House Design Online

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

Centre for Alternative Technology,  Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9AZ, UK

ONLY A FEW PLACES LEFT SO BOOK NOW IF YOU WANT A PLACE!

This course is suitable for builders, architects and anyone who wishes to undertake the refurbishment of an existing building with minimal environmental impact both on-site and in use.
It accepts that 99.9% of us are never going to design
and build our own eco-houses, and outlines best practice (and the compromises involved) in eco Refurbishment.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

Do we really need all these new “green technologies” in order to be more energy efficient?

Not necessarily is the view of a group of academics and sustainable energy practitioners who suggest that money spent on micro-renewable energy systems would be put to better on extra insulation and draught-proofing

Speaking in Trinity College at the Trinity Week Academic Symposium “Low Carbon Society: Waste Not Want Not in association with Trinity Haus, it was suggested that attempts to make buildings more energy-efficient by installing expensive “green technologies” have resulted in the rise of “eco-bling”.

The symposium heard some expensive technologies such as photo-voltaic cells, which take energy from sunshine, can take up to 50 years to pay for themselves in saved energy costs. However, photo-voltaic cells often have a useful life of just 20 years, making them effectively “eco-bling”.

In his lecture, “Nega Watts – the antidote to Eco-bling” Howard Liddell of Gaia Architects said preventing heat loss was by definition among the best ways to achieve energy efficiency.

He said he had never seen a heat pump in operation which offered a return as good as three units of energy output for each unit which went in, yet these were regularly advertised as “four units of output for one unit in”.

Photo-voltaic cells which make energy from sunshine offered a 50-year payback, but all too often have a 20-year useful life.

He was critical of new housing schemes which advertised “10 percent of energy from renewables” when research showed clearly the best way to achieve energy efficiency was simply to reduce waste.

This is valuable advice if you are designing your own house. Be wary about what companies out there are trying to tell you. Always ask from where salespeople are getting their figures and check them out yourself.

For More information click these links

Green energies give rise to ‘eco-bling’ – Irish Times May 14, 2009

Trinity Week Academic Symposium

Trinity Haus

Passive solar homes are designed to take advantage of local climates by maximizing the energy from the sun to heat and cool the home. In the northern hemisphere, the sun’s path passes through the southern sky on its daily trip west so a passive solar home has the highest percentage of windows is on the south side. The sun warms the home in the winter, and shading devices, such as overhangs, are designed to block the sun in the summer months to reduce the amount of cooling necessary. Passive solar design creates an energy efficient, comfortable home that reduces energy consumption that save money as well as valuable resources.Passive solar design can easily be incorporated into any architectural style given you have the proper site. Such design strategies have been used effectively for hundreds of years. There is a small increase in the cost of construction, but the home has lower annual energy and maintenance costs overall.There are many benefits to passive solar design for the homeowner and the environment. By reducing energy consumption, the homeowner can save money on utility bills and help prevent air pollution from electricity generating plants that burn fossil fuels. Passive solar design elements make a home comfortable year round while bringing in natural light from the increased glass on the southern side. Natural light reduces energy consumption and provides a visual connection to the outdoors.This book provides the fundamentals and components of passive solar design. A collection of floor plans that work in a variety of sites in North Carolina are also included in this book. The passive solar house plans in this book are affordable homes that are less than 1300 square feet and focus on energy efficiency.

passive solar house plans –

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