House Design Online

(Source: Cultivate.ie)

Wednesdays from 7th October to 11th November | 7.00 – 9.00pm

€180 (10% reduction Cultivate and ÉASCA members) | To book call: 01-6745773

This course uses Patrick’s popular book, The Energy Efficient Home, as the core reading. By the end of this series participants will have the confidence and knowledge to make the big decisions in managing a new build or renovation. Dr Patrick Waterfield is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Energy Institute. He is the author of 14 conference and journal papers and numerous periodical/magazine articles.

Session 1 | Site and Built Form – Microclimate, Passive Solar Design

Session 2 | Construction and Renovation – Materials, Insulation and

U Values

Session 3 | Features and Elements – Windows and doors, extensions,

conservatories, sunrooms and attic conversions

Session 4 | Heating and Ventilation Systems – Hot Water, under floor heating, heat pumps and natural and mechanical ventilation

Session 5 | Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency – Solar thermal, solar PV, biomass, wind, lighting appliances and best use of

daylight

Session 6 | Energy Rating and Wider Environmental Issues – Water Saving, Recycling, Building Regulations and Energy Auditing

Hemp Symposium, Kenmare, Ireland 2009

The site has recently been updated with new information on the speakers giving presentations at the Symposium.

The Symposium will offer a broad insight into the wide ranging possibilities of the Hemp Building

system and the contribution hemp materials can make to the world of Low carbon and Natural building.

As we search for ways of reducing our CO2 emissions and addressing the issues of energy peak and food security, Hemp is proving it has a lot to offer to the production of resources.

The 1st International Hemp Building Symposium will highlight the innovative ways in which hemp materials can be used to make Hemp Fibre insulation, Hempcrete made of Hemp-lime or Hemp-clay, and Hemp Plasters, together with the design, construction and the lifestyle benefits of living in such buildings.

16-18th September 2009 in Kenmare Bay Hotel, Kenmare. Co. Kerry, Ireland.

• Presentations

• Talks

• Demonstration

• Q & A Sessions

• Displays

• Networking & Education

For More information – click on picture below

For more information - click here

Minister Ryan announces National Insulation Programme

16m in insulation grants for up to 12000 homes

Unprecedented level of interest in Home Energy Saving Scheme (more…)

Build your own Wind Turbine

Congratulations to Peter, Alanna and all involved in the Eco Living Festtival which took place over the weekend.  The festival took place in the scenic little village of Drumsna on the banks of the majestic Shannon River near Carrick-on-Shannon in Co. Leitrim.

There was something of interest for anyone interesting in ways to live more sustainably. I was particularly interested in a demonstration on how to build your own wind turbine. Suprisingly, it doesn’t seem to be so difficult, especially when explained by the people at Eirbyte.

Is it practical? Is it affordable? Is it sustainable? Yes to all, I would say. Lets all step out of the mode of mass production for a moment. Yes we could order something like these from China. But what is every local community started to teach local people how to build turbines locally.

The blades are manufactured using timber and many of the other componnents could be derived from recycled materials.

According to the people at Eirbyte, one doesn’t need to be an expert, many of the skills are taught at workshops throughout the country.

Within most local communities  however, we havethe expertise, We have carpenters, welders, electricians, mechanics and engineers, many of whom are underemployed at the moment. By consolidating these skills, local communities could become more resilient.

For more information on the Eco Living Festival and on building your own wind turbine, please follow the links below:

EIRBYTE

ECO LIVING FESTIVAL

BUILD YOUR OWN WIND TURBINE

SCORAIG WIND ELECTRIC

There are also a number of books which might be of interest:

A new Social Housing project in Dublin, Ireland is applying rainwater harvesting, solar panels, sheep’s wool insulation and using on-site communal composting as part of a new initiative by Dublin City Council to provide sustainable social housing and replace the homes originally on the site which were demolished in 2005.

In addition, much of the timber from the old apartments was recycled and used again in construction, while two previously used Georgian doors create an archway into the central garden area. Twelve stainless steel water casks are used to collect rain water in the courtyard, while large amounts of sheep wool are inserted into the external walls to provide added insulation.

The energy-saving features are expected to reduce fuel costs by up to 70 per cent and cut CO2 emissions by over 50 per cent.

Read the full article in TODAY’S IRISH TIMES

House Design Online welcome the proposals from the European Parliament that all houses be ‘zero energy’ by 2019.

How practical is it and will full implementation ultimately cause any significant reduction in C02 emissions.

Leonardo Energy, the premier web site delivering a range of virtual libraries relating to electrical energy raises a few questions about the proposal. (more…)

All new buildings to be zero energy from 2019 say MEPs

All buildings built after 31 December 2018 will have to produce as much energy as they consume on-site, says the European Parliament, amending the 2002 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. MEPs also call for more public investments in energy-efficient buildings. The legislative report was adopted by 549 votes in favour, 51 votes against and 26 abstentions.
By 31 December 2018 at the latest EU Member States must ensure that all newly-constructed buildings produce as much energy as they consume on-site – e.g. via solar panels or heat pumps, says a report drawn up by Silvia-Adriana Ticu (PES, RO). The Commission proposal did not include any specific target dates for zero-energy buildings. (more…)

An important starting point in designing and building your own home is a visit to self-build exhibitions which are happening in most towns.

The Self-Build -Entend & Renovate show is happening at the Galway Racecourse, Ballybrit.

There will alsobe a full programme of seminars delivered by professionals from the construction industry covering topics such as Building Energy Rating, Planning Permission and Passive Housing.

If you are thinking of building or renovating, the Seld Build shows which are held at different venues  throughout Ireland over the year.  You get the chance to talk to a number of suppliers in the one place. It’s also a good place to haggle.

If you have a sketch or a plan bring a few copies along.

For more information click … SELF BUILD – RENOVATE & EXTEND 2009

So what exactly is a “Passive House” or “Passivhaus”. How do we achieve “passive House Standard”. The concept is relatively new but, what was just a concept a few short years ago is quickly becoming a standard.

Passive house construction should be the only option for new houses being built in any region where houses require heating. Passive House is not however limited to construction in colder climates. (more…)

The Energy Show 2009 Organised by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) will be held at the RDS Main Hall, Dublin

This business to business event is a must for anyone with a professional interest in or responsibility for energy use.

Registration for the Exhibition has now closed. You can register on the day. Entrance is free to the Exhibition on production of trade ID.

Now firmly established as the showcase event for Ireland’s energy sector, this year’s event follows the highly successful format of previous years. A cutting edge technology and trade exhibition with leading Irish and European product and service suppliers will showcase the very latest in energy innovation offering visitors a unique experience in seeking low energy solutions for buildings and the opportunity to engage those experts leading the energy sector both here and abroad. (more…)

Given the recent downturn in the building business, much more consideration is being focused on renovationg old houses. In the past few years the idea of renovating an older house was deemed troublesome as builders opted for the “Quick Build”  and the “Easy Buck”.

In Ireland we have a rich tradition of renovating older houses as most people had basic construction skills. Many of our  thatched cottages date back to the 19th century and evolved over time from one-roomed windowless hovels to the postcard-pretty cottages that dotted the countryside until the last few decades.

Renovating and conserving old houses is not just about the preservation of old houses but also of the preservation of old skills.

With the proper skills and training,  old houses can be renovated to the maximum standards of energy-efficiency.

A public lecture will be held on the subject on Thursday March 17th in the Cultivate Centre, Essex Street West, Temple Bar, Dublin starting at 7pm, Cost: €25.00

To find out more CLICK HERE

If you want to discover a bit more about Passive Houses, it might be worth visiting the Ecobuild & Futurebuild Conference whis is taking place in Earl’s Court, London from Tuesday 3rd to Thursday 5th of March 2009.

For more information, please click here

On the first day of Ecobuild (Tuesday 3 March) BRE will be holding a free PassivHaus seminar in the Thames Lounge.

MORNING SESSION: Creating a PassivHaus culture
Chair Gavin Hodgson, PassivHaus UK, Managed by BRE

10:30 Making a case for PassivHaus: lessons for a crisis – Chris Herring, Director, Green Building Store/Chair, AECB
11:00 PassivHaus in the UK – where are we now? – Oliver Child, Senior Consultant, BRE
11:30 Case study: new materials in PassivHaus design – Howard Liddell, Principal, Gaia Architects
12:00 PassivHaus construction and the skills gap – Malcolm Bell, Professor of Surveying & Sustainable Housing, Leeds Metropolitan University
12:30 Close

AFTERNOON SESSION: There’s no haus like PassivHaus
Chair Justin Bere, Bere:Architects

12:45 Case study: the UK’s first completed PassivHaus – Justin Bere, Bere:Architects
13:15 Case study: PassivHaus is for everyone! – Andrew Bissell, Chair, Blue Property
13:45 PassivHaus retrofit – Mark Siddall, Senior Architect, Dewjo’c Architects Ltd
14:15 Learning from the Swedish experience – Henrietta Lynch, Associate, The Good Homes Alliance

The seminar is free to attend and as there is no pre-booking available for the seminar, attendance is on a first-come-first-served basis. The seminar will be held in the Thames Lounge.

For information on the Passive House Seminar click here

The reality at the moment is that the building of new houses has temporarily in any case ground to a halt.  This has of course, implications for the economy but on the other hand offers us with new opportunities.

There has been no better time to focus on bringing our existing housing stock up to a proper standard.

Newer houses are now being built to higher standards of insulation and energy efficiency but if you built or bought prior to 2002, it is likely that your house is less energy efficient and therfore more expensive to run.

On February 8th last Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan and Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley today launched the national insulation programme for economic recovery. The three-strand insulation programme will cut heating bills for householders, reduce carbon emissions and create thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly over the course of 2009.

TO VIEW PRESS RELEASE, CLICK HERE

The scheme is being administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and to register your interest you must simple call 1850 927 000 or email hes@sei.ie.

Measure covered by the scheme include roof insulation, cavity wall insulation, Internal Wall Dry-lining, External Wall Insulation, High Efficiency Gas or Oil fired Boiler with Heating Controls Upgrade, Heating Controls Upgrade and a Before works and an After works assessment.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS,  CLICK HERE

The  The Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI ) & the Simon Communities of Ireland have joined forces for a special fundraising initiative called the “RIAI Simon Open Door Day” – whereby participating Architects around Ireland will open their offices on Saturday 7th March 2009, to give members of the public an hour’s consultation with an Architect in return for a €75 donation to Simon.

This is an excellent opportunity to get an hour’s consultation with an architect and assist in the wonderful work of the Simon community in addressing the huge problem of homelessness in Ireland.

In order to arrange a consultation, you need to book before noon on Wednesday, March 4th and the easiest way to do this is to register online by clicking here