 7:18 AM
Graham McKay's weekly Misfits post. misfitsarchitecture.com/2024/11/24/y...
Always thought provoking whether I like the examples or not.
Always thought provoking whether I like the examples or not.
Lovely jolly to St Fagans museum near Cardiff with @jurajmikurcik.bsky.social and Colin Chetwood. Interesting that the houses of the past have stood the test of time better than the House of the Future built around 2000.
November 23, 2024 at 8:01 AM
Lovely jolly to St Fagans museum near Cardiff with @jurajmikurcik.bsky.social and Colin Chetwood. Interesting that the houses of the past have stood the test of time better than the House of the Future built around 2000.
Passivhaus Trust webinar today introducing the new heat pump paper. With Sally Godber, Sarah Lewis, Gwilym Still and Alan Clarke.
passivhaustrust.org.uk/event_detail...
passivhaustrust.org.uk/event_detail...
November 20, 2024 at 11:45 AM
Passivhaus Trust webinar today introducing the new heat pump paper. With Sally Godber, Sarah Lewis, Gwilym Still and Alan Clarke.
passivhaustrust.org.uk/event_detail...
passivhaustrust.org.uk/event_detail...
Photo is a run of the mill building in Sheffield. It is the high end stuff that is often even worse. This is a back view of some limestone cladding on Gehry's Guggenheim Museum inBilbao. Design from the outside in. Stylish but deeply ugly.
November 19, 2024 at 8:03 AM
Photo is a run of the mill building in Sheffield. It is the high end stuff that is often even worse. This is a back view of some limestone cladding on Gehry's Guggenheim Museum inBilbao. Design from the outside in. Stylish but deeply ugly.
Another page from Robert Pirsig's Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance that is as relevant today as when written 50 years ago.
November 17, 2024 at 8:46 AM
Another page from Robert Pirsig's Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance that is as relevant today as when written 50 years ago.
Mine has the less trippy cover! Recommend reading when I studied Engineering Design in early 80s. Should be set book for any design course. A bonus if you are into bikes but that is optional.
November 14, 2024 at 8:26 PM
Mine has the less trippy cover! Recommend reading when I studied Engineering Design in early 80s. Should be set book for any design course. A bonus if you are into bikes but that is optional.