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Shed Layout carbon neutral

Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2020 5:10 pm
by Carbon neutral
Hi all,

Firstly thank you for allowing me to join.

My plan is to build a HO gauge model railway in my shed inspired by my love of the Alps snow and Austria.

I'm looking to build the base boards out of recycled materials and beyond that seeing If it's possible to run the layout most of the time by solor power.

A project that hopefully will seem interesting to you guys.

Re: Shed Layout carbon neutral

Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2020 5:21 pm
by IanS
Welcome to a great friendly forum.

Take a look at Budget Model Railways videos. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjSNST ... _i9dqCZLOw They use a lot of recycled cardboard and other materials in the construction of their layouts.

Solar power + batteries. No reason it can't work!

Re: Shed Layout carbon neutral

Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2020 5:38 pm
by Brian
Hi CN welcome to the forum.

Sheds need additional insulation installed all around the sides and the roof and even under floor if possible.
Solar power shouldn't be an issue with the right charging set up, a set of batteries which can power everything on the layout and even include room lighting.
Using recycled material is a great idea, but do ensure anything used especially for the baseboard is flat in all directions and is well supported underneath.

Re: Shed Layout carbon neutral

Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2020 9:57 pm
by Mr Bones
Welcome to the forum CN. Interesting project, I'm looking forward to seeing this progress.

Re: Shed Layout carbon neutral

Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 8:07 pm
by Bandit Mick
Welcome to the friendly and helpful forum. I was doubtful over whether insulation between the outside and inside walls of my shed and in the roof space would make a great deal of difference, especially as the wall insulation was bubble wrap with a silvered outer layer. After I installed it, boarded out the inside and sealed every single gap at floor level and put insulation strip on the doors, the result was amazing. I plug in an old *Glen electric heater for 5 minutes and the shed is toasty. As I work the shed stays lovely and warm.
*Disclaimer - other makes of heater are available!

Re: Shed Layout carbon neutral

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 7:32 pm
by Carbon neutral
Thank you for the welcome and advise.

Intresting about insulation.....I'm thinking about going down the bubble insulation route.

Re: Shed Layout carbon neutral

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:35 pm
by Carbon neutral
Bandit Mick wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 8:07 pm Welcome to the friendly and helpful forum. I was doubtful over whether insulation between the outside and inside walls of my shed and in the roof space would make a great deal of difference, especially as the wall insulation was bubble wrap with a silvered outer layer. After I installed it, boarded out the inside and sealed every single gap at floor level and put insulation strip on the doors, the result was amazing. I plug in an old *Glen electric heater for 5 minutes and the shed is toasty. As I work the shed stays lovely and warm.
*Disclaimer - other makes of heater are available!
Sounds perfect I was thinking about bubble wrap insulation I think you have convinced me

Re: Shed Layout carbon neutral

Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 10:19 pm
by Steve M
All that plastic though. Does that fit with your stated aims?

Re: Shed Layout carbon neutral

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 6:46 am
by Carbon neutral
Steve M wrote: Wed Jan 08, 2020 10:19 pm All that plastic though. Does that fit with your stated aims?
It does because my place of work receives its orders in plastic bubble wrap that would normally be scraped so I have a plentiful supply of second hand wrap.

Re: Shed Layout carbon neutral

Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 7:34 pm
by Bandit Mick
CN- just to clarify - my silvered bubble wrap was the real deal. It is marketed as insulation material for sheds, workshops and summerhouses.