Passive House Plus (Sustainable building) issue 40 IRL

INSULATION | AIRTIGHTNESS | BUILDING SCIENCE | VENTILATION | GREEN MATERIALS

S U S TA I N A B L E B U I L D I N G

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK Bray scheme sets CO & eco 2

Passive Fermanagh college breaks world record

Form & function

Elegant Enerphit upgrade transforms Tralee office

Grist to the mill

Friends collaborate to develop passive cohousing scheme

Issue 40 €6.95 IRISH EDITION

Learning curves

2009526010-02.eps NBW=80 B=20

benchmark & tackles housing crisis

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UNDERPINNINGS OF PERFORMANCE

outside world. They are a great source of natural light. One of the more modern takes on skylights is the Eaves Rooflight, where one glazing unit travels up the wall to just under the eaves and then returns at a near 90-degree angle across the flat roof, adding a striking design effect to any building. There are many examples of fantastic uses of curtain wall skylights across the world.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

PASSIVE HOUSE+

Publishers Temple Media Ltd PO Box 9688, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland t +353 (0)1 210 7513 | t +353 (0)1 210 7512 e info@passivehouseplus.ie www.passivehouseplus.ie

Editor

Jeff Colley jeff@passivehouseplus.ie

Deputy Editor

Lenny Antonelli lenny@passivehouseplus.ie

Reporter

John Hearne john@passivehouseplus.ie

Reporter

Kate de Selincourt kate@passivehouseplus.ie

Reporter

John Cradden cradden@passivehouseplus.ie

Reader Response / IT

Dudley Colley dudley@passivehouseplus.ie

Accounts

Oisin Hart oisin@passivehouseplus.ie

Art Director

Lauren Colley lauren@passivehouseplus.ie

Design

Aoife O’Hara aoife@evekudesign.com | evekudesign.com

Contributors

David Browne RKD Toby Cambray Greengauge Building Energy Consultants Marion Jammet Irish Green Building Council Anthea Lacchia journalist David McHugh ProAir Archie O’Donnell Passive House Association of Ireland Marc Ó Riain doctor of architecture Mel Reynolds architect David W Smith journalist

editor’s letter ISSUE 40

T

here’s a punchline to a joke by the wilfully difficult, Brechtian comedian Stewart Lee that I find myself frequently bringing up in conversation these days, as it seems to sum up where we have arrived at as a species, at least in terms of public discourse. (I use the word punchline advisedly, as Lee’s the kind of comedian who’s not known for telling jokes, and certainly not jokes with punchlines.)

Lee retells a probably fictional conversation with a London taxi driver, who apropos of nothing, launches into a tirade against homosexuality, which he calls immoral. Lee tells the taxi driver he’s not sure morality is a good basis for his argument, as it’s not a fixed thing. He points out that in ancient Greece, the civilisation that formed much of the basis of our conceptions of philosophy, ethics and science, homosexual love was considered to be a higher – if you will more moral – form of love. The taxi drive’s response? “Well, you can prove anything with facts, can’t you?”

At the risk of incurring the wrath of Lee’s copyright lawyers I’ll continue to borrow from him. “That’s the most fantastic way of winning an argument I’ve ever heard,” says Lee, going on to channel the taxi driver.

“I’m not interested in facts. I find they tend to cloud my judgement. I prefer to rely on instinct and blind prejudice.”

The substandard retelling of this joke is just a characteristically long-winded way for me to explain the curious recurring feeling I have in my day-to-day work. My colleagues and I seem to be getting pulled deeper into informational rabbit holes in the course of our work, as we try to get to the substance of the issue of how to reconcile the need to construct buildings, with the need to simultaneously prevent and prepare for the converging environmental crises facing the world.

This magazine has become considerably harder to produce than it was in the past, because the devil really is in the detail when

it comes to sustainable building. In this way we can subject claims and often untested preconceived notions to scrutiny, such as the common architectural trope that we should be maximising passive solar gains in low energy buildings. (For what it’s worth, optimising is a much better aim). Or the implicit notion that synthetic materials are bad and natural materials are good.

We are increasingly making strides in terms of understanding the environmental impact of buildings in detail. In many cases, we may find that the evidence that emerges from conducting building life cycle assessments supports the things we thought we knew before. So, for instance, it’s clear that shifting from cavity wall construction to I-beam timber frame – and eschewing a blockwork external leaf – can significantly drop the upfront carbon emissions of a building. But engaging in this kind of analysis may also help to foster innovation on the masonry side of the supply chain, such as by integrating high quantities of green cement (and reducing overall cement content) in blocks or structural concrete, and reducing overall concrete thicknesses, etc.

As much as all of this ongoing fact-finding continues to be inordinately time consuming, it is liberating. If we adopt evidence-based approaches to the design, construction and operation of buildings, it turns out that we can establish with increasingly high degrees of certainty how much carbon was spewed into the atmosphere in the construction process, how long the building may last, and how much energy it will take to operate the building across its lifespan. We can therefore have real conviction about whether the decisions we take are right.

It turns out that in this one regard at least the taxi driver was right: by establishing the facts, we can in fact prove anything.

Regards, The editor

Print

GPS Colour Graphics www.gpscolour.co.uk | +44 (0) 28 9070 2020

Cover

Residents of Kilbride Court, Bray Photo by Fionn McCann

Publisher’s circulation statement: 7,000 copies of Passive House Plus (Irish edition) are printed and distributed to the leading figures involved in sustainable building in Ireland including architects; consulting; m&e and building services engineers; developers; builders; energy auditors; renewable energy companies; environmental consultants; county, city and town councillors; key local authority personnel; and to newsagents nationwide via Easons.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in Passive House Plus are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers.

4 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

About Passive House Plus is an official partner magazine of the International Passive House Association. Passive House Plus (Irish edition) is an official magazine of the Passive House Association of Ireland.

PASSIVE HOUSE+

EDITOR’S LETTER

ph+ | editor’s letter | 5

CONTENTS

PASSIVE HOUSE+

CONTENTS COVER STORY

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16

28

08

10

16

25

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COLUMN Housing for who?

Despite an increase in the construction of new homes, the number available for first-time buyers and families to purchase is falling, writes Mel Reynolds.

INTERNATIONAL This issue features a rural house on New Zealand’s South Island that achieved passive house ‘plus’ status.

NEWS The EU plans to mandate the renovation of inefficient buildings, Ireland introduces a feedin-tariff for renewable energy, and Passive House Plus publisher Jeff Colley delivers a TEDx talk about passive houses and climate action.

COMMENT David McHugh wonders why there has been such antipathy towards putting ventilation at the forefront of our Covid mitigation strategies, and Dr Marc Ó Riain explores how policy on both side of the Atlantic in the 1980s sabotaged a nascent revolution in renewables and energy conservation.

PASSIVE HOUSE+

42

28

54

54

66

CASE STUDIES Measure everything

Award-winning social housing provides crucial baseline data A new housing scheme designed by Coady Architects in Wicklow has achieved the highest green home certification – while suggesting that the convictions of one practice on a single project can help to transform the industry.

42

CONTENTS

66

Form and function

Deep & elegant Enerphit upgrade transforms old Kerry office space Run-down terraces are an all-too-common sight in towns and villages across Ireland, but an ambitious deep retrofit project in Tralee provides an inspiring blueprint for regeneration, taking a cold 19th century terraced office and turning it into a beautifully designed space with tiny energy bills, fit for the 21st century.

Learning curves

Fermanagh college breaks world record with passive house premium status Since Erne Campus opened its doors in September, students of South West College in Enniskillen can now experience one of the world’s most environmentally advanced higher education buildings, and the largest building in the world so far certified to the passive house premium standard, in recognition of both its highly efficient building fabric and the large amount of solar energy it generates.

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86

Grist to the mill

Friends collaborate to develop passive cohousing scheme The pioneering Cannock Mill development in Colchester is just the second cohousing project in the UK to achieve passive house certification, making it a leader not just in terms of its thermal performance, but in demonstrating the vital role shared living can play in both building vibrant communities, and in mitigating the climate crisis.

MARKETPLACE Keep up with the latest developments from some of the leading companies in sustainable building, including new product innovations, project updates and more.

Let’s get decarbonisation done While there is much debate about whether we should prioritise retrofitting homes or installing heat pumps, the climate crisis means we may not have a choice but to do both as fast as possible, writes Toby Cambray.

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MEL REYNOLDS

COLUMN

Housing for who?

Despite an increase in the construction of new homes, the number available for first-time buyers and families to purchase is falling, writes Mel Reynolds.

N

ew home output has increased steadily since 2017 to more than 20,500 homes in 2020, a welcome development. At the launch of Rebuilding Ireland in July 2016, then minister for housing Simon Coveney stated: “This government is committed to a range of measures to reverse the chronic undersupply of new homes that’s making new home purchase and rents increasingly unaffordable and driving more people into homelessness.”

There are two main drivers of new home output: households (i.e., families) and nonhouseholds (larger companies, funds and the state). Both are active in building and buying new homes, but only a portion of new homes built end up on the open market. Given the continued policy emphasis on new builds, it is disappointing that fewer new homes were purchased by households in 2020 than in 2017.

A large amount of new build homes are individual one-off dwellings, built by and for prospective owners. The majority of these are completed outside Dublin. Typically, these comprise 24 to 50 per cent of all new housing. Self-builds do not come up for sale on the open market.

Non-households such as local authorities and approved housing bodies (AHBs) purchase new homes for social housing, so called ‘turnkey homes’. The turnkey programme has exploded since 2017, when there were 1,040 homes purchased for social housing. This increased to 3,726 in 2019.

Due to the pandemic last year this figure reduced to 3,462 dwellings, but purchase remains the official preference for new-build social housing. Two out of every three social “new builds” are purchased from the private sector, usually before hitting the open market.

Other non-household entities such as private rental sector (PRS) funds build and buy entire schemes for the rental market. This sector has grown significantly since 2017 and the bulk of apartments in Dublin are aimed at this sector. Various financial incentives as well as planning policies have been put in place to encourage fund activity in the rental sector since 2015. These dwellings typically do not come up for sale to house-

8 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

hold buyers.

The remaining balance of homes, ‘estate homes’, are built for sale to ordinary households. There are two main types of household buyers: first-time buyers and other households (second-time buyers/trader uppers etc.). Figures are precisely recorded by the Central Statistics Office as stamp duty transactions.

In the period 2017-2020, overall completions went from 14,338 to 20,532 new homes per year, an increase of 43 per cent.

But when we break these overall figures down using various official sources, it appears that new home household purchases fell from 7,669 in 2017 to 7,435 in 2020, a decline of seven per cent.

In 2017, just 17 per cent of all new homes were purchased by non-households, but by 2020 this had increased to 40 per cent.

Dublin The household activity drop in County Dublin, where demand is highest, is even more pronounced. While the total figure for new homes output in the capital has increased by eight per cent in four years, household purchasers have seen their share of the market shrink from 57 to 38 per cent in the same period (see table). The total number of new homes purchased by households in Dublin fell from 3,160 in 2017 to 2,286 in 2020.

The trends are clear and show that new build activity is being driven by non-households, the state and approved housing bodies outside Dublin, and PRS funds in the capital.

Recently, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the government’s “main priority is to concentrate the state investment in a way that more people can afford houses, and then those who are not in a position to buy a house will be able to get a social house or cost rental”.

Household activity is wilting while the government focuses on the non-household new build sector. Looking at figures over the past four years it appears a structural shift has occurred, and homebuyers have been left behind. n

A fully referenced version of this article is online at www.passivehouseplus.ie Mel Reynolds is a registered architect with more than 25 years of experience in project management, conservation, urban design and developer-led housing. He is also a certified passive house designer.

County Dublin: New housing output 2017-2020 (CSO.ie) Completions

2017

%

2018

%

2019

%

2020

%

6.62

372

5.43

498

7.20

330

5.46

One-off homes

369

State & approved housing body (AHB) new builds

375

State & AHB purchases

382

Private non-household purchases & forward-funded (private rental sector)

1288

First-time buyer (FTB) new homes

1422

Household purchases (excl FTBs)

1738

Annual Total

5574

818 36.69

648

433 37.54

1107

6854

6918

56.70

1164 48.86

1676 100

675 2446

1704 57.03

2038 100

43.94

1625

1871 56.69

982

305

37.84 1122

100

6024

100

IN BRIEF Building: 120 m2 one-off rural dwelling Location: Arrowtown, South Island, New Zealand Building method: Structural insulated panels Standard: Passive house ‘plus’

INTERNATIONAL PASSI VE & ECO BUIL D S F R O M A R O U N D TH E WO R LD

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L

NEW ZEALAND

Photos by Sam Hartnett

THREEPWOOD PASSIVE HOUSE, NEW ZEALAND

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ocated in the hills just outside of Arrowtown, on New Zealand’s South Island, this site overlooks a cluster of farm sheds that were built by homeowner and architect Mark Read’s grandfather. Mark’s great grandmother planted many of the larch trees on the site, and though his family left the farm when he was five years old, Mark says that building his own passive house here felt like coming home.

Mark and his partner, architect Siân Taylor, are the duo behind Team Green Architects, and for this project — their own family home — they wanted to cut embodied carbon and achieve passive house ‘plus’ status (which recognises renewable energy production as well as building fabric efficiency).

A limited budget ensured that the scale and form of the building was restricted to just what was needed. For a family of three, this meant two bedrooms, one bathroom, a laundry and an open plan living, kitchen and dining space.

The slope of the site suggested a mono-pitch, angular dwelling. Siân and Mark also designed an upstairs space with its own front door to serve as a bedroom for when Siân’s parents, who live overseas, come to visit. But this space was hastily converted to a home office once the first Covid

lockdown hit in 2020.

Careful placement of the windows and the geometry of the veranda help to optimise solar gain and avoid overheating.

The large north facing glazing (this is the southern hemisphere, remember) allows uninterrupted views of Coronet Peak and the Crown range. A highly insulated and airtight thermal envelope, plus triple glazed windows, leads to a tiny requirement for heating during cold winters on the elevated site, while there is also zero requirement for cooling during the hot summers, the architects say.

The thermal envelope was created with locally made structural insulated panels (SIPs), plus an additional layer of wool insulation. The external pallet is simple, with a dark stained cedar cladding and windows in European larch.

The house beat both the RIBA 2030 climate challenge targets for embodied carbon (at 599 kg of CO2 equivalent per square metre, compared to the target of 625) and for operational carbon (at 29 kg versus a target of 35). It was also a winner at the 2021 New Zealand Architecture Awards, with the New Zealand Institute of Architects describing it as, “a strong example of how responsible and sustainable design can be used to create delightful living environments”.

ph+ | new zealand international | 11

NEW ZEALAND

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

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NEWS

PASSIVE HOUSE+

NEWS

New EU law will mandate renovation of inefficient buildings Green groups criticise lack of focus on embodied carbon

T

he European Commission is proposing sweeping changes to the way in which energy ratings for buildings are allocated, in a bid to stimulate the retrofit of the worst performing buildings across Europe.

The proposed revision to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) would see energy ratings synchronised across the continent, with the worst 15 per cent of buildings in each country assigned a G rating, and an ‘A’ rating reserved for “zero-emission buildings”. Remaining buildings would be distributed proportionately among the other energy classes, but nations would have some flexibility to define the exact parameters of each class.

The directive says that all public and non-residential buildings must be renovated to at least an F rating by 2027. All residential buildings will have to be improved to F by 2030, and to E by 2033. Member states will also have to publish specific timelines for achieving higher energy performance classes through new national building renovation plans.

The European Commission said that the proposals aim to make energy performance certificates “much clearer, and more reliable and visible, with easy-to-understand information on energy performance”.

The revised directive was published before Christmas as part of the EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ package of measures to cut carbon emissions 55 per cent by 2030. The new EPBD also aims to give effect to the EU’s ‘Renovation Wave’ strategy of doubling the continent’s rate of energy renovation by 2030.

The new EPBD defines a zero-emission building as one with “a very high energy performance in line with the energy efficiency first principle, where the very low amount of energy still required is fully covered by energy from renewable sources at the building or district or community level where technically

16 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

feasible”. This is an update on the definition of nearly zero energy buildings (NZEBs), the EU’s current standard for new build.

All new public buildings will have to meet the zero-emission definition from 2027, while every new building will have to meet it from 2030. The directive also says that “deep renovation” should be defined as renovation that transforms a building into a zero-emission building.

The directive also contains a proposal that zero-emission buildings do not generate any carbon emissions on site. Though the European Commission says that the directive does not have a mandate to introduce national bans on fossil fuel appliances, it “introduces a clear legal basis for national bans, allowing member states to set requirements for heat generators based on greenhouse gas emissions or the type of fuel used.”

The directive also says that the life-cycle global warming potential of new buildings must be calculated from 2030. The existing requirement that large buildings calculate their life-cycle emissions from 2027 remains in place.

Mixed reaction Reaction to the publication of the directive was mixed. The climate think tank E3G said that while the revision to the EPBD, “will accelerate the decarbonisation of buildings in the EU, the ambition level does not match the scale of the challenge”. The group’s senior policy advisor Adeline Rochet said that the proposal is a good starting point, but that the “mandatory energy performance standards regime as it is will only allow for marginal improvement, and doesn’t enable renovation at the needed scale and pace”.

The Environmental Coalition on Standards and the European Environmental Bureau both criticised the directive for failing to

propose limits on the embodied carbon of new buildings, and failing to mention circularity or resource efficiency with regards to building materials.

“The renovation of European buildings is a once in a lifetime opportunity that we cannot miss,” said Gonzalo Sanchez, a policy officer at the European Environmental Bureau. “It is already happening, and it involves a huge amount of construction materials: if we don’t consider circularity now, we’ll have a huge increase in product related emissions today, and a waste problem in the future”.

The International Union of Property Owners said that the directive would require at least forty million buildings across the EU to be renovated by 2033, and described this as a “herculean” task. “Many member states are already facing a shortage of construction workers – especially skilled workers. And if the deadline seems far away, taking into account the time to adopt and transpose the directive, it will leave at best eight years to achieve this objective,” the group said in a statement.

However, EuroACE, an alliance of companies that promotes energy efficiency in buildings, said that the EPBD, “if ambitiously implemented, has the power to transform the Renovation Wave from strategy to reality.”

A statement from the group said: “The approach proposed by the European Commission, which sees all worst-performing buildings in the EU improve their energy performance by 2030 at the latest (or 2033 depending on the purpose of the building), is the starting point for a systemic change.

However, a lot has to be done to ensure that ambitious energy renovations are carried out in a timely and strategic way across the building stock in the EU.” The proposed directive is now being considered by the European Parliament and the European Council. •

PASSIVE HOUSE+

NEWS

Renewable energy producers to get feed-in tarriff

T

he state will begin paying a feed-in tariff to eligible homes that export renewable energy from later this year.

Making the announcement before Christmas, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications said that property owners will be able to receive the clean export guarantee (CEG) tariff at a “competitive market rate from their electricity supplier”.

The CEG will be available to both new and existing small-scale generators of up to 400 kW. Properties that are eligible for a smart meter will need to have one installed to avail of the payments. The government said that while the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is not setting a specific date for the timing of the first payment, it can be expected “within a reasonable time after June 2022”.

Non-domestic property owners can also apply for the CEG tariff. They will also be eligible for a clean export premium (CEP) per kilowatt hour (kWh) exported, at a fixed rate for a period of 15 years. This payment is expected to be available from the third quarter of 2022.

The CEP will be 13.5 cents per kilowatt hour in 2022, which is higher than the current average wholesale electricity price.

The government said that “any difference between the CEP tariff and wholesale electricity prices will be supported by the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy”.

Exported volumes of electricity eligible for the CEP tariff will be capped at 80 per cent of

generation capacity, to incentivise self-consumption. Renewable energy producers are advised to contact their electricity provider for more information about the CEG and CEP schemes.

Homeowners will continue to be able to apply to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for a grant towards the cost of installing renewable energy generation equipment, the government said. In 2022, grants will be at the same level per kW as the current PV grant scheme (maximum €2,400). From later in 2022, businesses, farms, schools and community buildings generating up to 5.9 kW will be eligible for a capital grant at the same levels as domestic customers.

“I am delighted to announce government approval for the Micro-generation Support Scheme. This marks an important step on the energy transition journey,” said Eamon Ryan. “The government is developing a framework of supports – to enable homes, businesses, farms and communities to install renewable generation for their own consumption and receive a payment for any residual electricity they export to the grid.

“Micro-generation has an important role to play in empowering and driving engagement and participation. It creates opportunities for domestic, community, farming and small commercial customers to take the first steps towards investment in renewable technologies, which can play a role in shaping electricity demand and decarbonising homes and businesses.” •

Advertise with us.

94% say the adverts in Passive House Plus are relevant to them*

TEDx passive house talk now available online

P

assive House Plus editor and publisher Jeff Colley’s TEDx talk on the passive house standard is now available to view online. Colley gave the talk, titled ‘Virtuous luxury: how passive houses can improve your life and help the planet’ at the TEDx Tralee event held in Kerry’s county town last October.

Colley said: “The message was that climate action doesn't have to involve sacrifice — it can actually improve your life. And there is no better example of this than passive house, as some of the surprising stories I share from those living in passive houses demonstrate.

“The default assumption that climate action is necessarily hard and expensive, and is going to make our lives worse, must be challenged. We need to get better at telling positive stories about climate action, so that we can reframe the debate, and show how profoundly beneficial it can be to make meaningful, environmentally-friendly decisions.”

The full talk is available to view at tinyurl.com/passivetedx. •

Contact us for more information on how your brand can feature in our next issue.

To enquire about advertising, contact Jeff Colley on +353 (0)1 2107513 or email jeff@passivehouseplus.ie

www.passivehouseplus.ie *source, Passive House Plus Irish edition 2019 reader survey

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NEWS

PASSIVE HOUSE+

Rebuilt Low Energy Buildings Database to become key international resource L eading sustainable building association the AECB has secured funding to create an international resource to share detailed information on low energy buildings in the UK, Ireland and, ultimately, internationally, via a rebuild of the Low Energy Buildings Database (LEBD).

Once built the new site – which is being developed in partnership with Passive House Plus and user experience (UX) strategists Everything is User Experience – will enable users to compare detailed information on hundreds of buildings, including various building typologies, build methods, energy performance standards, and – crucially – comparisons of calculated and actual performance data. The project team is working collaboratively with a range of key industry organisations and other stakeholders in the UK and internationally on the rebuild, with the aim of creating a key resource for anyone with an interest in low energy building or retrofit.

The AECB has been awarded a £30,000 grant for the rebuild by the MCS Charitable Foundation, with additional funding secured via two founding sponsors: Gemini Data Loggers, who manufacture the Tinytag range of dataloggers, and Ecology Building Society, who offer mortgages and loans in the UK on low energy new build and retrofit projects.

The AECB developed the LEBD as an education dissemination tool for Innovate UK in the Retrofit for the Future competition in 2010. In its current form, the LEBD showcases 455 innovative low energy UK building projects including single dwellings, multi-unit private and social housing schemes, schools and offices. It includes 150 replicable best practice retrofit projects, including projects meeting the passive house, Enerphit and AECB building standards, among others.

The LEBD will also continue to serve as a repository of evidence for projects seeking to attain the unique self-certification AECB Building Standard. The AECB requires that all self-certification projects are uploaded on the LEBD as evidence for public and professional scrutiny.

The upgraded database will include building performance evaluation – with an approach that encourages users who upload buildings to include data on how low energy build and retrofit projects have actually performed, based on monitoring results.

Led by the expertise of UX strategists Dan Hyde and Alex Blondin of Everything is User Experience and AECB technical reviewer Ian Wild of Lumina, the new design will place the user’s needs front and centre, to ensure the renewed LEBD is as accessible and intuitive

as possible for construction industry, technical and consumer audiences alike. The site will capture and present design, performance and construction information related to the entire process of designing and building new buildings and retrofitting existing ones.

AECB chief executive Andy Simmonds said: “The MCS Charitable Foundation funding and support from Tinytag and the Ecology Building Society will allow AECB to create a collaborative, international platform for organisations in the UK, Ireland, Europe, North America, Canada and New Zealand to promote better designed and built, high performance, zero carbon buildings. The upgraded LEBD database will facilitate standardised, efficient data entry, improved sharing and access, consistent project comparison and reporting, enhanced feedback and learning as well as project promotion.”

Simmonds placed particular emphasis on the LEBD’s use in sharing experience on how to tackle existing buildings. “Retrofitting existing housing is an urgent priority. Housing accounts for around 40 per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions,” he said. “Four out of five homes occupied by 2050 have already been built. These households face the greatest challenges in decarbonising and adapting to the changing climate and rising energy costs.” •

Welsh social housing to embrace passive house, timber & life cycle assessment

by Kate de Selincourt

T

he Welsh government has issued a new standard for social housing that requires an embodied carbon assessment, favours timber-based offsite construction, and bans fossil fuel boilers.

Homes built under the Welsh Development Quality Requirements (WDQR) 2021 have to be highly energy efficient, with efficiency equivalent to an energy performance certificate (EPC) of A, using a fabric first approach. But they do not have to use SAP: other energy demand metrics, such as passive house certification, are also permitted.

The requirements apply to all publicly funded affordable housing. But the hope is that a version of this standard will go on to apply to all new housing in Wales. The requirements were welcomed by Gary Newman, chief executive of forestry and timber campaign group Woodknowledge Wales, as “quite an incredible standard”.

At the Woodbuild 2021 event organised

by Woodknowledge Wales, Welsh government architect Campbell Lammie, a lead author of the requirements, said they were

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intended to favour the use of local timber “while still being as open and non-prescriptive as possible”.

Modern methods of construction (MMC) are a preferred delivery solution, and developers are asked to maximise the efficient use of timber in construction to increase carbon storage in harvested wood products in Wales. There is also a requirement to assess embodied impact.

This encourages the use of timber, without dictating how homes should be built, Lammie said (see below).

The standard looks beyond SAP and EPCs for setting energy and carbon targets, with passive house certification being one acceptable alternative. “We do recognise that EPC A is at times at odds with low carbon. EPC does gravitate towards use of gas,” Lammie said.

He added that the Welsh Government team was continuing to examine the best metrics to demonstrate building performance. “We will consider other metrics going forward and [it is] highly likely they

will form part of updated standards.” The standard is also intended to evolve in collaboration with the construction industry, with learning and feedback from designers, manufacturers and developers central to the process.

“We are up for being challenged on what we have said, and recognise the requirements will need updating more regularly than has happened in the past,” said Lammie. The first revision may take place as soon as 2023.

The “signs are on the wall” that the standard may be extended to all housing development in the country, Lammie said, but this is a matter for minsters, as it would require changes to the planning and building regulations.

Lammie noted that some housebuilders are already reconsidering their standard designs, so that if the requirements come in for all housing, they will be ready. “We have had quite a lot of dialogue with one major housebuilder already — they are changing many of their house types to make sure they comply.”

PASSIVE HOUSE+

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RIAI launches 2030 climate challenge kgCO2e/m2

Embodied carbon targets (cradle to grave) in RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge

*New build domestic includes a lower target of 450 kg CO2e/m2 for dwellings over 133m2

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he Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has launched its 2030 Climate Challenge, calling for urgent action to be taken by architects and the wider construction industry to tackle the climate emergency.

The RIAI said that the challenge is a “climate change initiative to encourage the profession and wider construction industry to achieve net zero whole life carbon for all new and retrofitted buildings by 2030”.

The RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge asks architects to commit to reducing operational energy, embodied carbon, and potable water use by 40 per cent by 2030, as well as achieving core health and wellbeing targets.

Speaking about the launch of the challenge RIAI president Ciaran O’Connor said: “The RIAI is delighted to launch our 2030 Climate Challenge. We are in the midst of a climate emergency which is the

biggest challenge to face our planet, our people and our industry.

“The task is urgent, and we need to work immediately to reduce our carbon emissions in order to limit the devastating impacts of global warming. By launching this document, we are encouraging architects and our colleagues in construction to take the RIAI Climate Challenge, to evaluate the way they currently design and to make the necessary changes needed to meet the reductions and targets outlined in this document.”

The challenge was originally developed by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and adapted for Ireland by the RIAI. It sets 2030 targets for operational energy, embodied carbon and potable water (see table), with interim targets for 2025.

The challenge also states that overheating (indoor temperatures between 25 and 28 C) should be limited to one

per cent of occupied hours, and that indoor CO2 levels should be less than 900 parts per million. Targets are also set for daylighting, radon, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde.

While the RIAI’s 2030 embodied carbon targets are numerically the same as the equivalent RIBA targets in the UK, RIBA’s methodology assumes a 60-year building lifespan, while the RIAI uses 50 years (as per the EU’s Level(s) framework).

This means that the RIAI target should in theory be easier to meet, as there may be fewer replacements of building components during the measured time period.

RIBA president Simon Allford said: “The construction industry needs to work together so I am extremely encouraged to see the RIAI adopt a similar set of standards to the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge. Changing the way we practice to combat climate change is no longer an option, and we’re confident that these 2030 targets for embodied carbon, energy and water use will place projects on the trajectory towards net zero. I urge all RIAI members to sign-up and commit themselves to designing for outcome-based building performance.” •

We need to work immediately to reduce our carbon emissions in order to limit the devastating impacts of global warming.

RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge targets DWELLINGS

OFFICES

SCHOOLS

Operational Energy

35 kWh/m2/yr

55 kWh/m2/yr

40 kWh/m2/yr

Embodied Carbon

625 kgCO2e/m2

750 kgCO2e/m2

540 kgCO2e/m2

Potable Water

75 litres person/day

10 litres person/day

0.5 litres person/day

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NE M AW R ISO N P JAM S SMI V EE T H OI U GB SE C+ U P D A T E

We must take radical action on whole life carbon Addressing building life cycle emissions requires much deeper action than is currently planned, says Marion Jammet of the Irish Green Building Council, as part of the group’s latest monthly update.

A

year ago, the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC), alongside nine other European green building councils, launched the #BuildingLife campaign.

The objective of #BuildingLife is to develop a roadmap to decarbonise our built environment across its whole life cycle. While most of the focus to date has been on addressing operational carbon emissions, there are emissions associated with all other stages of a building’s life cycle. These emissions result from quarrying, manufacturing, and transporting of building materials, as well as constructing buildings (embodied emissions).

In that context, the IGBC welcomed the publication of the Climate Action Plan 2021, which for the first time includes whole life carbon targets for construction. The plan includes a commitment to introduce life-cycle assessment requirements for buildings and construction products and processes. It also mandates the inclusion of green criteria in all public procurement from 2023 to ensure that what is built is consistent with Ireland’s climate ambition. These are all consistent with some of the preliminary recommendations made by the IGBC on the decarbonisation of our built environment.

Yet, an initial assessment of the carbon emissions associated with the construction and operation of the Irish built environment, produced by UCD’s Building in a Climate Emergency Research Group for the IGBC, indicates this is unlikely to be sufficient. The draft report shows these emissions account for approximately one-third of Ireland’s carbon emissions, almost the same as agriculture (at 37 per cent). Heating, cooling and lighting our buildings account for 24 per cent of national emissions, while up to 11 per cent of Ireland’s emissions can be accounted for by embodied carbon. More comprehensive and robust data will be produced by the UCD team in 2022, but one thing is clear: we cannot reach carbon neutrality without addressing whole life carbon emissions in the built environment.

The preliminary recommendations pub-

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lished by the IGBC highlight that deep reductions in carbon intensity per square metre are required. For this reason, a detailed timeline for mandating whole life carbon assessment, and limits through regulation, is needed to provide certainty to industry. However, the expected increase in construction and renovation activity over the next decade means that this may not be enough. In its preliminary recommendations, the IGBC highlight the importance of conducting comprehensive carbon modelling of the National Development Plan and reconciling it with our five-year climate budgets. It also highlights the need to streamline building regulations, and align all relevant policies and fiscal incentives, to make adaptation and reuse of existing buildings easier.

In brief, deep reductions in carbon intensity per square metre should be combined with optimisation of the building stock. The draft recommendations will be reviewed and developed further through detailed thematic workshops over the coming six months. The IGBC invite all public and private organisations interested in contributing to the development of the roadmap to get in touch.

To support building professionals in addressing whole life carbon emissions in the built environment, the IGBC launched the Carbon Designer for Ireland tool. This free-to-use tool allows building designers to quickly assess and visualise the emissions linked to different types of construction techniques and material choices at the early stage of a project. This is critical as the earlier the carbon is measured and optimised, the more reductions can be achieved.

The Carbon Designer for Ireland tool addresses Climate Action Plan 2021, Action 193: “Support the development of a tool for early design stage comparative analysis of embodied carbon in typical Irish construction typologies”. It is also suitable to inform the design at brief development and initial design stages in an RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge project.

The tool was developed by the IGBC and

OneClickLCA, with support from the Land Development Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Carbon Designer for Ireland tool complements the whole life carbon training courses run by the IGBC on a regular basis. On Earth Day 2022 (Friday, 22 April), the IGBC will also organise a large-scale conference on whole life carbon emissions in the built environment.

Organisations interested in learning more and in contributing to the development of the roadmap should visit www. igbc.ie. •

We cannot reach carbon neutrality without addressing whole life carbon emissions.

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NR A EW C HSI E O P 'ADSOSN I VNEE LHLO U SPEH+ A I U P D A T E

ESG: a game changer for sustainable building?

With signs that the corporate world may be starting to move from greenwashing to genuinely grappling with sustainability via environmental, social and governance reporting (ESG), will this create opportunities for the widespread adoption of evidence-based sustainable building?

Archie O’Donnell, Passive House Association of Ireland board member and environmental manager with i3PT, finds reasons for optimism.

The EU Taxonomy requires economic activities to contribute to one of six environmental goals, while not violatign the other five.

Source: Seven Pillars Institute

T

he planet is currently on course for 4 C warming by 2100. COP26 made it clear that in order for us to meet a 2 C target – never mind 1.5 C – governments need to take the lead in realising a net zero world economy much sooner than 2050.

Buildings are a significant part of the problem, even before we consider the issue of the carbon embodied in constructing buildings. Emissions associated with heating and powering the built environment constituted roughly a quarter of Ireland’s total emissions in 2019 – including 15.8 per cent for the energy industries sector and 10.9 per cent for the residential sector.

But if we are to radically decarbonise these and all other sectors, we cannot solely rely on governments. Crucially, of the two hundred largest entities in the world economies, countries make up only 32 per cent of the list. One-hundred-and-fifty-seven of the top 200 economic entities by revenue are corporations. If climate change is to be tackled in a meaningful way, the private sector must take on its fair share of the heavy lifting.

In the past, when the private sector has made environmental improvements, it has tended to be government-led. In the construction industry, this has included incrementally adjusting our designs and specifications, to keep in step with the ever-tightening energy and

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carbon thresholds set by European directives and national building regulations, which are now being updated with increasing frequency.

For instance, the NZEB standard was applied in 2018/2019 with additional requirements added in 2021 and the next step change to Part L of the building regulations is due in 2023/2024.

The European Green Deal objective of driving the clean energy transition sets out to achieve the ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The next recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) will see all new buildings moving to net zero by 2030, along with legally binding energy performance standards for private rental properties in 2025.

In Ireland, the 2021 Climate Action Plan’s decarbonisation pathway seeks to reduce emissions by 51 per cent by 2030 across all sectors. The plan targets reductions in built environment sector emissions from 7.9 megatonnes (Mt) to 4.5 Mt of CO2 equivalent by 2030. The plan includes an objective to bring 40 per cent of existing homes up to a B2 BER. Cost optimality studies are now being requested for the next iteration of Part L regulations for both dwellings and non-dwellings, indicating more onerous building regulations are due in 2023/2024.

But however fast-paced the speed of

implementation of new regulatory standards and ever-tightening efficiency thresholds may be, these may be overtaken by an altogether larger and more effective force: that of the investment community and private equity.

This sector is channelling trillions of dollars of investment flows into ‘greener’ financial products: investments that have a less damaging impact, or in some cases, a positive benefit for the environment and human capital. This brings with it a whole new set of acronyms to add to our sustainability alphabet soup, the most prominent of which may be ESG. ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. The advent of ESG is leading to the uptake of toolkits and metrics for sustainability indicators from various sources such as the UN development goals, corporate responsibility frameworks and the science of climate risk, vulnerability and adaption. These include modelling tools for life cycle analyses, decarbonisation pathways, and asset optimisation strategies for greenhouse gas reduction.

In his annual note to investors, Larry Fink, CEO of the world’s largest asset manager BlackRock, has become increasingly focused on sustainability and climate change. The investment community took notice of his statement in 2018 that climate risk is investment risk. Fink’s 2021 letter encourages companies to integrate ESG issues into their investment strategies. Companies should “have a well-articulated long-term strategy to address the energy transition, including a net-zero compatible business plan”. BlackRock, ranked 192 on the Fortune 500 for wealth, is setting an ambitious 2030 net zero target for itself, although the realisation of such ambitions is being questioned by informed stakeholders.

Globally, sustainably invested assets under management have increased from $22 trillion in 2016 to $35 trillion in 2020. The difference between traditional sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) is in the area of governance, where the leadership has a duty to ensure the balancing of outcomes for the triple bottom line – policy, purpose, and profits. This is implemented through management systems covering strategy, risk management, performance tracking and disclosure.

More sustainable and transparent measures are implemented progressively through planning as well as incentivising managers, shareholders and the supply chain. The journey and story of ever more sustainable organisations and the potential benefits for consumers and the

P H A I U P D APTAES S I V AER CHHOIU E SO E '+D O NNNEEWL S L

wider community, are shared as a journey of improvement.

ESG relates to the three non-financial factors that create value and reduce risk, and is synonymous with sustainable and socially responsible investing. Paradoxically, these non-financial factors are starting to have financial implications. Higher performance in ESG benefits shareholder value for listed companies, improves revenues and provides access to lower cost finance. ESG can lower operational risk and create a positive image of the company, making it more attractive to employees, particularly millennials.

Looking at the physical assets developed or renovated as part of an investment or optimisation strategy, the benefits lie in the delivery of tangibly cleaner, greener buildings – lower carbon buildings constructed using less resources, applying more ecological building practices that fit within planetary boundaries, and in the process creating more resilient homes, communities and workplaces.

There are a number of voluntary frameworks in place to enable organisations to benchmark and track performance. Internationally, the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) is a framework for consistent reporting of climate-related financial risk, for use by companies, banks, and investors in providing information to stakeholders. The UK government expects all listed companies and large asset owners to report on climate-related risks and opportunities in line with TCFD recommendations, on a comply or explain basis by the end of 2022.

There are a number of tools used to report on the TCFD requirements including GRESB (the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark), which assesses the ESG performance of property. It is used by the leading Irish development funds and real estate investment funds (REITs). The management component assesses strategy and leadership, as well as processes, risk management and stakeholder engagement. The performance and development components look at asset level ESG data and include topics such as energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and tenant and community engagement.

Key metrics common to most ESG frameworks and tools include: Environmental: greenhouse gas emissions, energy optimisation, water, waste, materials, biodiversity, physical climate impact and transition risk, building management automation and control.

Social: reputation, human capital, social cohesion, community stakeholder engagement and employee welfare, diversity gender and inclusivity.

Governance: safety, quality management, data privacy and cyber security, culture, reporting and responsible governance.

There are a number of ESG regulatory frameworks, with further versions being introduced each year, both consistent with and replacing the voluntary standards. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), a global green disclosure body, has been set up to develop a single ESG framework, which aims to provide robust and comparable information for investors, and to tackle corporate greenwashing.

Investors are increasingly focused on sustainability and require clearer standardised information from companies on environmental, social and governance risks, which can materially affect the value of their investments.

European disclosure rules under the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) sets requirements for disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large companies, such as listed companies and banks, who are required to publish information related to the following: • • • • •

environmental matters social matters & treatment of employees respect for human rights anti-corruption and bribery diversity on company boards

In tandem with this directive for non-financial disclosure, the EU has introduced a framework for classifying investments. The EU Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (SFDR) took effect in 2021, requiring that asset managers provide information about their investments' environmental, social, and governance risks as well as impact on society and the planet. Funds have been classified into one of three categories: article six, eight, or nine, based on the sustainability objective. Article eight consists of light green investments and article nine of deep green investments.

The EU taxonomy delegated act introduces a green classification system, establishing a list of environmentally sustainable economic activities. The taxonomy provides companies, investors and policymakers with appropriate definitions for which economic activities can be considered environmentally sustainable. Its purpose is to provide a more meaningful and detailed definition of the activities that can be defined as green. Activities such as property development, acquisition, leasing and renovation, must be aligned to the definitions in order to be classified as a green investment and to access lower interest green finance.

ESG & buildings ESG is becoming a key driver in making sustainability mainstream. Development companies are expected to have a social and environmental focus, with pressure applied to have a positive social impact and sustainable footprint in addition to financial performance.

Many large organisations will not consider entering into lease agreements for new buildings unless the highest standards of sustainability can be demonstrated through recognised benchmarking tools. If the financial sector is

going from laggard to leader, what impact will this have on the standard of future buildings?

Is it likely that the rise of ESG as a driver for more sustainable buildings will invariably create a more prominent role for the passive house standard?

ESG rules are becoming more data-focused and robust, with the industry adopting proven approaches to energy performance, health and comfort. ESG analysis relies more on approaches that have solid building physics and science-based targets, that are proven to deliver robust buildings, with investment strategies that are considered futureproofed against both optimistic and pessimistic future climate scenarios. A clear analogy is the impact of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

Financial sustainability standards and regulations are likely to have a real impact where they focus the market on enhanced metrics and clearly understood targets. Setting higher standards encourages and incentivises market forces to react and create more progressive and cost-effective measures.

Of particular interest to built environment professionals is the emphasis within ESG disclosure on addressing future impacts on an asset or investment lifecycle, and presenting this as a present-day cost or opportunity.

This can include future proofing physical climate risks or a marketplace transitioning rapidly to net zero carbon. This is plotted on a 10-to-30-year timeline, where the impacts associated with changing market sentiment, or ever more stringent regulation of carbon emissions and water use, are traced back to inform sustainability measures in design and management of assets. This could see investment managers setting sustainability targets for the current planned pipeline of new developments, as well as in the renovation and fit-out of acquired assets.

This has the potential to utilise standards that reach far beyond current regulations and push the envelope on voluntary environmental rating schemes such as LEED and Well Platinum, Level(s), HPI Gold and BREEAM Outstanding. But there’s a problem: at enhanced levels of sustainability performance, many asset comparison and rating tools become limited in accuracy for predictive analysis. Increasingly, tools and standards that more accurately predict operational energy and can evaluate site-specific overheating risk are being deployed, such as the passive house standard, and the tool used to design passive houses, PHPP, along with NABERS UK and more sophisticated dynamic simulation tools from IES-VE and TAS. The question for designers, specifiers, contractors and suppliers is how they can plot their own pathway to 2030, noting that 2030 is only as far away in years as we are from the end of 2013. Will the hatch patterns on architects’ drawings in 2024 look materially different to those in place now, taking regard of the high embodied carbon of current NZEB standard developments and the availability of Environmental Product Declarations? •

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PASSIVE HOUSE+

#BuildingLife: “Sustainability must be embedded at all stages of a building’s life,” says David Browne of RKD

I

n the #BuildingLife ambassador spotlight series, Passive House Plus is profiling leaders who have endorsed the Irish Green Building Council’s call to address the environmental impacts of buildings across their lifecycle. In our fourth interview, David Browne, director of architecture practice RKD and former president of the RIAI, tells us more about the campaign and why he is supporting it.

Why did you choose to become a #BuildingLife ambassador?

David Browne: The #BuildingLife campaign is a fantastic opportunity to address the environmental impacts of buildings across their life cycle. More specifically, it aims at developing a roadmap and tools to reach carbon neutrality in the built environment by 2050. There is enormous scope for innovation and scaling up new ideas in our industry to meet this target. But this requires better co-operation between the public and private sectors. Enterprise leaders and governments must act consistently. That’s why, I am thrilled to be part of the #BuildingLife campaign and look forward to working with fellow ambassadors.

What are you hoping to achieve with the #BuildingLife campaign?

DB: As an architect, I have seen significant changes in ambition in relation to sustainability over the last 15 years. In 2006, green building certification such as LEED and BREEAM was a novelty. It is now the norm for commercial, residential and many public sector buildings. This is positive, but embodied carbon emissions —

ability now needs to be embedded at all stages of a building’s life, from design to planning, construction and use.

Can you explain a few ways in which RKD is working towards a sustainable built environment?

DB: At RKD, we have developed and are in the process of implementing a charter to bring sustainability into practice. We are targeting to achieve a carbon neutral workplace within the next five to seven years, and we constantly try to help improve the sustainability capabilities of our staff. For example, we have recently produced a playbook of sustainability actions to be taken at every stage of building design. We are also committed to driving ambition with our clients. We are developing an early design performance analysis workflow and are working towards a new post-occupancy evaluation service offer. This is to expand our services as sustainability consultants and ensure optimal value for our clients.

We also support Ireland’s transition to a more sustainable built environment through two actions. As part of the Construction Sector Group’s innovation and digital subgroup, my colleague Karolina Bäckman and I are working with our industry colleagues seeking to identify research initiatives into disruptive innovations which will impact climate action in planning, design and construction of the built environment.

These innovations should aim at driving our sector performance to deliver best practice and provide tangible, beneficial outcomes for citizens. Specific areas addressed include decarbonisation, circular

cities of different scales to thrive. We want to explore the spatial implications of policy on urban areas and set out highly practical actions. Finally, we want to underline the value of evidence-based decisions to achieve sustainable placemaking. This group is currently carrying out a study of Galway city to imagine its sustainable and liveable long term urban future, and to test our ideas and how they might be applied to other Irish cities. •

We want to explore the spatial implications of policy on urban areas and set out highly practical actions. which are associated with the production of building materials and the construction of buildings — as well as optimum design are still not yet fully considered. Too often, the perception is that addressing these critical issues may add to the bottom line. I am hoping the campaign will raise awareness about these issues. Sustain-

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built environment, social value and community wellbeing, and climate change resilience. As chair of the Irish Cities 2070 initiative, I am working with architects and other building professionals to create a long-term vision of urban design and urban policy in Ireland. We want to test options that link livelihood with liveability for Irish

#BuildingLife is a project led in Ireland by the Irish Green Building Council. The initiative aims to achieve the mix of private sector action and public policy necessary to tackle the whole-life impact of buildings.

Learn more at www.igbc.ie.

CO PA LU S SMI N V E HD OAUVSIED+ M C N HE UW GH S

Let’s bring ventilation in from the cold Why is there is such antipathy towards putting ventilation at the forefront of our Covid prevention strategy, asks Residential Ventilation Association of Ireland chair and co-founder David McHugh.

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e have now conceded that the genie is out of the bottle and Covid is here to stay, with face masks and social distancing a new norm.

But perhaps not.

In the beginning we started treating Covid like a normal virus, thinking it lived on surfaces and was transmitted by physical contact. After many months it was accepted that this was a virus which hung in the air and infected people when they breathed it in. What if this virus-laden air is removed continuously and replaced with clean filtered fresh air from outside? This reduces the chances of someone breathing it in, and the amount of it that might be breathed in. This removal and replacement is called air change and is the basis of ventilation technology.

Despite 24/7 coverage of the Covid crisis by media and experts of all denominations, the subject of ventilation is continuously dumbed down to its lowest common denominator: ‘open the windows and reach for the coats’. Yes, ventilation is about fresh air – and it is important to recognise that

thought we could beat this on the cheap.

Over the past year many people have said, “people like you will make a fortune from this”. My answer was, “in a year or two when this is just a bad memory, and we are back to normal, nobody will want what me and my industry have to offer”.

It will take many billions of euros to provide these systems in all the places where we live, work and play. People ask if we can afford it, but can we afford not to when we are already spending those billions trying to tackle the pandemic, and with no end in sight.

Why is it that this part of the solution is not being looked at by all the government committees set up not just in Ireland but all over the world? It appears that in Ireland at least, few engineering people have been consulted with. Is there a certain ambivalence towards this subject? Anything we ingest into our bodies whether it be food, water, heat or air is crucial to our survival but clean air is not seen as that important.

In my forty years of HVAC experience, it

than sewer pipes in walls.

High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters may have a place in the strategy, but there are still a lot of unanswered questions.

What happens to the virus if it gets trapped in the filter? Will it die or multiply? Will it eventually find its way into this re-circulating air stream? Is the technology available to kill it on the filter, and if so, can it be killed in the exhaust air of a ventilation system?

A clean filtered definite supply of fresh air without the cold, will not just provide a strong buffer against Covid, but aid public health on a much wider basis. This needs to be recognised from the top down. Ventilation technology can not only help solve this crisis but also the next one coming down the track, climate change. n

What if virus-laden air is removed continuously and replaced with clean air? outdoor air is not necessarily fresh air – but it does not have to be cold fresh air. It can be pre-warmed by the air leaving the building.

The air can also be moved at a controlled speed and this speed modulated up or down depending on how many people have congregated.

Modern technology can tell the ventilation equipment how many people are in the room and what speed to run to provide a safe and healthy environment. Monitors in the ventilated space can inform the occupants when it becomes over-crowded and unsafe. These systems also contribute to the efficiency of buildings and facilitate upgrading of insulation.

If it is this simple, why are we not doing it? Perhaps because up until now we

has always been about heating and cooling and “oh by the way let’s stick in a fan and a hole somewhere – this will cover us for ventilation”.

That might be a slight exaggeration, but when we look at today’s guidance on ventilation for dwellings, either Part F of the building regulations or SEAI’s Homeowner’s Guide to Ventilation, this is what we get. In the case of the SEAI, it is a crude picture of a sewer pipe in a wall to make the hole. I am sorry to say but this attitude seems to permeate right down from government bodies through the specifying community, construction and on to the end-users. The small community of us around the world who have been working on this technology for decades have a lot more to offer

David McHugh is managing director of ProAir, the Irish manufacturer of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery systems.

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C O LPUAMSN S I V EDH R OM UAS R EC + Ó N RE I AWI N S

The 1980s: A renewable revolution undermined Marc O Riain explores how policy on both side of the Atlantic in the 1980s sabotaged a nascent revolution in renewables and energy conservation.

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magine a time when oil prices were rocketing due to an international existential threat, not today… but the mid-late 1970s, when there could have been a real, transitional shift from oil to renewable energy globally.

After the first oil crisis in 1973, western government policies centred around energy exploration, strategic reserves and investment in both renewables and energy conservation.

Government departments of energy were established in most countries.

Ireland created non statutory ‘draft building standards’ with U-value performances in line with Scotland, and the UK improved statutory standards in 1976, along with grants for energy retrofit.

The UK adopted an energy policy around coal, conservation and nuclear energy (CoCoNuke) and formed the Energy Technology Support Unit (ETSU) to manage government funding of ‘alternative sources of energy’, but this was subverted through its control and dominance by the UK Atomic Energy Authority. For military defence reasons, UK energy policy became dominated by nuclear and not renewable energy.

At the same time scientists across the world were turning to solar, wind and geothermal as

Reagan gradually shifted public policy away from fuel conservation.

renewable solutions to energy independence.

These technologies were still largely unproven or commercially unscalable. Denmark would prove wind turbines viable with tax reliefs for investing in community renewable wind energy, and a biofuel revolution occurred in the mid-1970s when fuels like ethanol, made from corn or sugar cane, became economically viable through higher oil prices.

Because other renewable technologies could not establish economic viability at scale, US policy instead promoted nuclear power. However, this policy was critically damaged in pub-

lic opinion by the Three Mile Island partial meltdown in March 1979, which resulted in the release of radioactive gases and radioactive iodine into the environment. With a new oil crisis sparked by the Iranian revolution in January 1979, oil prices rose again and President Jimmy Carter turned towards renewable energy. Carter signed the Energy Security Act, which consisted of six separate acts covering synthetic fuels, biofuels, solar energy, geothermal energy, marine energy, and other renewable technologies. Carter very publicly endorsed solar power by installing thirty-two solar water panels on the White House during the summer of 1979.

However new charismatic leaders in Thatcher and Reagan came to power in 1979 and 1981, in the UK and the US respectively, and they had very different outlooks on energy security. Thatcher was elected following the ‘winter of discontent’ in 1978-1979, when unions held widespread strikes for improved pay and conditions against the backdrop of the coldest winter in 16 years.

Thatcher set out to break the power of the National Union of Mineworkers, and moved policy towards the expansion of the nuclear industry after the second oil crisis in 1979, away from coal and away from renewables.

President Reagan gradually shifted public policy away from fuel conservation and back to increasing domestic oil production. “Conservation, of course, is a most helpful thing, and we should be practicing it, but I truly believe the answer to our energy problem is an energetic program of increasing our own supply, and this we have not done,” he said.

Reagan’s policy changes featured deregulation, the removal of supports for renewable energy research and the very public removal of solar panels from the White House in 1986 which he saw as “a joke” according to his chief of staff. Reagan’s position undermined the fledging renewable sector, seeing many solar industries go out of business, as the technology proved economically unsustainable in a cheap oil market. Market demand for low energy buildings also decreased as oil prices fell. Thatcher and Reagan saw eye to eye on deregulation, believing the market would be the answer to the energy problem, and set out to end oil price controls and regulations.

Reagan rolled back product energy labelling, federal building energy standards, and funding for schemes promoting minimum energy performance standards in new homes.

The early 1980s became a desert for renewable energy and low energy building as deregulation and increased oil supply saw a collapse in oil prices, and by extension consumer demand. However seminal events like the Home World Exhibition in Milton Keynes in 1981 would bring together international low energy housing exemplars for the first time, which I will explore in my next article. n

(above) Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan at the G7 Ottawa Summit in July 1981.

Photo: Levan Ramishvili

A fully referenced version of this article is online at www.passivehouseplus.ie Dr Marc Ó Riain is a lecturer in the Department of Architecture at Munster Technological University (MTU). He has a PhD in zero energy retrofit and has delivered both residential and commercial NZEB retrofits In Ireland. He is a director of RUA Architects and has a passion for the environment both built and natural.

ph+ | dr marc ph+ ó riain | news column | 27 | 27

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CASE STUDY

IN BRIEF Project: 40-unit social housing scheme Method: Cavity wall on strip foundations Location: Bray, Co Wicklow Standard: HPI Gold Embodied carbon: 687.5 kg CO2e/m2 (50-year design life) BER: A2 (30 – 48 kWh/m2/yr) Energy costs: €65 per month for 2 & 3 bedroom units (estimate of total energy costs, HPI assessment)

€65

per month

In many ways, this housing scheme is far from ordinary.

28 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

CASE STUDY

KILBRIDE COURT

MEASURE EVERYTHING AWARD-WINNING SOCIAL HOUSING PROVIDES CRUCIAL BASELINE DATA A new housing scheme designed by Coady Architects in Wicklow has achieved the highest green home certification – while suggesting that the convictions of one practice on a single project can help to transform the industry.

Reporting by Anthea Lacchia | Additional reporting by Jeff Colley

ph+ | kilbride court case study | 29

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T

his is a normal housing development – built using block cavity wall on strip foundations – meeting the minimum building regulations brief from the local authority, Simon Keogh, senior project architect, is keen to stress. But, in many ways, this housing scheme is far from ordinary. Kilbride Court in Bray, County Wicklow, is the first multi-unit development to be awarded gold certification under the Home Performance Index (HPI), a certification system developed by the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) to assess quality and sustainability in new residential developments.

The social housing scheme, completed in July, is the result of a three-year journey, and comprises 40 residences in Kilbride Court and two on Clover Hill. It includes terrace houses, duplexes, apartments and two single house units, the latter at Clover Hill which did not form part of the HPI application.

Throughout the project Keogh was passionate about gathering as much data on environmental impact as possible. Within the architectural profession, he says an “inherent problem lies in the inadequacy of our training specifically relating to the scientific performance of buildings”. He argues that there has been a systemic conflict within the education system and the architectural profession that places intangible artistic merit over measurable scientific performance.

“As a result, architecture has claimed for itself an elevated and near unaccountable position within society,” he says. “Architecture should not solely operate within a subjective

30 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

sphere. The preference of art over science which our Anthropocene society has inherently consumed, has led us to face the still unresolved impact of climate change as identified as early as 1990.”

The irony, Keogh says, is that architectural ethics state that architects are obliged to protect and enhance the environment yet, so far, the profession has been seen enjoying its own intrinsic intangibleness. “There has been a long-neglected need to create science-based, tangible solutions. Part of good practice should have addressed the need to substantially reduce the 39 per cent of carbon dioxide emitted from the built environment.”

Keogh points out that this objective has been laid out again in the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report and in Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2021, which calls for a substantial reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050. “If we continue to ignore the fundamental principles of good building practice the consequences experienced by society will be dire,” he says.

For Keogh, it was postgraduate training through courses in BIM (building information modelling) and professional energy skills in NZEB at the Dublin Institute of Technology — including a module on the passive house software, PHPP — that helped him “see the world from a scientific perspective”. He applied this expertise, and a healthy dose of steely determination, to Wicklow County Council’s housing scheme.

The Kilbride project wasn’t subject to the 2019 version of technical guidance document L. Planning was obtained long before

the new regulations came into force, and the dwellings were up to wall plate level before the November 2020 deadline. But the scheme still comfortably exceeds the headline targets of Ireland’s nearly zero energy building (NZEB) standard. The 40 units achieved average energy performance coefficients of between 0.19 and 0.21, representing between 79 and 81 per cent reductions in calculated energy demand compared to Ireland’s 2005 regulations. This was not because of improved U-values but due to a modulating heat pump, improved airtightness and thermal modelling junctions delivering a Y-factor of 0.03 W/m2K. But the HPI certification is a measure of sustainability that goes well beyond energy performance, explains Keogh. It is based on five categories of verifiable indicators and a point scoring system. The indicators are: environment, economy, health and wellbeing, quality assurance and sustainable location.

“The HPI is intended as a very holistic evaluation of the sustainability of new housing,” says Pat Barry, chief executive of the IGBC who, with environmental engineer Neoma Lira, developed the HPI. “The idea is to apply measurable indicators to a whole range of areas, including not only carbon emissions of energy, but also embodied carbon, biodiversity, land use, density, water use, design team skills and others,” he says.

The HPI also assesses the sustainability of the location of housing, based on accessibility measurements relating to public transport, schools and amenities.

Achieving gold in the HPI requires an

CASE STUDY

overall score equal to or greater than 70 per cent under version 1.1 (or 65 per cent under current version two). Some of the key scores for Kilbride Court were: • 8 7 per cent in sustainable location • 76 per cent in universal design • calculated embodied carbon of 687.5 kg CO2 equivalent per square metre (CO2e/m2) • used 81 per cent FSC timber • used 68 products with EPDs or PEPs (see below) • thermally modelled junctions to achieve an average Y-factor of 0.03 W/m2K. But this task was far from easy, says Keogh.

While it involved a lot of early planning, the greater challenge was the time required to ensure records were maintained and to complete the calculations. However, there are simple and free or low-cost actions that can be taken on a site to score points. For example, recording how sustainable the location is, logging construction waste to input into any life cycle assessments (LCAs), specifying restrictors on taps, implementing biodiversity measures or using products with environmental product declarations (EPDs) or product environmental passports (PEPs) to provide more accurate life cycle assessments.

10 STEPS TO

ENHANCE BIODIVERSITY This list, provided by Brendan Vaughan of Mitchell & Associates landscape architects, includes examples of measures which are achievable in most cases with minimal cost uplift and little or no maintenance uplift.

1

1 x insect hotel

2

Some nectar rich vegetation and food for butterflies

3

No more than 10 trees or shrubs of same species/ha

4

All plants should have some household use

5

Food for birds all year

6

2 x old food fruit crops per 100 m2

7

2 x swallow boxes

8

All trees/bushes should bear fruit/berries

9

Small section for natural succession

10

50 x flowering Irish wild plants

Photos: Fionn McCann

“There are so many things that can be done on any site to start the journey. […] We are only starting to have the conversation now, but at least we are starting,” he says.

Embodied carbon Thirty-nine per cent of global carbon emissions are related to building and construction. Of that figure, 28 per cent comes from operational carbon in the running of buildings, and 11 per cent from embodied carbon, which is all the CO2 emitted in producing buildings. With new buildings making substantial reductions in operational energy demand and associated carbon emissions, embodied carbon becomes increasingly important – and the HPI reflects this by awarding points for embodied carbon calculation and life cycle assessment.

Embodied carbon starts at the quarrying, mining, procurement or harvesting stage for raw materials, and continues as they are transformed into construction products, and transported and installed in buildings. It also includes the maintaining, replacing, removing and disposing of the materials throughout their life cycle.

Although the subject of embodied carbon has long been neglected, the signs are that this is set to change, and rapidly: Ireland’s recently published Climate Action Plan seeks to cut the embodied carbon of construction materials by 10 per cent as a core measure,

KILBRIDE COURT

with a further measure of up to 60 per cent reductions. A leaked draft of the next version of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive includes proposals to mandate whole life carbon calculation in energy performance certificates for large buildings from 2027 and all buildings by 2030.

Meanwhile the RIAI has just followed the lead of RIBA in the UK by including embodied carbon targets in its own 2030 Climate Challenge – including a target of 625 kg CO2e/m2, and a higher target of 450 kg CO2e/m2 for dwellings over 133 square metres. Given the relative dearth of information on the embodied carbon of Irish buildings, one immediate priority is to start calculating embodied carbon, in order to benchmark existing buildings.

To produce the most accurate calculations possible, manufacturers need to step up to the plate by obtaining independently validated EPDs for their products. EPDs are a standardised way of providing data about seven key environmental impacts of a product through its life cycle. In Ireland, verified EPDs can be published on the EPD Ireland programme (www.igbc.ie/epd-home), developed by the IGBC, although it is important to note that an embodied carbon calculation can include data from EPDs published elsewhere – and EPDs are becoming common among European manufacturers.

“There is a perception in the industry that

See water calculator at www.thewatercalculator.org.uk.

Sanitaryware

Restrictor

Wash hand basin monobloc

2 litres/minute (l/m)

Shower

5 l/m

Comments Needle restrictor providing fine larger spray of water.

Provided water is pumped the low flow provides adequate consistent flow for users and is the lowest entry credited in DEAP.

Kitchen monobloc

Up to 12 l/m

You can stay under 80 litres per day provided the kitchen tap does not go over 12 l/m. The kitchen flow rate is important due to high use and high flow rate demand.

WC

4/2.6

Ensure you carry out a CCTV and levels survey of as built to ensure proper unobstructed discharge.

Bath

None

Inclusion of even a low volume bath would add over nine litres per person per day.

Litres per person /day (LPD)

79.83

Note: There are no contributions from grey and green water accounted for.

ph+ | kilbride court case study | 31

KILBRIDE COURT

CASE STUDY

there are not many EPDs available in Ireland and that they are extremely expensive.

That’s not always the case,” says Keogh. For Kilbride, he was able to accrue a total of 60 EPDs from product manufacturers and suppliers – the list of which is published in full below. By encouraging suppliers to get independently validated audits of the overall environmental impacts of their products through EPDs, Keogh has had a big impact on the supply chain. It is crucial, he says, for architects and everyone in the industry to “ask for EPDs. Don’t specify a product until it has an EPD would be an ideal scenario.”

For instance, he notes a growing number of Irish manufacturers leading the way with EPDs for a range of products. These include: Mannok for precast concrete slabs, blocks, roof tiles and insulation, Kilsaran for paving, Dulux for low VOC/SVOC (volatile and semi volatile organic compounds) paints, Medite Smartply for wood panel products, Gyproc for plasterboards, Ecocel, Kore and Xtratherm for insulation, Ecocem for green cement, Munster Joinery for windows, Passive Sills for thermally broken window sills, McGrath’s of Cong for screed, Techrete for precast concrete cladding, Tegral for slates and IMS for recycled aggregate, with Partel set to publish an EPD for their membranes in the new year.

Going against the construction industry culture where the architect’s specification may be broken on site by contractors or subcontractors substituting an alternative non-approved product, Keogh was a stickler for evidence that the specified performance was adhered to, conducting regular site inspections to protect the specification, EPDs and all. On one occasion, this led to a surprising finding. Low VOC/SVOC paints with EPDs were specified internally, and the contractor submitted Dulux paints, which were approved by Keogh. But when Keogh visited the site, he had reason to suspect Dulux paints weren’t being used, even though the subcontractors produced Dulux cans for inspection, because other empty cans of an alternative paint were found in the skips, indicating the painters had gone to the length of decanting the substitute paint into a Dulux can to avoid detection.

According to Pat Barry, the dogged determinism exhibited by practices like Coady Architects is already starting to have impacts far beyond specific projects, and is now driving verification of sustainability credentials across the supply chain. “This project shows there has been a real sea change in the level of transparency that manufacturers are now engaging at,” says Barry. “It’s projects like this which have made it possible. Now all the main manufacturers are developing EPDs. We now have over 100 products with EPDs. Hopefully we will see more really going for broke and really targeting high levels of sustainability,” he says.

32 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

1 2

3

5

4

6

7

8

9

10

1 Icopal Necoflex RMB 400 Radon membrane dressed around soil vent pipe & over Mannok AAC perimeter thermal blocks to ensure membrane is below slab level and not liable to damage during powerfloating; 2 Necoflex RMB 400 radon membrane preformed corners ensured proper overlapping; 3 & 4 modular door thresholds developed by Partel with Alma Vert recycled PET structural insulation; 5 residual cavity required to be 50 mm but minimum 40 mm in very limited circumstances; 6 prefabricated stub end truss provide a robust thermal line between cavity and attic insulations. Note in this picture the truss oversailed the wall plate due to poor site measuring and together with the 12 mm OSB 3 board (see photo 7) a perspex card was required to contain the loose insulation; 7 junction showing 60 mm Rockwool fire barrier at top of party wall meeting the polythene encapsulated Rockwool vertical cavity barrier; 8 Partel Exoperm Mono Duro 200 breather underlay; 9 Intello Plus airtight layer at ceiling level; 10 300 mm Dämmstatt cellulose insulation to attic floor.

CASE STUDY

Recording ecological change on a residential site is far from common.

“[In Ireland] we have to build half a million homes over the next 20 years,” notes Barry. “That’s where most of the environmental impacts from construction will come from. That’s why it’s so important to measure the full impact of building ordinary housing.

That’s where we really have to target embodied carbon reductions,” he says.

With projects like Kilbride Court helping to create a benchmark for construction, Keogh’s focus is now shifting to delivering embodied carbon reductions.

“Concrete is responsible for eight per cent of global carbon emissions. We need to reduce the amount of concrete in our buildings,” says Keogh. For future housing projects, where cement products are required Coady will look for ways to reduce the embodied carbon of concrete, until alternatives to concrete become more mainstream.

This will include looking for higher quantities of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) where possible, especially in dry concrete products where curing times are less critical, such as blocks, precast slabs, precast stairs, paving, lintols, and sills. GGBS is a by-product of steel manufacturing which offer reductions of up to 96 per cent in carbon dioxide equivalent emissions compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC).

Keogh said that, in advance of a rumoured national technology centre for construction being formed shortly, with a remit to include holding data on building performance, the life cycle assessment results for Kilbride Court will be available on www.shareyourgreendesign.com.

This “is an easy win for the industry,” and the tool on www.watercalculator.co.uk is “a great simple method to calculate water use,” he says. This also reduces energy use – and not just in terms of the hidden energy costs of supplying sanitary water to the site. With the exception of the WCs, all of the water saving measures reduce domestic hot water use.

Assessing biodiversity change One of the environmental indicators used in the HPI is ecology, which is assessed by measuring the ecological footprint of the development, explains Nick Marchant, ecological consultant at NM Ecology, who prepared a biodiversity management plan for Kilbride Court. This involved assessing the ecology of the area before and after the development.

In 2016, before construction, Marchant did a general ecological assessment of the site, recording the habitats and species present, as well as species of note or likely to occur on the site but not easily observed during the day, such as bats. This was followed by recommendations to minimise the ecological impacts of the development and enhance biodiversity, such as installing bird boxes to provide nesting opportunities for common species such as robins and tits, and including native trees in the landscaping. For example, rowan, a tree species which produces berries eaten by birds in autumn and winter, was used, says Marchant, adding that herbs were also included in the plan.

KILBRIDE COURT

At the end of the project, Marchant did another assessment, counting the number of species and ensuring enhancement measures were put in place. The HPI asks whether there is a change in ecological value of the site before and after the development, based on the number of species recorded in each habitat and the area of each habitat. This change is calculated using IGBC’s ecology calculator and, in the case of Kilbride Court, there was a decrease in ecological value, resulting in a negative value of -11.2 in the HPI scheme.

Recording ecological change on a residential site is far from common, and Kilbride Court provides an important baseline for future schemes. “It is important to declare these values and to consider biodiversity in all construction and design, including passive houses,” says Keogh. “Now we have a measurement to go with. The key is to make it better and improve on it,” he says.

Marchant notes that the latest version of the HPI technical manual – version 2.0 on homeperformanceindex.ie – provides an additional way of assessing ecology, as well as the change in ecological value. “As an alternative, you can choose from a list of optional ecological enhancements,” such as including bat boxes and bird boxes, he says.

In new developments, says Marchant, simple, low-cost measures, such as planting native trees, inserting linear landscape features for animals to move and feed along-

Controlling the flow The Kilbride homes were designed to have exemplary levels of water efficiency, with an internal water flow rate of 79.8 litres per person per day, meeting the recently published RIAI (Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland) climate targets for 2025 and just short of the 2030 target of less than 75 litres per person per day.

Flow restrictors are a simple and cost-effective way of controlling the water flow, notes Keogh, and they can be pre-installed by the manufacturers. Using restrictors at Kilbride, the wash hand basins achieved a flow rate of two litres per minute (l/m), the showers achieved five litres, and the WCs 4 to 2.6 litres, leaving the kitchen sinks at 12 litres.

ph+ | kilbride court case study | 33

KILBRIDE COURT

CASE STUDY

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PARTEL.IE | TECHNICAL@PARTEL.COM | 0818 333355 34 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

CASE STUDY

real life – with real weather data and real thermal simulation – the project team recreated the Kilbride buildings. The models are then compared to the BER tool which was used in the design, to see how the buildings are performing and what elements of the BER methodology can be improved to be more representative of real-life buildings.

The aim is to provide guidelines to minimise the performance gap in A-rated buildings. “We want [to] see how our software models predict energy consumption, and feed that information back to the architects,” Pyburn says.

side, leaving dark areas for bats to feed, or putting in small water features, can enhance biodiversity. “But it’s also beneficial for the people who live in the houses. I think it’s a win-win,” he says.

Other low cost or free measures include adding an insect hotel, nectar-rich vegetation, swallow boxes, mixed species of trees or bushes, berry or fruit-bearing trees and bushes, and year-round bird food.

Energy and environmental monitoring The measurements did not stop when the homes were built. Data is being collected and analysed remotely since the residents moved into the homes in July.

Ian Pyburn, innovation consultant with Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), has been monitoring environmental and energy-related data in Kilbride as part of the AMBER (Assessment Methodology for Building Energy Rating) project. AMBER, which has been running since 2018 and is funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, is analysing BER and sensor data from 100 domestic and 25 to 40 non-domestic A-rated buildings.

The project is examining the indoor environmental quality of the Kilbride homes by gathering data on CO2, relative humidity and internal temperature, says Pyburn. Data from the homes is collected using an internet of things network called Lorawan, which relies on four or five environmental sensors in each home feeding data from individual rooms to a gateway, and then on to a data analytics platform. The sensors do not require Wi-Fi, and use a radio frequency instead.

Once the results are analysed, the goal is to provide recommendations to the tenants in Kilbride on how to improve health and well-being in their homes.

In parallel, energy consumption is being assessed using IES’s well known software, IES Virtual Environment. Using digitised physics to work out how a building acts in

A pioneering project “I applaud the diligence of the design team in sticking with the level of work that they put into achieving [HPI] gold. It’s a case of one person driving something single-mindedly and achieving it,” says Pat Barry. Ultimately, he says, “we need to move to low-carbon forms of construction, and walkable or cyclable communities. That’s the only way we’re going to actually achieve a world where we stay under 1.5 degrees [centigrade] of warming. We have to slash the number of cars on the road and move towards zero carbon homes built with zero carbon products, zero carbon operations and shared car ownership,” he says.

In the wake of the climate and biodiversity emergencies, the key achievement of the Kilbride housing scheme lies in the environmental impact data and metrics it can now hand over to future projects. In including metrics such as embodied carbon, ecological value and construction waste, which are still rarely considered, it delivers baseline data for a typical housing scheme in Ireland, says Keogh.

“If we don’t measure something, we cannot improve it. Developing high quality data is a critical first step in building more sustainable homes,” he says. Going forward, he believes there is a “dire” need for legislation in embodied carbon and in biodiversity, and to think about “how different methods of construction impact on emissions now, to prepare for the mammoth tasks of net zero by 2050 in line with the Climate Action Plan 2021”.

But it’s empowering to think that “everyone can do something right now,” says Keogh. And the Kilbride Court project demonstrates just that.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? The digital version of this magazine includes access to exclusive galleries of architectural drawings.

The digital magazine is available to subscribers on passivehouseplus.ie & passivehouseplus.co.uk

KILBRIDE COURT

Don’t specify a product until it has an EPD would be an ideal scenario.

SELECTED PROJECT DETAILS

Client: Wicklow County Council Architects/project management: Coady Architects M & E/structural engineer/energy consultant: Hayes Higgins Partnership Landscape architects: Mitchell & Associates Ecologist: NM Ecology Ireland Main contractors/quantity surveyors: MDY Construction Airtightness tester/consultant/ BER assessor: Building Envelope Technologies Post occupancy evaluation: IES Building life cycle assessment: John Butler Sustainable Building Consultancy Mechanical contractor: Ashgrove Mechanical Electrical contractor: HAL Electrical Thermal blocks, hollow core, concrete roof tiles, insulation: Mannok Wall insulation: Xtratherm Thermally broken thresholds & roof membrane: Partel Roof insulation & airtightness products: Ecological Building Systems Mineral wool, plaster board, plaster & suspended ceilings: Saint-Gobain Fire breaks & stone wool insulation: Rockwool Windows and doors: Munster Joinery Screeds: Smet Permeable paving: Kilsaran Paints: Akzonobel Wood panel products: Medite Smartply Heat pumps: Daikin Mechanical ventilation: Aerhaus Water conserving fittings & sanitaryware: Sonas Bathrooms Water testing: Fitz Scientific

ph+ | kilbride court case study | 35

KILBRIDE COURT

CASE STUDY

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info@mannokbuild.com | 1800 322 122 or visit mannokbuild.com/durability 36 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

CASE STUDY

KILBRIDE COURT

ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATION SCHEDULE Product type & location Window & doors Timber aluclad windows & external doors Ground/intermediate floor slab Structural insulation (threshold) Insulation - below slab Radon DPM membrane system Precast concrete hollow core slabs to house type C & E flooring Metal suspended ceiling system (compartment ceilings, lean-to roofs, and porches) Mineral wool insulation (to ceilings beneath apartments to reduce airborne noise) Exterior walls AAC blocks (multiple locations) Insulation – cavity partial fill 12.5mm hardcoat plaster Skim coat plaster Insulation (below ground to cavity) Roof Concrete roof tiles (to all roofs except house type G lean-to rectification) Cellulose insulation Vapour permeable sheet roof underlay (house type G lean-to roof rectification) Mineral wool insulation (between rafters to lean-to roofs and internal studwork) Fire cavity barriers (top of cavity walls) Fire cavity barriers (junction party wall @ eaves) Mineral wool insulation (fire stopping below roofing membrane and top of raked party walls) Mineral wool insulation reinforced with chicken wire (fire stopping below roof tiles and above roofing membrane at party walls) Rigid insulation under ceiling rafters to all lean-to roofs Rigid insulation - under AVCL to recessed porch 9mm cement board (to canopy) Rigid insulation (under water tanks) Natural rolled zinc pre-weathered with phosphorous mist (to canopy) Interior walls 70mm metal studwork Wallboard Moisture resistant plasterboard Fireline board (duplex and apts) Soundbloc (heat pump internal unit) Paint timber internal (doors, stairs, etc ), Block 10 only Paint timber internal (doors, stairs etc), Block 10 only) Matt plaster paint - all plastered walls and ceilings Satin wood paint - all wood work Miscellaneous External paint (back wall only due to neighbour requirements) Vinyl flooring (WC and bathroom) Vinyl flooring (Wet rooms for house type D) Strong dispersion-based adhesive vinyl to wet rooms (non acoustic) Acoustic mineral wool lining (to party walls) Low slump floor Screed to falls (shower areas) Floor screed (patching/feathering concrete floors) Self levelling floor compound fibre reinforced (plywood flooring to bathroom on timber floor and concrete floor) Concrete primer (prior adhesive) Adheseive for ceramic tiles Adhesive for resilient and textile floorings Anti-corrosion cementitious mortar for steel reinforcement rods (exposed steel to landing in house type C and exposed bolts to canopies to BF External permeable paving under brown bin to communal bin area Foil faced insulation (all DCV reducing condensation / SVP reducing noise ) MDF trade sheeting (painted boxing out generally to non-wet areas) MDF premier sheeting (build up stairs bottom landing to comply with Part K to ensure consistent risers) MDF MR (window board and boxing out to WCs generally) OSB 2 (door ope linings - temporary) OSB 3 (12mm raking to stub ends, and 18mm kickerboard to attic) OSB 3 T and G (attic flooring) OSB 4 (under tank and under canopy zinc roofing) Patching compound (to concrete floors near threshold) Roof membrane lean to rear roof rectification (to house type G) Air to water heat pump Demand controlled ventilation system

Supplier & product name Munster Joinery timber aluclad windows Partel - Alma Vert Mannok - Therm Floor / MF Necoflex - Monarflex RMB400 radon, air and moisture protection system Mannok - Hollowcore Slabs Saint-Gobain - CasoLine MF Rockwool - RW 3 Mannok - Mannok Aircrete Xtratherm – Xtroliner XO/CW (T&G) Saint-Gobain - Gyproc Hardcoat Saint Gobain -Gyproc Finish Plaster Xtratherm XPS (generic XPS EPD from European Extruded Polystyrene Insulation Board Association) Mannok - Rathmore Dammstatt (Generic cellulose EPD from European Cellulose Insulation Association) DuPont - Tyvek Supro breather membrane Rockwool - Flexi Rockwool - TCB Rockwool - SP 60 Rockwool - RWA Rockwool - Fire barrier system Kingspan Kooltherm K107 Kingspan - Kooltherm K110 ETEX - Cedral fibre cement façade panels Xtratherm - XtroLiner XO/PR (PIR) VM Zinc - Quartz Saint-Gobain - Gyproc Gypframe Saint-Gobain - Gyproc Wallboard Saint-Gobain - Gyproc Moisture Resistant Saint-Gobain - Gyproc Fireline Board (Cavan) Saint-Gobain - Gyproc Soundbloc AkzoNobel - Dulux Trade Quick Dry Satinwood AkzoNobel - Dulux Trade Quick Dry Undercoat Johnstone's Trade - Jonmat Premium Contract Matt Johnstone's Trade - Acrylic Satin AkzoNobel - Dulux Weathershield Polyflor - PolySafe Standard PUR Polyflor - Polyflor PolySafe Hydro 36 + Uzin - Uzin KE 2000 S Saint Gobain - Isover Acoustic Partition Roll Sopro - RAM 3 Sopro - Rapidur Mapei - Ultraplan Mapei - Primer MF Mapei - Keraflex Mapei - Ultrabond ECO Vs90 plus Mapei - Mapefer Mapegrout T 60 Kilsaran - Clima Pave Saint-Gobain - Isover Climcover Roll Alu2 Medite Smartply - Medite Trade MDF Medite Smartply - Medite Premium MDF Medite Smartply - Medite MR Medite Smartply - Smartply OSB 2 Medite Smartply - Smartply Max OSB 3 Medite Smartply - Smartply Max OSB 3 T and G Medite Smartply - Smartply Ultima Ardex - Feather Finish (rapid drying patching and smooth compound) DuPont - Tyvek 2507B Uniclima - Joint Product Environmental Profile Air/Water Heat Pump for individual housing (generic PEP) Uniclima - Joint Product Environmental ProfileUnidirectional ventilation for dwelling, hygo-adjustable by low power extraction (generic)

ph+ | kilbride court case study | 37

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CASE STUDY

SHOWROOMS: CORK, DUBLIN, GALWAY & BELFAST UNPARALLELED CHOICE OF PASSIVE CERTIFIED PRODUCTS – OUTWARD OPENING, INWARD OPENING, UPVC, ALUMINIUM, ALUCLAD

GROUND BREAKING U-VALUES FROM AS LOW AS 0.47W/M2K

T. 064 7751151 E. info@munsterjoinery.ie

www.munsterjoinery.ie WINDOWS & DOORS

38 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

CASE STUDY

External walls

KILBRIDE COURT

Building services

Internal walls, partitions & doors

Substructure

Windows & external doors

Finishes (walls, floor & ceiling)

Roof

FF&E (fixed)

Upper floors including balconies

Embodied Carbon by building element

EMBODIED CARBON CALCULATION

A

n end-of-terrace unit, House Type A, was selected for an embodied carbon calculation conducted by John Butler Sustainable Building Consultancy, in an effort to compare the spec at Kilbride Court against the targets in the 2030 RIAI Climate Challenge. Butler conducted two separate analyses – one using One Click LCA, and the other using PHribbon.

As the RIAI challenge is measured against the EU’s Level(s) sustainable buildings framework, the building’s design lifespan was assumed to be 50 years as specified within Level(s), as opposed to 60 years in the 2017 RICS paper (‘Whole life carbon assessment for the built environment’) which underpins the RIBA targets.

Butler also assessed the buildings against the 60-year design life targets in both software tools to enable comparison, leading to some stark differences.

In PHribbon, House Type A posted cradle to grave scores of 687.5 kg CO2e/ m2 of gross internal area with a 50-year lifespan, or 782 kg CO2e/m2 with a 60year lifespan. This means that the project would fail to comply with the RIAI 2030

target of 625 kg CO2e/m2 (when 50 years is assumed), and would fail by a greater extent to meet the seemingly identical RIBA 2030 target of 625 kg CO2e/m2 (when 60 years is assumed).

The difference in totals was mainly down to replacement cycles for heat pumps and windows. The EPD for the Munster Joinery windows include a service life of 50 years, while the PEPs for the heat pumps and ventilation system estimate a 17-year life span, meaning three replacements within sixty years, rather than two within fifty years. Meanwhile in One Click LCA, House Type A posted scores of 718.1 kg CO2e/m2 (50 years) and 816.7 kg CO2e/ m2 (60 years).

An estimated 38.5 kg CO2e of the totals in PHribbon were attributed to transporting excavated soil and stone from the site – a total of 3.4 tonnes of CO2e attributed to this house type. In total, 30,274 tonnes of earth were excavated and transported from the site for disposal – plus a further 583 tonnes of mixed waste, totalling 1,497 journeys, including 930 to Roadstone’s Huntstown site in North Dublin, with other trips to

facilities in Wicklow, Meath and Louth.

Analysis by Passive House Plus estimated the average journey distance to be 42.6 km. In the vast majority of cases return trips were made to the site on the same day.

Taking a conservative approach, and allowing for an empty return journey in each case, the total distance travelled reached 127,431 km – over three times the circumference of the earth. This was estimated – based on UK government emissions factors for heavy arctic trucks – at 128.9 tonnes of CO2e for the whole development, with 3.45 tonnes attributed to the house type in this analysis based on its fraction of the total scheme’s gross internal area.

A separate analysis conducted by Irish transport emissions expert Conor Molloy of AEMS, based on Irish emissions factors for heavy arctics and an average load factor of 60 per cent (effectively meaning 40 per cent of journeys are assumed to be empty running) came in at 125 to 135 tonnes CO2e, depending on whether Irish or Global Logistics Emissions Council fuel economy factors are used.

ph+ | kilbride court case study | 39

KILBRIDE COURT

CASE STUDY

THE SURE CHOICE FOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY INTRODUCING THE NEW

99.9% VOC FREE* DULUX TRADE AIRSURE DIAMOND MATT

Based on in-can VOC content, measured in accordance with ISO 11890-2:2013. ** Respectively, ‘Ultra Low’ as this product is 99.9% VOC Free with ‘MINIMAL’ VOC content (0-0.29%), as defined by the VOC Globe scheme operated by the British Coatings Federation, and minimising impact on indoor air quality as independently tested for emissions, including formaldehyde, TVOC, TSVOC and Cat 1A & 1B carcinogens. Compliant with the emissions limits criteria in BREEAM New Construction 2018. (UK and International), LEED v4 & WELL 2.0.

40 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

CASE STUDY

KILBRIDE COURT

IN DETAIL Building type: 40 x one, two, three & four-bed terrace houses, duplexes and apartments, totalling 3,320 m2

CO2 levels: 29 units being monitored, with results due in Oct 2022

Location: Kilbride Lane, Bray, County Wicklow

VOC/SVOC: HPI not passed as polyurethane to handrails did not meet Ecolabel standard

Completion date: July 2021

Formaldehyde: Not tested

Budget: €9m contract costs excluding VAT but including landscaping

Radon: Target of 200 Bq/m3 per EPA standard (testing to be carried out)

Primary energy demand (DEAP, so regulated loads only): 37 kWh/m2/yr

Measured energy consumption: Pending (29 units only under SEAI AMBER project)

Space heating demand (DEAP): 23 kWh/m2/yr (average)

Airtightness: Average result across all units of 1.64 m3/m2/hr at 50 Pa

Energy performance coefficient (EPC): 0.19 – 0.21 Carbon performance coefficient (CPC): 0.18 – 0.20 BER: A2 (30 – 48 kWh/m2/yr, or 37 kWh/m2/yr average) Environmental assessment method: Home Performance Index Gold certified Embodied carbon (based on house type A): 687.5 kg CO2e/m2 (when measured using PHribbon, assuming 50 year design life) Density: 51.6 units per hectare Change in ecological value: -11.2 Sustainable location: 87 per cent Universal design: 76 per cent Internal water flow rate: 79.8 litres per person per day Overheating: Not significant (DEAP) Daylighting: (35 units) living spaces with 3 per cent daylight factor and bedrooms at 1.5 per cent, (5 units) living spaces at 2 per cent and bedrooms 1.5 per cent

Energy costs: HPI assessment report estimates monthly total energy bills of €46 (1 bed units), €64 (2 bed), €65 (3 bed) and €95 (4 bed). Figures based on SEAI price data and include VAT but not standing charges.

Thermal bridging: 0.03 W/m2K (average) with reduction measures. Standard construction with first course of Mannok Aircrete blocks, and stubb truss only. Modular door thresholds developed by Partel with Alma Vert recycled PET structural insulation.

Energy bills (estimated in line with Home Performance Index): 1 bed: €48.00/month 2 bed: €63.00/month 3 bed: €65.00/month 2 bed: €95.00/month Ground floor: Strip foundation and 150 mm in-situ concrete ground bearing slab with Mannok Therm Floor / MF 150 mm PIR insulation (lambda: 0.022 W/mK). U-value: 0.12 W/m2K Walls: 102 mm facing brick / 18 mm render on 100 mm concrete block outer leaf with 80 mm PIR partial fill insulation (0.021 W/mK), 100

mm concrete block inner and 12.5 mm sand cement base coat with 2.5 gypsum plaster finish coat leaf. U-value: 0.21 W/m2K Roof: Mannok Rathmore concrete interlocking tiles externally, followed inside by 37 mm sw batten, on Partel Exoperm Mono Duro 200 breather underlay, on sw prefabricated stubb trusses with 300 mm Dämmstatt cellulose (0.037 W/mK), on pro clima Intello Plus, on 12.5 mm Gyproc plasterboard with 2.5 mm gypsum skim finish plaster. U-value: 0.13 W/m2K Windows: Munster Joinery double glazed, argon-filled aluclad timber windows. U-value of 1.2 W/m2K Heating system: Daikin Altherma 3 air-to-water heat pump supplying low temp rads and 230 litre buffer tank.

Ventilation: Aldes Compact Micro-Watt SP centralised mechanical extract ventilation.

Internal water flow rate: 79.8 litres per person per day (calculated using www. thewatercalculator.org.uk) using restrictors. 5 litres per minute (showers), 2 l/m (wash hand basin taps), 12 l/m (kitchen mixer taps), and 4/2.4 litres (WC dual flush).

External water: 270 litre water butts FSC/PEFC certified timber: 81 per cent Environmental product declarations: 66 products (including 64 product specific EPDs, 2 industry association EPDs, and 2 industry association Product Environmental Passports, which are analogous to EPDs. Water testing: Passed Construction waste: Mixed waste: 583 tons Muck away waste: 30,274 tons

ph+ | kilbride court case study | 41

KERRY ENERPHIT

CASE STUDY

The measured performance is testament to the fact that the building simply works.

42 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

CASE STUDY

FORM AND FUNCTION DEEP & ELEGANT ENERPHIT UPGRADE TRANSFORMS OLD KERRY OFFICE SPACE Run-down terraces are an all-too-common sight in towns and villages across Ireland, but an ambitious deep retrofit project in Tralee provides an inspiring blueprint for regeneration, taking a cold 19th century terraced office and turning it into a beautifully designed space with tiny energy bills, fit for the 21st century.

KERRY ENERPHIT

IN BRIEF Building: 129 m2 mid-terrace, 19th century office building Method: Deep retrofit with internal insulation, plus extension Location: Tralee, County Kerry Standard: Enerphit Classic (passive retrofit standard) Energy bills: €14 per month for spacing heating & ventilation. Estimate.

See ‘in detail’ for more.

€14

per month

By John Cradden

ph+ | kerry enerphit case study | 43

KERRY ENERPHIT

CASE STUDY

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However, as the offices for a company that specialises in high-quality building fabric design and project management, it is not surprising that owner Jeremy Walsh — along with his architect Douglas Carson — successfully deployed a fabric-first approach to transform this exceptionally hard-to-treat building into one that meets the Enerphit standard for retrofit.

Bought in 2016 by Jeremy Walsh Project Management, number 10 Gas Terrace in

10 Gas Terrace, Tralee, Co Kerry

Tel: 066 7126090 Web: jeremywalsh.ie

44 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

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Tralee did have at least a few things going for it: it was structurally sound, there was space to extend out the back, and it is located right in the commercial heart of Kerry’s bustling capital town.

Mid-terraced buildings are usually not the worst offenders when it comes to retaining heat, but this building was “freezing, absolutely freezing” for its occupants for the three odd years they had used it, Walsh says.

However, his intention was always to renovate and having overseen a major renovation and extension to his own home, also to the Enerphit standard, this project finally commenced in 2019. Walsh was first exposed to the passive house concept as far back as 2011 by a client for a project that never got off the ground, but “it kind of stuck with

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CASE STUDY

You design it thinking about the person who’s coming up the street.

it was a much shorter hop and skip to doing the same again with 10 Gas Terrace. The project was also intended to be something of a shopfront for Walsh’s business. “Essentially I wanted an office that I’d be proud of and that our company and all the staff will be proud to work in, and a by-product of that is that it would be a nice place to show off to our clients,” he says.

More specifically, he wanted a light-filled space that would allow his team to collaborate as much as possible. “I wanted a space that was going to be open plan, a space that we could collaborate, work together well and produce a good team atmosphere in the place.”

For the renovation of his own home, Walsh had worked with Douglas Carson, a family friend who runs a Dublin-based practice with his wife, Rosaleen Crushell, and opted to hire him again for Gas Terrace.

Walsh naturally assumed the role of project manager and main contractor, which included looking after the civil and structural engineering, and fabric design and detailing.

Carson has worked on low-energy building projects before, but appears to have relished working for Walsh because there was no large team of consultants to engage with, and because their working relationship in terms of responsibility for the passive house design was fairly fluid, although Walsh took the lead. “That’s the best way to work, I think, when you’re working with somebody; that things are blurry in terms of who is what and who does what,” Carson says.

He liked the fact that the building was in the centre of Tralee town, but not on a busy street, so access to the front was easier.

Furthermore, a co-operative neighbour facilitated access to the rear, enabling the team to crane-lift in large items like the glulam beams. But with restrictions on what could be done with the front and the very back, as the footprint of the building took up the entire site, most of the focus of the project works had to be on the “in-between stuff”.

That said, the design of the facade is intriguing and something that Carson is quite proud of. Gas Terrace is a narrow lane that used to face onto the former Denny sausage factory in the town and, while this has now been demolished - a new commercial de-

Photos: Douglas Carson & Mike Kelly

KERRY ENERPHIT

velopment is on the way - the front of the building will still only ever be approached from its left or right side. This inspired what Carson terms an oblique design approach for the facade. “That means you design it thinking about the person who’s coming up the street, as opposed to somebody who’s approaching it from the front.”

The result is achieved by sills that are incredibly deep, and an expanse of Velfac aluclad windows that are set well back into the openings. “That’s not always necessarily the optimum place to put [the windows] in terms of thermal performance, but it was kind of our response to designing it obliquely,” explains Carson. “So, when you approach the building, you don’t see any glass; it appears more like a monolithic mass of render and paint. The joinery of the doors and windows also gets to be protected from the rain.”

With no room to use external insulation on the front walls or at the rear, it had to be internal. So having the windows flush with the internal insulation also facilitated the desire not to have internal wooden sills at the upper floor level, which Carson insists “would just gather dust and never be cleaned”.

The biggest challenge with the building fabric was dealing with a hodgepodge of boundary conditions. The original stone walls made up the front facade and extended about a third of the way back, but there were other party walls and neighbouring extensions of various construction types. “Each boundary condition required a slightly different treatment but faithful to the overall insulation strategy,” Walsh says.

“Most of the existing rear walls had to be demolished as either they did not follow the boundary or were not structurally sound.”

These were rebuilt with thermal blocks at ground level, and timber frame at the rear of the first floor. The original stone walls were preserved, however, and insulated internally with Isover Metac mineral wool.

Insulating internally always carries a risk of condensation, particularly against older solid wall structures, because of the risk of creating a dew point — a sudden drop in temperature where water vapour condenses to liquid — between the new insulation and the old wall. In this case, there is an air gap behind the insulation to drain away any moisture that might collect. A dynamic condensation analysis by passive house certifier Earth Cycle Technologies, using the WUFI software, also confirmed that the build-up was safe.

As a two-storey office with a long footprint, getting sufficient light was always going to be a priority, and this was achieved partly using generous roof lights. But the issue of creating sufficient ventilation for the downstairs toilet was a challenge that called

ph+ | kerry enerphit case study | 45

KERRY ENERPHIT

CASE STUDY

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CASE STUDY

for an inventive solution.

“In our mind, it’s not really acceptable that you’d have a toilet and you can’t open a window to get fresh air,” says Carson. There was also no lobby to separate the WC or the adjoining shower room from the corridor outside, which extends into the kitchen.

And even though the building would be mechanically ventilated, the team still wanted to be able to get fresh air into the bathroom quickly.

The clever solution was to create a tiny courtyard, with large doors making up three of the four sides of its rectangular shape: one leading into the shower room, one into the toilet and one into the meeting room. “The challenge was to keep that in as a kind of a device to get indirect sunlight into those three spaces but, more importantly, to get fresh air very quickly when it needs to be despite the [MVHR] machines doing a lot of the ventilation work,” Carson says.

Being an open-plan office with space for eight staff, but also fairly small at 140 square metres, acoustic design was another element that informed the choice of materials for the finishes, while also creating its distinctly warm northern European interior.

“What I was looking to create was a great atmosphere that people can work well together and collaborate and yet not put each other off, and so acoustics are a major part of that,” says Walsh. Previous experience of working with Brian Johnston of CLV Consulting on an office building in Killorglin reinforced the value of making this a priority.

“Even before the finishes were chosen, there were acoustic treatments on the ceilings and you could really tell the difference between something that had considered acoustics and something that hadn’t.”

Johnston performed a desktop analysis of the two open-plan floors and the meeting room (complete with polished concrete floors downstairs) and recommended the correct amount and spacing of holes in the birch plywood on the walls and ceilings as a Class C absorber. The design and the spacing of the holes had been chosen especially to achieve this effect. “There’s 50 mm mineral wool behind the perforated plywood which acts as both thermal and acoustic insulation within the service cavity, and so it is an overall neat solution,” says Walsh.

Both Carson and Walsh are delighted with the finished result, with Carson especially pleased with the exposed tongue and groove timber on some of the walls and the balustrades, creating a nice textual corduroy effect, one that is likely to remain a permanent part of the décor.

The measured performance is also testament to the fact the building simply works as it is designed to. The building’s energy demand is so small, Walsh estimates that during 2021, its solar PV array and battery will have supplied 64 per cent of its total

KERRY ENERPHIT

1 2

3

5

4

6

7

8

9

10

1 Front façade alteration works; 2 foundations for internal loadbearing timber stud walls; 3 insulated ground floor prior to the installation of the floor slab; 4 rear first floor wall construction; 5 rear first floor wall viewed from inside with the curved ply beams to the meeting room visible; 6 internal perimeter timber stud walls with Isover Metac insulation installed; 7 airtight membrane applied to the same walls, along with battens for the service cavity; 8 Isover Metac insulation visible inside the service cavity with the birch plywood finish underway, with slots for extract vents visible; 9 airtightness membrane and taping to the rooflight which connects to the vapour control layer on top of the flat roof; 10 front façade nearing completion.

ph+ | kerry enerphit case study | 47

KERRY ENERPHIT

CASE STUDY

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48 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

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KERRY ENERPHIT

energy needs. Indoor environmental monitoring also indicates that carbon dioxide, humidity and temperature rarely exceed comfortable levels (see ‘In detail’ for a breakdown of the figures).

Walsh says: “It’s a very calming place to work actually, and I think that’s a combination of the wood and the acoustics, so it’s just a nice place to work… it’s kind of everything I could have hoped for really.”

He struggles to pick out one favourite feature “but it’s probably the curved plywood beams on the meeting room ceiling, which is an example of what is achievable by combining great architecture, structural design and onsite workmanship”.

“We may add more splashes of colour over time, with bits and pieces of art or something like that, but for the moment, I’m just happy to be here.”

It’s kind of everything I could have hoped for.

T2

Uwall = 0.166

Neighbour 215mm Block, λ = 1.33 W/mK 50mm Air Cavity 150mm Thermal Block, λ = 0.33 W/mK 150mm Metac Insulation, λ = 0.034 W/mK & Timber Frame Stud Softwood, λ = 0.13 W/mK 100mm Thermal Block, λ = 0.33 W/mK Airtight Membrane, λ = 0.17 W/mK, t = 0.001m 50mm Metac Insulation, λ = 0.034 W/mK

Detail 2A

18mm Plywood Sheet, λ = 0.17 W/mK Concrete (125mm in floor slab): 1.15 W/mK 150mm XT/UF Insulation, λ = 0.023 W/mK Radon Barrier, λ = 0.2 W/mK, t = 4m

Floor-to-wall junction detail

ph+ | kerry enerphit case study | 49

KERRY ENERPHIT

CASE STUDY

The ever-expanding range of KABE façade finishes Highest quality renders and paints from KABE Swiss Group have long been available on the Irish market through their official distributor, MBC Project. However, with the fast-evolving needs of contractors and designers alike, it is worthwhile exploring all the different solutions provided by one of the oldest render and paint manufacturers in Europe.

Acrylic/Silicone Render Thin-coat renders, through their simplicity and versatility, have established themselves as the leading façade solution across Europe. Coming in thicknesses of 1-3mm and countless colour options, they are suitable for almost all types of projects and can be hand-applied or machine sprayed.

Brick Effect Classic brick finishes are made easier, cheaper and more efficient for modern technology building, with a selection of modelled renders and brick slips of numerous colours that look like the real deal.

Mosaic Render This elegant, modern render perfectly fits the vision of many designers looking for a simple yet luxurious finish for large areas of the façade. Contractors will also like the fact that this product can be machine sprayed for optimal efficiency.

Concrete Finish For contemporary-style designs, both indoors and outdoors, the concrete effect solution offers creative freedom and flexible application. Different combinations of colour, texture and features can be used, which means endless possibilities to make your façade unique.

Wood Imitation The cleverly designed low-maintenance wood imitation render is both aesthetically pleasing and technically impressive, with a long lifespan and genuine appearance. Available in a wide variety of colours to emulate various types of wood.

For more information, visit www.mbcproject.ie or email info@mbcproject.ie 50 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

CASE STUDY

KERRY ENERPHIT

EMBODIED CARBON

An embodied carbon calculation was conducted by Tim Martel using PHribbon. The analysis assumed a 50-year design life for the building, as per the EU’s Level(s) scope, as this is required in assessments against the RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge. The calculation assumed one replacement of the building’s heating and ventilation system – a perhaps optimistic decision, given the reference to 17-year design life in Product Environmental Passports for heat pumps and ventilation systems, but one which takes account of previous research on the performance of a 25-year-old heat recovery ventilation system in the first passive house. The building’s large PV array was also assumed to be replaced once, as was the building’s cement render, the asphalt roof system, the carpet and vinyl

flooring, with bathroom fittings assumed to require two replacements. CEM I was assumed for the concrete floor – when in reality 30 per cent GGBS substitution occurred, which would have reduced the figure for this element.

The building posted a score of 374.1 kg CO2e/m2 – 111 kg of which was solely related to the building’s large solar PV array.

While this does not take account of the substantial contribution the array will make to displace emissions from grid electricity, this remarkable finding places the PV array as by far the biggest single source of embodied CO2 in the building –- higher than the entirety of the substructure, or the walls, the roof, the windows, or all other building services combined.

SELECTED PROJECT DETAILS

Clients, passive house design, civil & structural engineering: Jeremy Walsh Project Management Architect: Carson and Crushell Main contractor: O’Mahony Builders Passive house certification & dynamic condensation analysis: Earth Cycle Technologies Plumbing contractor: Diarmuid Walsh Electrical contractor: Garrett Walsh Electrical Airtightness test: Air Matters Carpentry: Dan O’Keefe Airtightness products: South West Radon Windows and doors: Velfac, via Teroco Windows & Doors Roof windows: Reynaers, via the Folding Door Company Fit out: Harris Carpentry Flooring: Concrete Creations Carpets: Lovett Carpets Roofing: Gleasure Roofing Space heating & ventilation system: Nilan Ireland Solar PV: Gilroy Solar Lighting: Thorn Lighting Acoustic consultants: CLV Consulting

WANT TO KNOW MORE? The digital version of this magazine includes access to exclusive galleries of architectural drawings.

The digital magazine is available to subscribers on passivehouseplus.ie & passivehouseplus.co.uk

ph+ | kerry enerphit case study | 51

KERRY ENERPHIT

CASE STUDY

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52 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

09-03-2021 11:23:41

CASE STUDY

KERRY ENERPHIT

IN DETAIL Building type: 145 m2 mid terrace 1800s stone building (129 m2). Enerphit retrofit with a new extension to the rear.

Location: 10 Gas Terrace, Tralee, Co Kerry Completion date: December 2020 Enerphit certification: Certified (All below figures post-retrofit) BER Before: Not available After: B1 BER (126.59 kWh/m2/yr) Space heating demand: 9 kWh/m2/yr Heat load: 8 W/m2 Primary energy demand (PHPP): 73 kWh/m2/yr Heat loss form factor (PHPP): 2.67 Overheating (PHPP): 8 per cent Number of occupants: 6-7 Energy performance coefficient (EPC): 0.61 Carbon performance coefficient (CPC): 0.63 Measured energy consumption: Before: Assumed annual electric consumption based on full occupancy, the pre-existing condition is 13,900 kWh (107 kWh/m2/yr) however this is probably an overestimate.

After: Estimated delivered annual electric use is 4,300 kWh (from PHPP). Based on the data available for 2021 as of 16 November and extrapolating to the end of the year, Jeremy Walsh Project Management estimates the following energy use: Total expected electrical use: 4,654 kWh; expected imported electricity from the grid: 1,670 kWh (approx. 35 per cent). This indicates the on-site solar photovoltaic system and battery supplied approximately 64 per cent of energy use during 2021. Projected total electricity use is broken down as follows. Lighting: 945 kWh; heating and ventilation: 1,317 kWh; general plug points and other: 2,392 kWh. However, the solar system had software issues in early 2021 and the occupants were still getting used to heating settings, so these figures may improve further in 2022.

Energy bills: Using the above projected energy consumption figures for 2021, and the 35c per kWh rate (including VAT) that JWPM is paying for electricity, the total cost of imported grid electricity for 2021 is estimated at €585. If it is assumed that the same proportion of grid electricity is used for heating and ventilation as for all energy use in the building (e.g., 36 per cent), then this could be expected to require just 474 kWh of

imported electricity all year, at a cost of just €166, or approximately €14 per month. These figures include VAT but not standing charges or PSO levy.

Airtightness (at 50 Pascals): 0.8 air changes per hour Thermal Bridging: Thermal bridges calculated using Dartwin Mold Pro v5 software. 37 details modelled. See images.

Ground floor: Before: Uninsulated concrete floor.

U-value: 0.6 W/m2K After: 125 mm concrete floor on 150 mm Xtratherm XT/UF Polysio insulation. U-value: 0.150 W/m2K Original stone walls: Before: Approx 600 mm stone walls. U-value: 0.9 W/m2K After: 600 mm stone wall, followed inside by 40 mm air cavity, 125 mm timber studs at 400 mm c/c filled with 125 mm Isover Metac insulation (lambda=0.034 W/mK), Siga Majpell vapour control & airtight membrane, 50 x 50 softwood horizontal battens at 600 mm centres with 50 mm Isover Metac, 18 mm birch plywood sheeting. U-value: 0.188 W/m2K Rear extension walls (party walls): Before: Neighbour’s block wall, air cavity, 215 mm concrete block. U-value: 0.4 W/m2K After: Neighbour’s block wall, 50 mm air cavity, 150 mm Roadstone Thermalite block, 150 mm timber stud walls with 150 mm Isover Metac between the studs, Siga Majpell vapour control & airtight membrane, 50 x 50 timber battens with 50 mm Isover Metac between the studs, 18 mm birch plywood sheeting. U-value: 0.166 W/m2K Rear first floor wall: 10 mm cement board on 50 x 32 treated timber battens and counter-battens, breathable membrane, 75 mm Polyiso sarking insulation, 18 mm plywood sheeting, 175 mm timber studs at 400 mm centres with 180 mm Isover Metac between the studs, Siga Majpell vapour control & airtight membrane, 50 x 50 timber battens at 600 mm centres with 50 mm Isover Metac between the battens, 18 mm plywood sheeting. U-value: 0.130 W/m2K Pitched roof (over original building): New roof slates on treated timber battens, followed underneath by breathable roofing felt, timber roof rafters, ventilated air space, with lower timber ceiling rafters with a combined thickness of 220 mm with Isover Metac insulation between the rafters, Siga Majpell vapour control & airtight membrane, 50 x 50 timber battens at 600 mm centres filled with 50 mm Isover Metac, 18 mm

birch plywood sheeting. U-value: 0.134 W/m2K Extension roof: 2-ply mineral felt cap sheet and underlay, on 150 mm Polyiso insulation, vapour control layer, on 38 mm solid timber decking.

U-value: 0.143 W/m2K Windows & doors: Velfac triple glazed, argon-filled, Ribo alu 2 windows and doors to front façade. Velfac 200 Energy aluclad windows and doors to the rear.

Overall U-value of 0.80 W/m2K Roof windows: Reynaers CS/CP fixed rooflight system with triple glazing (argon-filled). Overall U-value: 0.50 W/m2K Heating system: Before: Direct electric heating and electric storage heater.

After: Nilan Combi 302 Polar provides ventilation with highly efficient heat recovery and comfort heating and cooling. Combi 302 Polar combines two heat recovery techniques, where the unit first recovers 85 per cent of the heat via the highly efficient counter flow exchanger. The residual energy is recovered via the unit’s heat pump, which is able to both heat and cool the supply air.

Ventilation: See heating system above. NilAir ducting system used.

Hot Water: Joule 300 L hot water cylinder is heated by excess electricity generated from the solar PV array, particularly over the weekend when the office is unoccupied. This provides most of the hot water needs for the week. A back-up electric boost option is available if required.

Green materials: All timber furniture, structural timber, birch plywood, timber decking from PEFC certified sources; concrete floor has GGBS content of 30 per cent. Flat roof to the rear is designed to take sedum roof (to be installed later).

Electricity: 6 kWp Solax solar photovoltaic array c/w inverter and 6.3 kWh battery with expected annual output of 5,302 kW. Once the battery is full the solar array next heats the hot water cylinder before discharging to the grid.

Lighting: Thorn Equiline and Katona LED lighting controlled by occupancy sensors and daylight dimming sensors.

IAQ monitoring: Nuwave CaDi sensor recently installed. For the 2.5 months for which data is available the CO2 levels exceed 999 parts per million for just 23 seconds and the humidity was outside the recommended range (45-65 per cent) for 1,194 seconds (19.9 minutes).

ph+ | kerry enerphit case study | 53

ERNE CAMPUS

CASE STUDY

LEARNING CURVES FERMANAGH COLLEGE BREAKS WORLD RECORD WITH PASSIVE HOUSE PREMIUM STATUS Since Erne Campus opened its doors in September, students of South West College in Enniskillen can now experience one of the world’s most environmentally advanced higher education buildings, and the largest building in the world so far certified to the passive house premium standard, in recognition of both its highly efficient building fabric and the large amount of solar energy it generates.

By Anthea Lacchia

54 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

CASE STUDY

ERNE CAMPUS

IN BRIEF Building: 7,950 m² four-storey educational building Method: Steel frame with timber frame & masonry infill Location: Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh Standard: Passive house premium

ph+ | erne campus case study | 55

ERNE CAMPUS

CASE STUDY

mullarkey pedersen architects

Incoming fresh air is delivered through an earth pipe system.

O

n the banks of the River Erne, in the heart of Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, a brand-new passive house campus is pushing the boundaries of sustainable design and energy efficient building.

In a series of record-breaking achievements, the newly completed Erne Campus, part of South West College, is both the largest building and the first educational building in the world to achieve passive house premium certification. It is also the first building in the UK to achieve both passive house premium and BREEAM Outstanding accreditations.

Passive house premium is awarded to buildings that not only meet the passive house standard for fabric efficiency and ven-

56 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

tilation, but that also generate a significant amount of renewable energy on site. Erne Campus, designed and constructed with meticulous attention to the building fabric, features nearly 1,600 photovoltaic panels on the roof, capable of generating 116 kWh per square metre of floor area, with excess energy stored in Tesla batteries.

The £30 million project (including £19.4 million in direct construction costs for the building) was funded by the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland. It recently opened its doors to students, offering 85 part-time and full-time courses ranging from accounting to creative media, cyber security, and visual media. Erne campus, which replaces the existing campus building at Fairview in Enniskillen, will accommodate more than 800 full-time students, 2,000 part-time students and 120 staff.

“It feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be involved in a project like this and everyone involved feels a huge sense of pride,” says Eimear Grugan, project sponsor in South West College. “The college has always had a great interest in sustainability and has been a provider of passive house courses for the past number of years,” she says.

Having developed the CREST (Centre for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies) Pavilion to passive house and BREEAM Excellent standards in 2016, South West College was ready to take its sustainability journey one step further with the

Erne Campus project, which went to tender in 2017.

The college and integrated consultancy teams decided to aim for passive house premium and BREEAM Outstanding before the project went to tender, explains Grugan.

“We felt we were doing something new and ground-breaking, and there’s an excitement in that, but the flip side is the risk, because it was unchartered territory for all of us,” she says.

“The college had tremendous aspirations for the building,” says Karl Pedersen, a partner in Mullarkey Pedersen Architects and project architect for the Tracey Brothers design and build team. Although it was a “huge challenge,” he says, “teamwork was one of the key elements in achieving those aspirations.”

“That everyone buys in is so crucial, because you’re only as strong as your weakest link,” he says. Pedersen recalls the “constant pressure” and intensity of work that accompanied the design, assessments and calculations, both pre-construction and once on site. “There were a few sleepless nights!” he jokes, but “we are delighted to have achieved passive house premium,” he says.

Located on the former site of a hospital, the campus has a large, multi-storey atrium all along one side, and is built in an elongated crescent shape that is 20 metres high, with a south-facing, triple-glazed façade designed to capture passive solar gain. The rear of the building has a timber framed struc-

CASE STUDY

ture, which is externally clad in brickwork and panels, and there was an emphasis on minimising thermal bridging throughout the design.

Technical details aside, says Pedersen, “we always come back to those fundamental issues” of how to heat and cool the building, how to get fresh air into it, and how to retain heat. “Those are key environmental issues that humans have been struggling with for thousands and thousands of years.

With a treated floor area of 7,167 m2, a length of 200 m, and four storeys of elevation, the size and shape of the building were one of the many hurdles the project team had to overcome. One easy way to monitor and record the construction process on a site as large as the Erne Campus was to use photographic evidence, says Pedersen.

“A lot of passive house [teachings] are geared towards the domestic market and traditional house building,” says Donal McGloin of Tracey Brothers. “Airtightness, on a building of that scale, was a huge, huge challenge,” he says.

The main frame of the building is made of steel, combined with timber framed wall elements and solid concrete flooring across all levels. The removal of cold bridging in the structural steel frame was a primary concern for the project team, particularly where the steel frame connects to the foundation or floor, and the external shell of the building.

“We had to design and model all details to ensure we overcame that challenge,” says McGloin.

Thermal 3D modelling was crucial in allowing the team to “identify exactly where

Airtightness, on a building of that scale, was a huge, huge challenge.

cold passages were happening,” says Pedersen “and we used this to modify our design details to eliminate the cold bridge(s).”

A number of trial airtightness tests were carried out on site during construction, to test design and workmanship at various interfaces, and these provided positive results.

The building ultimately achieved an overall airtightness test result of 0.36 air changes per hour (ACH), comfortably inside the passive house standard of 0.6 ACH (never mind the building control requirement of 10 m3/h/ m2).

Overheating was a concern for the team from early on. At the design stage, 3D modelling using a Sketch Up helped to avoid excess summer heat, says Pedersen. In addition, key features of the building that help to prevent summer overheating include the selection of glass, the shading provided by brise soleil on the external walls, a five-metre roof overhang and the presence of maintenance walkways, which provide shading, as well as automatic opening vents in the façade for cooling. Exposed concrete soffits internally also help to absorb temperature peaks. “Since the façade

Photos: Hamilton Architects & Padraig McAllister

ERNE CAMPUS

was completed, we have worked through winter and through summer,” McGloin says, adding that it was “a very comfortable environment to work in temperature-wise.”

The south-facing atrium also acts as a thermal buffer to the low north-facing teaching spaces. Heat can either be mechanically dumped into the atrium from the teaching spaces, or taken from the atrium by the teaching spaces, to heat and cool them. The heat in the atrium space, meanwhile, can be purged in the summer by stack ventilation, with automatically opening windows at low level and roof level within the atrium.

The site-based control by Tracey Brothers also helped to ensure that the entire construction team bought into the concept of passive house design, says Pedersen. “If you’ve got a couple of hundred men on site, each one of them has to buy in to the project, because they could be opening up airtightness issues that no one actually would know about.”

Early planning and coordination were vital ingredients to the success of the project, according to McGloin. “Early involvement in the design, before getting to the site, was ab-

WANT TO KNOW MORE? The digital version of this magazine includes access to exclusive galleries of architectural drawings.

The digital magazine is available to subscribers on passivehouseplus.ie & passivehouseplus.co.uk

ph+ | erne campus case study | 57

ERNE CAMPUS

CASE STUDY

Reset to circular

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We are on a path of continual improvement in the sustainability of our products, working with our partners in design and construction to meet the most stringent targets for the construction sector such as the RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge.

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in recycling |technology 58 | *Investment passivehouseplus.ie issue 40 will see Xtratherm reprocessing waste raw materials, resulting in up to 30% of recycled raw material input into new products, by 2026.

CASE STUDY

ERNE CAMPUS

solutely essential in achieving the airtightness result that we got,” he says.

Three members of the design and construction team were qualified passive house designers, and training in passive house principles was provided to everyone on site.

A workshop delivered by the passive house certifier at the pre-construction stage ensured everyone was aware of what was being fed through the passive house software, PHPP. “Everybody knew what we had to achieve and how difficult it was going to be, but the training and the workshops all paid dividend for us,” McGloin says.

“As we did come up against issues, we were able to resolve those through design recalculation,” says Pedersen, also noting that “the treated floor area calculation was critical” to the overall achievements. When it came to design calculations, other key factors for balancing heat gains and losses included the overall volume of the building, the number of students that would use the building, and the amount of electronic equipment they would use. Installing the correct amount of glazing was another important consideration in avoiding overheating and achieving the required U-values, says McGloin.

The two renewable energy systems in place for the building are: solar powered battery storage, provided by the nearly 1,600 photovoltaic panels on the roof of the building, and a combined heat and power (CHP) biofuel unit. Gas boilers in the building are intended to act as back-up.

The solar panels provide energy to the mechanical heat recovery units that circulate air around the building, explains McGloin.

Incoming fresh air is first drawn through an earth pipe system, whereby three ground pipes temper the air from outside – boosting its temperature in winter, and reducing it in the summer, before being delivered to the mechanical ventilation systems, allowing them to operate more efficiently. In addition, a small number of windows can be opened in the building to provide natural ventilation.

For Pedersen, one take-away from this project is to “try to use as many passive house certified products as possible,” as the alternative is to get uncertified products tested and proven compliant, which takes time.

It feels like a once-in-alifetime opportunity to be involved in a project like this.

ph+ | erne campus case study | 59

ERNE CAMPUS

CASE STUDY

0 P AM No AS V w SIV I C Av E ail FO ab RM le

35

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PASSIVE HOUSE PERFORMANCE - TRADITIONAL BUILD COSTS 60 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

CASE STUDY

ERNE CAMPUS

EG04 Server rm 24 m²

EG01 IT Store rm.

EG05 Stair Lobby

16 m²

EG02 Workshop rm.

EG09 Stairwell 3

71 m²

EG38 Outside Plant

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EG19 Classroom tourism rm.

EG10 Atrium

EG34 Boiler Plant rm

64 m²

75 m²

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EG26 Lecture theatre rm.

EG24 Central hall rm.

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60 m²

23 m²

EF07 Stairwell 2 27 m²

EF08 Stair Lobby 6 m²

EF09 Escape Lobby Stair 2 40 m²

EF10 Changing Places rm.

EF13 General class rm.

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EF21 Lab Class rm.

60 m²

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EF22 Prep rm.

19 m²

EF23 Archive rm.

10 m²

EF27 Acc. Toilet 5 m²

EF26 Science lab 2 rm.

109 m²

EF28 WC 26 m²

EF25 Union office rm.

10 m²

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EF30 Stair 3

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EF34 Student support rm.

22 m²

EF29 Stair Landing

15 m²

EF39 First aid rm.

12 m²

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EF35a Lobby EF57 Print Hub Rm

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EF36 Meeting rm.

40 m²

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EF40 Cleaners Store rm.

EF37 Open plan office rm.

EF42 Lobby

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EF46 Student changing rm.

EF43 Staff social area rm.

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SWC-MPA-01-ZZ-DR-A-0930 ---

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ES19 Changing Rm

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ES20 WC

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ES23 Printing Hub rm.

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ES36 Acc. Toilet 4 m²

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ES42 Collaborative learning rm.

ES48 Exams rm.

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ES45 HR office rm.

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ES57 Estates rm.

ES52 Store rm.

ES51 Managers rm.

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ES54 Student support rm.

ES61 Reception Area rm

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ES60 Reprographics rm.

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ES56 Student social rm.

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ES63 Entrance Lobby

ES62 Stair Landing

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ES68a Cleaners store rm.

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ES72 Ess. skills IT rm.

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ES85 Audio rm.

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ES73 Kitchen rm.

ES84 Reception rm.

ES78 Study rm.

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ET05 Meeting rm.

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ET06 Casual Seating Area rm

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ET11 Multifunction rm. 2

SWC-MPA-01-ZZ-DR-A-0910

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ET13 Multifunction rm. 4

Redundant Room 10.51m/sq

29 m²

ET12 Multifunction rm. 3 40 m²

ET14 Multifunction rm. 5 36 m²

ET16 Art classroom rm. 2

4

104 m²

ET18 CAD/CAM rm.

ES07b Corridor

33 m²

32 m²

void ET19 Kilin rm.

14 m²

ET22 Cleaners store rm.

5

ET21 HUB rm.

ET20 Art Classroom rm. 1

4 m²

59 m²

4 m²

ET07 Corridor 225 m²

ET24 Technology rm. 2 50 m²

ET23 Technology rm. 1 37 m²

ET26 Corridor

6

16 m²

ET27 Technology rm. 3 54 m²

ET29 Stair Lobby

ET28 Stairwell 2 27 m²

3 m²

ET29a Cleaners Store rm.

1 m²

ET31 Acc. Toilet 3 m²

ET32 Riser 2 3 m²

ET34 Technology rm. 4 37 m²

ET33 Technology rm. 5

7

48 m²

ET36 Technology rm. 6 31 m²

C-C SWC-MPA-01-ZZ-DR-A-0920

void ET37 Corridor

ET39 Networking lab rm.

40 m²

8

28 m²

ET38 Cyber security rm.

54 m²

ET30 Corridor

ET42 Teaching space rm. 2

50 m²

40 m²

9 ET44 Presentation space rm

ET43 Teaching space rm. 1

66 m²

51 m²

ET45a Charger & Store rm 4 m²

20

ET49 Teaching space rm. 3

ET46 Control rm.

ET41 Atrium 492 m² 17.311m/sq

43 m²

10 m²

ET30 Corridor

ET47 Sound/motion capture rm.

23 m²

50 m²

ET50 Teaching space rm. 4

10

ET52 Stair 3

52 m²

22 m²

ET30b Lobby

ET56 WC

4 m²

19 m²

DN

ET56 WC 19 m²

3 m²

ET30a Lift Lobby

ET59 Acc. WC

ET61 Private Dining rm.

36 m²

3 m²

ET53 Lift Shaft

void

11

ET60 Bar rm. Area

30 m²

ET54 Lift Shaft

A

ET62 Production kitchen rm.

3 m²

129 m²

27 m²

ET57 Restaurant Area rm

ET66 Student changing rm.

83 m²

10 m²

ET64 Training kitchen Area rm

12

ET82 Store Rm.

ET79 Office rm.

12 m²

13 m²

ET74 Open plan office Area rm

ET67 Staff Change rm.

2 m² ET85 Lobby 9 m²

132 m²

57 m²

ET71 Acc. Change rm

ET80 Meeting rm.

6 m²

B

14 m²

ET84 Corridor

ET72 Laundry/Cleaners St.rm.

5 m²

15 m²

13

ET63 Cleaners & Chair Store rm.

ET58 Restaurant Atrium balcony

8 m²

89 m²

46.671m/sq

ET65 Corridor

ET73 Kitchen store rm.

14 m²

ET69 Corridor

ET76 Lift Lobby

ET78 Lift Shaft

5 m²

3 m²

11 m²

ET77 Stairwell 4

ET65 Corridor

13 m²

ET81 Riser 4 4 m²

UP

32 m²

32 m²

14

B-B

C D

?

roof to balcony below

SWC-MPA-01-ZZ-DR-A-0930

9.04m/sq

void

ET75 Board rm.

52 m²

15 16

G

A-A SWC-MPA-01-ZZ-DR-A-0940 ---

17 18

0

5

10 m

19

Level 4

20 m

14 7

mullarkey pedersen architects

G

F

1

2

D-D SWC-MPA-01-ZZ-DR-A-0910

3

4

5

6

7

9

C-C SWC-MPA-01-ZZ-DR-A-0920 ---

10

8

12

48

14

13

15 16

17 18

19

A

B

C D

S

PA2AA

B-B SWC-MPA-01-ZZ-DR-A-0930

An enormous amount of time was spent on supply chains to deal with the specification of the materials, says Pedersen.

It is important that “buildings are treated holistically,” he comments. “Sustainability isn’t its own little chapter, or its own little element. It has to be seen in combination with everything else that’s going on in the building. We’re working with the materials and the people that are available around us.”

Overall, the project demonstrates that “in a rural town in the northwest of Ireland, you can create a world class, environmental building. And that’s through the application of knowledge of how you go about detailing things, but also the diligence of the locally based contractor’s team and their willingness to rise to the challenge. I found that very satisfying throughout the whole project,” says Pedersen.

The uncertainty brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic presented additional challenges, notes Grugan. The site had to close for several weeks, moving the completion date back from spring 2020 to April 2021, she recalls.

Now that college staff have moved into the new campus, everyone is still learning how the building works, especially during this summer’s heatwave, and evaluation is ongoing, but feedback has been very positive, says Grugan.

“People talk about the feel of the building, the light, the freshness of the air,” she says. “I think that’s a huge testament to the design, because something that can evoke a feeling, an emotional reaction, means that you’ve touched somebody.

Not only have you fulfilled the functional aspect, but you’ve also transcended beyond that,” she says.

The building offers many different learning spaces and experiences for students, says Grugan, including the large atrium, socialisation and breakout spaces, and staff rooms.

“You’re struck by the calmness of the building,” says McGloin. “Because of the high level of airtightness and insulation, acoustically, you’re in a very quiet space. You also have a comfortable building temperature-wise.”

The inception of the CREST Pavilion back in 2015 was the start of a journey that has led to the college becoming an international passive house hub, says the college’s active head of business development, Barry McCarron, who is also the current chairperson of the Passive House Association of Ireland.

“We have in that time supported industry with 70 research and development projects in sustainable construction to the value of one million euro and directly trained over 250 construction professionals in both passive house designer and trades courses,” he says. The college has also been invited to

G

A-A SWC-MPA-01-ZZ-DR-A-0940 ---

20

0

5

10 m

20 m

Upper Roof

14 7

mullarkey pedersen architects

ph+ | erne campus case study | 61

ERNE CAMPUS

CASE STUDY

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62 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

CASE STUDY

ERNE CAMPUS

SELECTED PROJECT DETAILS

1 2

3

5

7

4

6

8

9 1 Erection of the steel frame; 2 pipework for the earth pipe system, which tempers fresh air that is delivered to the building; 3 laying the 250 mm hollowcore concrete slabs; 4 OSB infill panels to the steel frame; 5 the top floor of the building during construction with timber frame elements and sub floor visible, housing various services; 6 installation of Xtratherm Thin-R insulation to floor; 7 with underfloor heating pipes and 75 mm screed above this; 8 middle floor during construction showing ventilation pipework, and with floating floor in place; 9 service corridor outside the building with ducting for earth tube system visible.

Client: South West College Main contractor (design & build): Tracey Brothers Ltd Design stage architects: Hamilton Architects Construction stage architects & passive house design: Mullarkey Pedersen Architects Client-side quantity surveyors: ESC Construction Consultants Ltd Design stage structural engineers & BREEAM assessors: Tetra Tech Contractor’s structural engineers: Albert Fry Associates Design stage M&E consultants: Bennett Freehill Contractor’s M&E consultants: Semple McKillop Post construction BREEAM assessors: Tracey Brothers Ltd Passive house certification: Passive House Academy M&E contactors: AEM Ltd Curtain walling & window installers: D & K Architectural Systems Curtain walling system: Metal Technology Primary insulation supplier: Xtratherm Airtightness products: Glidevale Protect CHP units: Fleetsolve Earth pipe: Rehau Radiators: Versatile Heat recovery ventilation systems: GDL Air conditioning: Zircon Boilers: Elf Combustion Underfloor heating: Alternative Heat Rainwater harvesting: Rainwater Harvesting Ireland Solar PV: Solmatix

become a United Nations Centre for Excellence for High Performance Buildings, and recently hosted a workshop at COP26 on how buildings can mitigate climate change.

Students will now have another a real, cutting-edge passive-certified building to learn from. Karl Pedersen says: “I think having the opportunity to learn in a building which is what they’re learning about is going to be a great benefit. […] Hopefully they will realize that the world is your oyster, and whatever decisions you make fashion how the world is going to change, and everyone can do that.”

“It’s wonderful for students to have this facility on their doorstep,” says Grugan, adding that the new campus “should give them a huge sense of pride in their surroundings, and confidence in the courses that are being offered to them. Hopefully that leads to greater confidence and self-belief in the students themselves, so they can feel they can compete with anybody and go out into the world and make their mark, and know that the building and their education prepared them for life. What more could you ask for?”

ph+ | erne campus case study | 63

ERNE CAMPUS

CASE STUDY

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64 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

CASE STUDY

ERNE CAMPUS

IN DETAIL Building type: 7,950 m² four-storey steel frame third-level educational building Location: Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh Completion date: April 2021 Budget: £19.4 million direct construction costs Passive house certification: Certified passive house premium Space heating demand (PHPP): 8 kWh/m²/yr Heat load (PHPP): 9 W/m² Primary energy demand (PHPP): 41 kWh/m²/yr Primary energy renewable demand (PER demand): 27 kWh/m²/yr Renewable energy generation: 116 kWh/m²/yr Heat loss form factor (PHPP): 1.65 Overheating (PHPP): Frequency of overheating less than 5 per cent over 25 C. This will mostly be during the height of the summer, when the college is in low use.

Number of occupants: 480 (PHPP) Environmental assessment method: BREEAM Outstanding Airtightness (at 50 Pascals): 0.36 ACH Energy performance certificate (EPC): B 86 Measured energy consumption & costs: Not available yet Thermal bridging: Thermally broken window frames centred on wall insulation layer, insulated reveals. Bespoke details that were confirmed by thermal calculations. Steel frame within thermal envelope as far as possible. Insulated timber framed walls to north, east and west elevations: externally hung off steel structure, then brickwork facing. In the curtain walling elevation on south façade, balcony supports penetrating envelope reduced to minimum, and thermally stopped. First course of Mannok blocks. Y-value (based on ACDs and numerical simulations): 0.08 W/mK Ground floor: 150 mm compacted base followed above by 25 mm sand blinding, 250 mm thick hollow core slabs, 1 mm DPM, 90 mm Xtratherm XT/ UF insulation, 75 mm screed, floor finishes (mix of tiled flooring, sprung timber floor, vinyl flooring). U-value: 0.11 W/m²K Walls: Brick outer skin followed inside by 50 mm air gap, then breather membrane/wind barrier

on 9 mm OSB board sheathing, on 150 mm Xtratherm Xtroliner XO/FB insulation between timber studwork; then airtightness barrier on 100 x 38 mm battens (service zone) with 100 mm Xtratherm Xtroliner XO/FB insulation (0.021 W/mK) between timber studwork. Finished internally with 13 mm plasterboard. U-value: 0.13 W/m²K Roof: Single Ply Sika-Trocal membrane roof on 140 mm insulation (Xtratherm FR- ALU) with thermal conductivity of 0.022 W/mK, on vapour control layer (S-VAP 5000E SA), on profiled metal deck. U-value: 0.15 W/m²K Glazing: Metal Technology triple glazed powder coated aluminium windows, with argon filling and a project U-value of 0.7 W/m²K Heating: The ground floor auditorium and atrium spaces are heated via underfloor heating from an air source heat pump. The remainder of the building is heated via low water content radiators served with hot water from a Fleetsolve bio fuelled CHP plant which feeds a 3,000-litre buffer vessel. Gas boilers are for back up only in case of CHP failure. Water is distributed through multi-layer composite pipework insulated with phenolic foam. The only active cooling is in the fitness suite which has a 14 kW fan coil powered by the solar PV. Hot water: Generated via indirect cylinders with a coil served from the CHP buffer vessel and also large 6 kW immersion to avail of electricity generated by the solar PV array. Water distributed through multi-layer composite pipework that is insulated with phenolic foam.

Lighting: The entire building’s lighting system is comprised of high efficiency LED light fittings.

Automatic lighting controls are incorporated to switch off lighting in areas that are not in use.

In many of the teaching/office spaces, the light fittings can be dimmed to allow for prevailing daylight conditions.

Ventilation & cooling: Mixed mode ventilation employing both mechanical and natural systems.

The mechanical ventilation design strategy includes a low-carbon displacement ventilation system in open plan spaces such as auditoria and classrooms as an alternative to conventional air conditioning. This delivers air at low velocity at 19-21 C directly to the occupied zone and

air warmed by occupation of the space rises through buoyancy to the return air points at high level. But before entering the building, incoming air is first drawn through an earth pipe system, which consists of large tubes placed in the earth approx 1.5 metres deep. At this depth the ground temperature will range between 7-13 C throughout the year. This system can cool the air by up to 14 K in the summer and heat it by 9 K in the winter. The atrium also employs an automatic stack effect natural ventilation system using opening rooflights. At a design rate of approximately 30 m3/h per person the ventilation will ensure good indoor air quality (approximately 1,000 ppm/CO2).

Building management system: The building energy management system (BEMS) is set up to control airflow throughout the occupied spaces via monitoring of the CO2 levels within these areas, thus ensuring optimum power usage of the air handling, heat recovery and variable refrigerant volume (gym only) units to ventilate these spaces efficiently. There are a large number of sub-meters throughout the building. These are linked to the site wide BEMS system, which allows the energy usage of each of the sub systems that are metered to be monitored.

Electricity: 2,667 m2 of solar PV, generating 380,782 kWh/yr. Approx peak generation of 520 kWp (kilowatts at peak generation). A Tesvolt battery storage system has also been designed to capture some of the peak PV generated electricity during the day and prolong its use into the evening times when the college is still running. The Tesvolt battery storage system has an instantaneous rating of 180 kWp and battery storage capacity of 460 kWh. The building also benefits from the inclusion of the CHP unit which provides 65 kilowatts electrical generation during operation. These two complementary systems are expected to generate 800,000 kWh of renewable electricity per annum between them, with the biofuel CHP also generating circa 560,000 kWh of high-grade heat for space heating and hot water generation.

Green materials: Products have generally been selected that are A-rated in the BRE Green Guide.

AAA rated white goods specified.

ph+ | erne campus case study | 65

CANNOCK MILL

CASE STUDY

GRIST TO THE MILL FRIENDS COLLABORATE TO DEVELOP PASSIVE COHOUSING SCHEME The pioneering Cannock Mill development in Colchester is just the second cohousing project in the UK to achieve passive house certification, making it a leader not just in terms of its thermal performance, but in demonstrating the vital role shared living can play in both building vibrant communities, and in mitigating the climate crisis.

By David W Smith

66 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

IN BRIEF

CASE STUDY

CANNOCK MILL

Building: 23-unit cohousing scheme across three buildings Method: Timber frame Location: Colchester, Essex Standard: Passive house classic certified Energy bills: £9 per month for space heating & hot water (excluding standing charges).

See ‘In detail’ for more.

£9

per month

ph+ | cannock mill case study | 67

CANNOCK MILL

CASE STUDY

We were concerned about being isolated in our houses in London.

C

ohousing developments, where a group of people lives in a supportive community, are still quite rare in the UK. Even more unusual are cohousing projects with passive house certification like Cannock Mill Cohousing, in Colchester, Essex.

It is only the second such project to earn the distinction following Lancaster Cohousing, in northwest England.

The new Colchester community of thirty people has twenty-three properties, a mix of one, two and three-bedroom dwellings, some with garages. The age profile is on the older side. “One of the reasons there are only over 50s living here is because so few young people can afford to buy a house in the southeast,” says project architect, and Cannock Mill resident, Anne Thorne.

68 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

The profile of Cannock Mill’s residents, however, is also connected to how the idea was born. Anne and her friends in London began discussing the idea of cohousing 15 years ago. One of the major considerations was avoiding isolation as they aged. “We were concerned about being isolated in our houses in London,” Anne said. “But we also liked the idea of sharing a lot of things which reduces expenditure and carbon emissions and makes it more sustainable. Most of the residents gave up larger houses when they moved.”

The friends gathered up more enthusiasts and drew a map of potential locations within 90 minutes of London. Colchester emerged as a likely candidate. It had relatively affordable local land values and offered a balance

of local amenities and access to countryside.

The avoidance of rural isolation was an important consideration. Anne says the history and attractiveness of Colchester, Britain’s oldest town, gave it a “wow factor” that many other locations lacked.

The group purchased the Cannock Mill site for £1.2 million in 2014. It was just a 15-minute walk to the town centre, from where regular trains depart for London’s Liverpool Street station and the seaside, a journey of about 45 minutes either way.

Anne’s architectural practice, Anne Thorne Architects LLP, had designed both individual passive houses and larger housing developments for London authorities, such as Lambeth Council. “Over the years we designed the buildings to higher and higher insulation

CASE STUDY

standards until it eventually made sense for them to be passive houses. Then some of the people in the practice qualified as passive house designers,” she said.

Anne had always wanted to design the Cannock Mill cohousing scheme, and it was clear she had the skills required. But the group still had to officially appoint her at a meeting in accordance with their democratic principles. She set about drawing up plans for a development of twenty-three homes because the site already had outline planning permission for that number. The homes were split across three buildings: one with twelve houses, one with five houses, and one with six flats.

To help create a sense of community, the properties are built around the existing 19th century mill building, and its pond. The mill became a communal space for guest bedrooms, a laundry and shared kitchen. “The common building is a focal point for the community, where we participate in sharing meals. You don’t have to eat them if you don’t want to, but you are expected to help out in

Photos: Adelina Iliev

making meals when it’s your turn. It’s a basic principle of cohousing that you act sustainably and share things,” she says.

The cohousing group always intended to convert a second building on the site, the mill house, into flats. But they delayed doing so in case it turned out to be difficult to sell all the homes in the first three blocks. “If it had come to the worst, we could have sold the mill house to help pay for the development.

But in the end, we sold all twenty-three well before the contractor finished, and we’re now developing the mill house. There’s a waiting list for the new homes,” Anne says.

Anne worked closely with landscape architects who designed a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) that takes rainwater from the green roofs down into tanks under the road and rain gardens, which store it temporarily. It then goes into the mill pond and from there, it flows into the river.

“The drainage scheme is a fundamental part of the project as it prevents flooding from heavy rainfall,” she says. The design also had to consider an 11-metre north-facing slope

CANNOCK MILL

from the top of the site to the bottom. As a passive house development, the scheme needed to be south facing. “Our solution was to turn the houses upside down and put the balconies and living rooms on the top floor.

It means you get the sun coming in through the windows,” she says.

The unusual design, however, discombobulated the local planners. They had originally given permission for twenty-three standard houses on the site, and they dug their heels in. “It took a long time to persuade them as they wanted a more conventional development, but they changed their minds when we persuaded them to visit the site. They could see why we couldn’t just have traditional cul-de-sacs because of the slope, as well as the type of community we were creating.

The concept of cohousing is still so new.”

The scheme reached practical completion in October 2020. The total cost, including the £1.2 million fee for the site, came to around £10 million. All homes were sold at cost according to the non-profit principles of the community-led cohousing movement.

ph+ | cannock mill case study | 69

CANNOCK MILL

CASE STUDY

Specify responsibly

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Wraptite is a unique BBA-certified external airtightness solution for walls and roofs.

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70 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

www.proctorgroup.com

CASE STUDY

CANNOCK MILL

The new owners began to move into their homes in December 2019. The homes were all sold with 999-year leases and whenever a new owner buys a lease from the Cannock Mill Cohousing Company, they become directors. “It means we’re all leasing to each other, so we’re responsible for managing ourselves and everything else on the site, including the land,” she said.

The houses have living green roofs and are constructed in timber frame cassettes with cellulose (recycled newspaper) insulation, wood fibre and sheep wool insulation, while the flooring is made from renewable bamboo. On the outside, the dwellings are finished with ‘self-coloured’ lime render in different natural mineral colours that won’t need to be repainted. They are designed to Lifetime Homes space standards, meaning they can be made accessible at any stage, for example with the installation of lifts, or stairlifts.

From the start, the residents shared gardening, e-bikes, cars, a “library of things”, and shopping. Unfortunately, the pandemic struck only a few months after the residents moved in. Although the virus stunted the development of community life, it also meant people were less isolated than they might have been elsewhere. “During the lockdowns we collectively bought vegetables from local suppliers and shared them out. And we’ve met outside and done things together like maintaining the grounds, which has been a lot of fun because you can dig together and spend time chatting. There have also been a lot of zoom meetings with neighbours.”

With restrictions having eased, some of the community’s nervousness has diminished.

And while the Covid situation was looking less certain at the time of writing with the emergence of the Omicron variant, as of mid-November Anne said that residents had begun to feel more comfortable with each other in smaller gatherings. “That’s especially true when there is plenty of fresh air. One of the good things about passive houses is they have a constant flow of fresh air. A lot of people have been happier to meet indoors in recent weeks and the meals in the common house are better attended now,” she says.

Increasingly, the spontaneous interactions

Most of the residents gave up larger houses when they moved.

ph+ | cannock mill case study | 71

Keeping school airspace free of germs

CANNOCK MILL

CASE STUDY

The most recent research on COVID-19 suggests that airborne transmission through aerosols is the main route of spreading for the disease.

This form of transmission means that it is essential to use ‘Mechanical Ventilation’ such as S&P extract and supply fan units in enclosed spaces, especially classrooms, to significantly reduce the risk of infection. p S&P products on the walls or in ceiling voids of a classroom or commercial premises with the addition of HEPA filtration units will guarantee a safe working environment, free of infection.

72 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

CASE STUDY

1 2

3

5

7

4

6

8

9 1 A single course of Airtec 7 blocks helps minimise thermal bridging at the floor-to-wall junction; 2 & 3 erection of the timber frame, to be insulated with Warmcel cellulose insulation; 4 Steico wood fibre insulation to the outside of the timber frame; 5 Compacfoam high strength insulation under the door threshold; 6 steel frame of the balustrade has a minimum number of fixing points to be tied back to the timber frame above the bedroom; 7 external wall build-up showing oak cladding over insect mesh and battening 8 an airtightness test underway; 9 installation of external blind for shading.

CANNOCK MILL

that are part of the cohousing spirit are becoming a way of life. “If you see someone having a cup of tea on the common house deck overlooking the pond, you go and join them. Designing the terrace of the housing around the pond makes it a more sociable environment. Just this afternoon, the fish man arrived in his van, and everyone rushed out to buy some,” she said. “The intermediary spaces are important in encouraging the sense of community when you’re chatting by the coffee machine, or the pond.”

As time goes on, the community, which advocates a policy of “active ageing”, hopes to take advantage of everyone’s skills. Anne says the residents enjoy many hobbies, though they were temporarily frustrated during the lockdowns. These include artistic activities, such as carving, ceramics, textiles and painting, music and singing, gardening, cooking, walking, cycling and swimming.

Everyone in the development belongs to at least two subgroups, working on areas such as building, finance, communications, membership and social activities. The executive, which includes a chair, secretary, treasurer and subgroup chairs, plus a ‘lay member’, reports to the monthly board meetings at which subgroups also present reports. Members attend meetings in person or by video conferencing and cooperate through email.

The community has set up an “ever after” subgroup to think up creative ideas for the future management of the site.

Anne worked on the project with Japanese-born passive house designer Junko Suetake, who she has collaborated with for many years. “We worked closely as a team, with Anne and several very talented architectural assistants. I was in charge of all three PHPPs [passive house design files], which was the same as applying the principles to other passive houses I’ve worked on, but on a massive scale,” Junko says.

The scheme was certified as three separate buildings. Junko says one challenging aspect of the project from a passive house point of view was the requirement for garages. The planners insisted on a minimum number of car parking spaces, and due to the nature of the site, the most efficient option was to install some of these as garages within the thermal envelope of the houses.

“That was really challenging, because normally garage doors are not airtight and perform poorly from a thermal point of view,” says Junko. The solution was to install Lacuna triple glazed bifold doors across the garage openings, and now, because car ownership on the site is low, residents tend to use these large open spaces as workshops or studios rather than for car parking. “It’s quite nice, if you walk in front of the houses you can see all the various activities going on,” she says.

Each dwelling has heat recovery ventilation, and there is a solar PV array that pro-

ph+ | cannock mill case study | 73

CANNOCK MILL

CASE STUDY

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prodomo.ie | +353 66 4014045 74 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

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CASE STUDY

CANNOCK MILL

vides electricity for the communal spaces.

There has been no embodied carbon assessment of the project to date, and while the timber frame walls and natural insulation material should reduce the whole life carbon footprint, on the sloping site there was also a structural need for higher carbon materials like reinforced concrete in the foundations, and a steel frame for the balcony.

At first, Junko was sceptical about the cohousing approach. She says it seemed like such a lot of effort with meetings every weekend, tight budgets, and endless decision-making. “I thought I wouldn’t be able to bear it myself. But I’m now a total convert. I have seen the many fantastic things they’re doing on site and the strong sense of community that’s developing. They have a lot of people from different backgrounds and they’re great at problem solving together. And now I think what they’ve achieved is a triumph.”

SELECTED PROJECT DETAILS

Client: Cannock Mill Cohousing Colchester Ltd Architect/passive house design: Anne Thorne Architects LLP M&E engineer: Alan Clarke Civil & structural engineering: Ellis & Moore Consulting Engineers Main contractor: Jerram Falkus Construction PH consultant to contractor: Etude Thermal bridging calculations: Elemental Solutions Quantity surveyor: Peter W Gittins Airtightness tester: Paul Jennings Passive house certifier: WARM Landscape planning: Studio Engleback Landscape architect & SUDS: Robert Bray Associates Render system with wood fibre board: Lime Green Products Wall & roof insulation: Warmcel, via PYC Systems Recycled jute insulation & airtightness products: Ecological Building Systems Sheepwool insulation: Thermafleece MVHR, windows and doors: Green Building Store Bi-folding doors: Lacuna, via Passivhaus Store European Oak cladding: Vincent Timber Kitchens: Falkus Joinery Flooring: Simply Bamboo Green roof: Bauder, via the Urban Greening Company Green roof design: Green Infrastructure Consultancy Zinc roof: Nedzinc

WANT TO KNOW MORE? The digital version of this magazine includes access to exclusive galleries of architectural drawings.

The digital magazine is available to subscribers on passivehouseplus.ie & passivehouseplus.co.uk

ph+ | cannock mill case study | 75

CANNOCK MILL

CASE STUDY

w ° ¾ w ¾ kä ‫ ژ‬k - w ‫ ژ‬U ¨ A new hybrid ventilation unit from Viessmann, the Vitovent 200-P, provides closed rooms with constant air circulation of filtered air. Using HEPA filtration, this greatly reduces the risks of occupants breahing in contaminated air that can linger in indoor spaces for hours, especially in winter when our natural inclination is to close all windows.

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HEPA 14 filters 80% efficient Heat Recovery Ventilation CO2 sensor to control air quality Whisper quiet operation Medical grade air filtration and heat recovery ventilation for large offices and classrooms, in one simple installation.

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76 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

CASE STUDY

CANNOCK MILL

IN DETAIL Building type: 23 homes — a mixture of one, two and three-bed houses and flats — across three buildings: 316 m2 (six-flat block), 655 m2 (five-house block) and 1,200 m2 (12-house block).

Figures are treated floor areas. Gross internal floor area of dwellings ranges from 52 m2 to 144 m2. There is also a common house, in the existing listed mill building.

Location & site: Cannock Mill Rise, Colchester, Essex Completion date: December 2019 Budget: £7 million approx Passive house certification: All three blocks are passive house classic certified.

Space heating demand (PHPP): Five-house block: 15.3 kWh/m2/yr; 12-house block: 10.6 kWh/ m2/yr; six-flat block: 14.3 kWh/m2/yr Heat load (PHPP): Five-house block: 10.4 W/ m2; 12-house block: 10.2 W/m2; six-flat block: 10.2 W/m2 Primary energy non-renewable (PHPP): Five-house block: 83 kWh/m2/yr ; 12-house block: 81 kWh/m2/yr; six-flat block: 108 kWh/m2/yr Primary energy renewable (PHPP): Five-house block: 72 kWh/m2/yr; 12-house block: 74 kWh/m2/ yr; six-flat block: 97 kWh/m2/yr Heat loss form factor (PHPP): Five-house block: 2.63; 12-house block: 2.33; six-flat block: 3.53 Overheating (PHPP): Five-house block: 0 per cent; 12-house block: 2 per cent; six-flat block: 4 per cent Number of occupants: 30 Airtightness (at 50 Pascals): Each dwelling was individually tested to be under 0.6 air changes per hour; for the purposes of passive house certification each of the three buildings was submitted at 0.6 ACH. Energy performance certificate (EPC): B 82-89 Measured energy consumption: Based on monitored electricity and gas bills during 2020, the total energy consumption of the three blocks was: 41.28 kWh/m2 (five-house block); 40.85 kWh/ m2 (12-house block); 65.51 kWh/m2 (six-flat block).

All of these are within the figures projected within PHPP. Thermal bridging: Ground wall junction: +0.023

W/mK. Achieved using one course of AAC block Airtec 7 lined with XPS insulation to the bottom of the wall. Floor insulation PIR is above the concrete slab and below screed. Threshold: 0.047 Wm/K with single AAC block Airtec 7 in line of door. Separating wall bottom: +0.08 W/mK using one course of AAC block Airtec 7. Floor insulation PIR is above the concrete slab and below screed.

Balcony wall bottom: + 0.076 W/mK, separating the steel connection from the timber structure and the insulation zone.

Energy bills (estimated): We estimated energy bills for a hypothetical average dwelling at Cannock Mill by taking the average electricity and gas consumption per m2 across the 23 units, and multiplying it by a hypothetical average sized dwelling for the scheme of 94.6 m2. We then fed the electricity and gas consumption figures for this dwelling into uSwitch.com, and the cheapest available tariff projected an annual gas bill of £113 or £9 per month (for space heating and hot water) and an annual electricity bill of £398. Both figures include VAT but not standing charges.

Ground floor: 10 mm bamboo flooring on 65 mm screed, on 150 mm PIR insulation (houses) or 150 mm phenolic insulation (flats), on 250 mm reinforced concrete, on 225 mm Cellcore HX S9/13 board. U-Values: 0.135 W/m2K (houses) and 0.108 W/m2K (flats) Walls (flats): 20 mm fire retardant treated European Oak cladding over insect mesh (flats) or zinc cladding on underlay and 18 mm WPB plywood externally, on 25 mm ventilation void, on Solitex Fronta Quattro membrane, on 22 mm wood fibre insulation, on 400 mm Warmcel cellulose insulation between structural timber frame and sub-frame, on 12 mm Smartply Propassiv airtight OSB, on 25 mm services zone insulated with Thermo Hemp Combi Jute, on plasterboard and paint finish. U-values: 0.092 W/ m2K (flats) Walls (houses): Lime render on 40 mm Steico Protect wood fibre insulation, on 350 mm Warmcel cellulose insulation between structural timber frame and sub-frame, on 12 mm Smartply Propassiv OSB, on 25 mm service zone, on plasterboard and paint finish. U-value: 0.108 W/m2K Roof (houses): Vegetation externally, followed

underneath by 120 mm growing medium & drainage layers, on Bauder waterproof protection, on 18 mm OSB3, on 125 mm ventilation zone, on Solitex Plus membrane, on 18 mm OSB3, on 360 mm Warmcel cellulose insulation between 360 mm I-joists, on Intello Plus airtightness membrane, on 50 mm battens, on plasterboard and paint finish. U-Value: 0.111 W/m2K Roof (flats): Corrugated steel sheet galvanised or zinc standing seam on underlay externally, followed underneath by 18 mm WBP plywood, on 50 mm ventilation layer, on weather tight membrane, on 18 mm OSB3, on Warmcel cellulose insulation between 400 mm I-joists, on Intello Plus airtightness membrane, on 96 mm sheepwool insulation, on plasterboard and finish.

U-value: 0.079 W/m2K Windows & external doors: Green Building Store Progression timber frame internally, no frame externally, triple glazed argon-filled. Whole window U-value: 0.77 W/m2K. Green Building Store ULTRA timber frame windows and doors, triple glazed argon-filled. Whole window U-value: 0.94 W/m2K. Lacuna timber frame triple glazed argon-filled bi-fold doors. U-value: 0.95 W/m2K Heating system: Worcester Bosch Greenstar 28 and 36 CDi Compact gas boilers to each dwelling, distributing heat via radiators.

Ventilation: Zehnder Comfoair 160 heat recovery ventilation system for smaller dwellings — Passive House Institute certified to have heat recovery rate of 89 per cent. Zehnder Comfoair Q350 heat recovery ventilation system to larger dwellings — Passive House Institute certified to have heat recovery rate of 90 per cent.

Water: Water saving models of WC and taps.

Sustainable urban drainage system across the whole site. Rainwater gardens.

Electricity: Solar PV array with 16 x 250 W modules.

Green materials: Timber frame lightweight structure except foundation and ground slab.

The main insulation materials to the dry part of the construction are natural materials: Warmcel, wood fibre board, sheep wool, Jute insulation.

The main external finish is timber or lime render.

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PASSIVE HOUSE+

Marketplace News Ecological launch Inventer decentralised ventilation

E

cological Building Systems has announced that it will exclusively partner with Inventer Germany in the supply and distribution of their innovative range of ventilation systems in Ireland and the UK. Inventer pioneered the development of decentralised ventilation systems with a ceramic heat recovery core at its factory in Germany in 1999.

A natural characteristic of ceramic is that it can accumulate heat very easily, and the honeycomb structure of the heat recovery core consists of 80 per cent air and 20 per cent ceramic. In this way, the system can maintain a high airflow with effective heat recovery and very little energy input.

Inventer units are also equipped with Xenion fans, which are produced in-house and feature patented sound insulation, wireless control, and reliable sensors. The systems are designed to be simple to install, maintain and control, and to offer high levels of energy efficiency with minimal running costs.

Inventer offers efficiencies of up to 91 per cent combined with “exceptional” acoustic performance values and minimal running costs.

The system is installed in a building’s outer wall without any further piping or complex ducting required. This also makes cleaning and maintenance easier. Inventer units also come with a comprehensive five-year system warranty.

Niall Crosson, group technical manager with Ecological Building Systems, said: “Optimising indoor air quality and wellbeing have always been central to the range of natural insulation, paints and airtightness solutions we provide. Having established Pro Clima airtightness solutions for over two decades now, and with a priority for a healthy living environment, adding a ventilation system to our range of solutions was a natural next step. It ties in with our core message, to ‘build tight and ventilate right’. As a company we have spent many years evaluating the range of ventilation system manufacturers on the market, and we are confident that Inventer offer the same high standard of quality product backed up with world class technical support with sustainability to the fore.”

Ecological Building Systems’ in-house team will offer technical support and design. Members of the Ecological technical team recently underwent advanced training with Inventer and completed the Part F ventilation design course, ensuring specifications are compliant with the Irish building regulations. Ecological also offer free design guidance for prospective customers.

For more information see www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com. • (above) Ecological Building Systems has launched Inventer decentralised heat recovery ventilation units to Ireland and the UK.

78 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

New Dulux paints 99.9% VOC free

D

ulux Trade has launched its Airsure range of paints, which are 99.9 per cent free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), to the Irish market. The Airsure range initially includes Airsure Diamond Matt and Airsure Supermatt. Dulux has also published environmental product declarations for both products.

“VOCs evaporate away from paint into the air even at room temperature. Once in the air and exposed to sunlight, they react with nitrogen oxides already present to create pollution, which in high concentrations can affect health,” said Paul Murgett, sustainability manager with Dulux’s parent company AkzoNobel.

“Although the pollution impact of the VOCs from paint is very small, less than 2 per cent of the total amount of VOCs emitted, we know they contribute to indoor air pollution, and that is why we’re pioneering new ways to minimise the amounts emitted by our paints.

“As you’d expect, the new Airsure range delivers professional quality, offering the same high performance Dulux Trade is renowned for, so decorators can provide customers with a more sustainable solution that still gives the perfect long-lasting finish.”

The Airsure range is compliant with both BREEAM, LED 4.1 and Well 2.0. The performance of the Dulux Trade Airsure range has been independently certified by leading test house Eurofins. Airsure paints have been verified as 99.9 per cent free when measured in accordance with ISO 11890-2:2013. And when tested after 28 days in line with BREEAM, both Airsure Supermatt and Diamond Matt achieve a VOC emission level of less than 0.01 mg/m3.

Airsure Diamond Matt is available in the full Dulux Trade tinted colour range and has the same scuff, scrub and stain resistant technology as Diamond Matt. Airsure Diamond Matt is suitable for all normal interior walls and ceilings, giving the “excellent opacity, coverage and finish decorators expect from Dulux Diamond Matt”.

Dulux Trade Airsure Diamond Matt was named ‘best interior product’ at the Architecture & Building Expo Ireland 2021. •

PASSIVE HOUSE+

MARKETPLACE

Partel commended at the Architects’ Choice Product Awards

P

artel’s Alma Vert recycled structural panel and Lunos Silvento ec exhaust system were commended in the ‘best exterior product’, and ‘best renewable product’ categories respectively at the Architects’ Choice Product Awards 2021, as part of the Architecture & Building Expo that was held in the RDS in November.

Alma Vert is a high performance recycled structural panel, “a sustainable alternative that meets the highest technical and ecological standards for reducing thermal bridges”, according to Partel.

It has an exceptionally low thermal conductivity of 0.036 W/mK, excellent mechanical strength, and lightweight composite structure. It is suitable for thermal separation, for use in window or door profiles according to DIN4108, in commercial and residential projects. The material is based on 95 per cent recycled PET so can be easily recycled again at the end of its life.

The Lunos Silvento ec supplied by Partel is an energy efficient, compact extract air unit that can be operated with low volume flows and low power consumption. Silvento ec is fitted with a humidity-temperature sensor, and the innovative regulation adjusts the fan stage automatically to the ventilation requirements: the airflow increases or decreases depending on the relative humidity, helping to prevent over-ventilation and the associated energy consumption.

Partel said that Lunos Silvento ec boasts “one of the quietest fans in the world”, with a minimal operating volume that is barely audible because the sound power level amounts to only 18 dB(A) at 15 m³/h (basic ventilation) and 52 dB(A) at 90 m³/h (demand ventilation).

The Architects’ Choice Awards are a much sought-after accolade at the Architecture & Building Expo. For further information on the Alma Vert modular panel for reducing thermal bridges and Lunos Silvento ec decentralised unit, please visit www.partel.ie. •

(above) Partel’s Dara McGowan (left), holding a sample of Alma Vert recycled structural panel, and Kieron Brennan (right) at the 2021 Architecture & Building Expo, where the company was commended in two categories.

Offaly self-build features renewable heating designed by Grant

T

he self-builder of a new NZEB family home in County Offaly is experiencing high comfort and low energy bills with the help of a new renewable heating system from leading Irish home heating solutions company Grant.

With a focus on sustainability and reducing environmental impact, self-builder and paediatric nurse Katie Grogan wanted to future-proof her family home and ensure it remained warm and comfortable for many years to come.

Katie’s contractors contacted Birr-based heating specialists Grant, and the team went through the house plans, calculating the heating requirements for each room and correct sizing of all recommended heating technologies, which resulted in a bespoke integrated package that included home heating design, specification and supply.

Katie chose the Grant Aerona³ R32 air-to-water heat pump which provides building regulations compliance and “an energy efficient, sustainable and cost-effective way to heat a property”, according to Grant.

“The technical team at Grant literally took care of everything and provided our contractors with a home heating plan for every room which included layout maps which were an absolute godsend for the build,” Katie says. “I was also able to use the maps myself dozens of times when I was talking to kitchen designers, electricians, plumbers. It made it so much easier as all the trades knew exactly what was going on.”

With an ErP rating of A+++, the Aerona³ R32 range is available in outputs of 6 kW, 10 kW, 13 kW and 17 kW and the units can help to achieve nearly zero energy building (NZEB) standards, as required by all new build properties in Ireland.

Katie also opted for Grant Uflex underfloor heating across two floors, a Grant pre-plumbed hot water cylinder and Grant wireless smart controls. Grant’s pre-plumbed hot water cylinder range is designed to heat water faster and more efficiently than standard cylinders and ensure hot water is available 24/7.

Katie says: “When we planned the house with the architect they went through our options in terms of heating and we realised that an air source heat pump was the way to go, coupled with underfloor heating in each room. We did have the options of radiators as well, but we preferred underfloor heating as it meant we didn’t need to worry about placing furniture in front of radiators and gave us more freedom over the design of the interior. For us, the most important things were comfort and cost.”

The family has also seen a reduction in their heating bills, added Katie. “We’ve seen them cut by two-thirds, which is amazing.”

Visit www.grant.eu for more information on Grant’s range of innovative heating solutions. You can also follow Grant on Facebook and Twitter @GrantIRL or Instagram @Grant_IRL. •

(above) Self-builder Katie Grogan’s self-build features a Grant Aerona³ R32 airto-water heat pump.

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Deep retrofit & heat pump transforms Inchicore home A

semi-detached house in Inchicore, Dublin has seen its BER boosted from a G to an A rating thanks to a deep retrofit by Dublinbased retrofit contractor Energlaze and a new Viessmann air-to-water heat pump.

The upgrade features a wrap of 100 mm external insulation, boosting the U-values of the external walls to 0.27. The attic was upgraded with 300 mm of fibreglass insulation to deliver a U-value of 0.13, while the sloped ceiling was fitted with 100 mm of Isover Metac recycled glass wool, plus a layer of insulation board, giving a U-value of 0.17.

The house was also fitted with a new Viessmann Vitocal 200-A air-to-water heat pump, which provides low temperature space heating via an underfloor system downstairs and low temperature radiators upstairs. The

Monobloc Vitocal 200-A is available in outputs of 2.3 to 11.8 kW, with all models in energy classes A++ and A++++. The heat pump was supplied by Dublin-based Viessmann distributor Precision Heating.

The house also features new double glazed low E plus windows and new composite doors with a U-value of 0.9, as well as an Ermen heat recovery ventilation system.

“These measures reduce energy usage from over 400 to 50 kW/m2/yr with a 90 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions,” John McMahon of Energlaze (www.energlaze.ie) told Passive House Plus. “It also delivers vastly reduced energy bills typically as low as €350 to €400 per year, whereas the previous G rating could cost up to €4,000 per annum.” •

(right) The Inchicore home after its A-rated retrofit & the outdoor unit for the Viessmann Vitocal 200-A heat pump.

Passive Sills wins product award for insulated threshold C

ork-based manufacturer Passive Sills was highly commended in the exterior product category at the Architects’ Choice Product Awards at the Architecture & Building Expo 2021. The company is a leading specialist provider of lightweight low-thermal conductivity windowsills, oversills and insulated thresholds.

“We are extremely proud to have achieved a highly commended award in the best exterior product category for our Passive Sills Threshold,” said chief executive Patrick Beausang.

“Threshold details have traditionally been a nightmare for builders up to now, with options available being expensive and the installation difficult and time consuming. The Passive Sills Threshold is effectively a plug-and-play solution, with all details taken care of — the unit can be installed quickly and is low cost.”

Passive Sills design, fabricate and supply their range of products to commercial and residential projects internationally from their manufacturing facility in Youghal, Co Cork. The company’s range of products is compliant with Irish and UK building regulations and energy

80 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

efficiency standards.

“The reality we face is that both new houses being built today and older properties will continue to need to be retrofitted in the future,” Beausang said. “This means more than simply increasing cavity size and insulation. The more we insulate, the more we actually accentuate cold bridging problems. The Passive Sills insulated door thresholds are manufactured to clients’ exact requirements and can be a highly effective tool in the battle against cold bridging without over insulating.”

Suitable for most construction types, the unit minimises cold bridging on the door threshold as well as floor-to-ceiling glass systems. The thresholds are manufactured from high density polystyrene and coated with a high performance waterproof coating, and can carry up to half a tonne per linear meter in weight. For more information see www.passivesills.com. • (left) Aileen Donovan and Patrick Beausang of Passive Sills pictured with the highly commended exterior product award at the Architecture & Building Expo 2021.

PASSIVE HOUSE+

Manhattan modular apartments feature Wraptite membrane A

new modular apartment building in New York has been fitted out with Wraptite airtight membrane. East Broadway Residences is located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The building has been designed by Brooklynbased Think! Architects, and comprises sixty-three volumetric modules, manufactured in Turkey by OCCA Offsite.

“The superior airtightness performance of Wraptite from the A Proctor Group is an ideal solution for offsite developments, delivering huge benefits to the combination of in-factory manufacture and on-site construction,” said Keira Proctor, managing director of the A Proctor Group. “One key benefit of Wraptite concerning offsite is that it is designed to ensure that the performance of the factory fitted membrane is not compromised during transportation from factory to site. Wraptite offers a simplified system and provides a fully self-adhered vapour permeable air barrier certified by the BBA and combines the important properties of vapour permeability and airtightness in one self-adhering membrane.”

The self-adhesive membrane was applied in the factory, bonded externally to the exterior walls and roof. Ensuring the membrane was held firmly in place was critical to maintaining the quality of the system during ocean transportation and stacking at the construction site.

“Applied externally on the outside of the structural frame, Wraptite simplifies the process of maintaining the envelope’s integrity, as there are fewer building services and structural penetrations to be sealed,” said Proctor.

Window frames were installed offsite and detailed with the Wraptite self-adhesive membrane to attain a watertight window and facade system. Each of the volumetric modules was fully furnished with bathrooms and kitchens, including mechanical electrical and plumbing systems, as well as fire sprinkler systems. A rainscreen façade made from natural stone was mechanically installed on site.

“The installation of Wraptite was a rapid process due to its advanced, easy to apply self-adhesive design and ensured complete water tightness during all phases of manufacturing and the final installation on-site,” added Proctor.

“The high vapour permeability of Wraptite allows the substrate beneath to dry quickly and moisture vapour to escape, and reduces the likelihood of mould, mildew, condensation, timber distortion and metal corrosion.” •

MARKETPLACE

Daikin launches new Altherma 3 R heat pumps

D

aikin has launched the Altherma 3 R, the world’s first high-capacity R-32 refrigerant split heat pump that offers cooling, along with heating and domestic hot water. Daikin said that the third generation R-32 refrigerant heat pump is even more sustainable and replaces the previous generation that runs on R410-A refrigerant. Daikin said that the Altherma 3 R also offers improved compactness, design and performance.

R-32 has a global warming potential (GWP) that is two-thirds lower than R410-A. Daikin also said that it leads directly to lower energy consumption, thanks to its improved energy efficiency. Patrick Crombez, general manager for heating and renewables at Daikin Europe, said: “At Daikin, innovation, along with sustainability, is a driving force in everything we do. Daikin Altherma 3 R combines both factors in a rather unique way: It’s not only a world first, but also a sustainable promise.”

Daikin said that the Altherma 3 R is the perfect heat pump for new, large houses thanks to its improved compactness, design and performance. Its outside unit is now smaller and can fit under a window, the company said. The outdoor unit is equipped with one large fan instead of two smaller ones for a high-capacity unit, reducing its height by 25 per cent. This unobtrusive heat pump is also designed to blend into any environment since it hides the fan from view via a black front grille.

The Daikin Altherma 3 R is available in three sizes: 11, 14 and 16 kilowatts. It offers efficiency of up to A+++ for space heating performance and A+ for domestic hot water performance, and can operate down to -25C. It can be combined with wall mounted and floor standing indoor units with integrated tanks. • (above) The new Daikin Altherma 3 R uses a refrigerant with one-third lower global warming potential.

(above) East Broadway Residences features Wraptite airtight membrane.

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PASSIVE HOUSE+

Firebird rebrand emphasises sustainability & innovation

Ecocel supplying English developer Bell Blue

A recent Bell Blue scheme, Toft Hill in Durham.

C

F

irebird, the leading designer and manufacturer of commercial and domestic boilers, has rebranded with a new logo and tagline to reflect its business strategy and “ambition for growth”.

To mark over 40 years in business, Firebird said that is rebrand is, “in recognition of how the business has grown through innovation while in parallel, it ambitiously leads the charge, within its industry, on renewable and sustainable energy”.

Over the last four decades the company has grown from humble beginnings in in the Cork Gaeltacht to become a global leader in heating systems. The company, which also offers heat pumps, solar, heat recovery ventilation, stoves and underfloor heating, now has manufacturing sites in Cork, Northern Ireland and England, and supplies boilers to locations such as New Zealand, the Middle East, USA, Falkland Islands and many countries across Europe.

The company recently secured a €1 million contract to supply boilers to the Greek market.

“With innovation at its core and sustainability its driving force, the rebrand reflects the brand that Firebird is today while symbolising its dynamic future and business growth ambitions,” read a statement from Firebird.

Firebird said that it offers, “the most technologically advanced and energy efficient heating options on the market”, and is the only manufacturer of boilers in Europe with Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions that are 50 per cent lower than the European limit.

Commenting on Firebird’s rebrand, Mark Doyle, general manager of Firebird, said: “Through this rebrand, we’re setting down a marker of what Firebird as a business is now and where we’re going. Firebird’s success has been built on our flexibility to adapt to the needs of our customers and the world we live in. We are continuing to innovate and drive more sustainable heating solutions that benefit not only our customers but our environment.

“Now is the ideal time to launch a modern and progressive rebrand that better represents our DNA. Our aim was to create a brand and a new logo that proudly reflects our best qualities and values which include world class experience and expertise, uncompromising quality, constant innovation and sustainability.”

Firebird said that the green in its new logo represents sustainability, the silver represents “Firebird’s expertise and the solid quality of the products it offers”, while the grey stands for its “innovative approach to creating solutions that satisfy the ever changing needs of its customers”.

Firebird has also launched a new website that is universal for all three regions. The company said that the new site is designed to make the entire process from enquiry to installation seamless. See www.firebird.ie for more. • (above) The Firebird sales team recently celebrated the launch of the rebrand at its site in Ballyvourney.

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ork-based cellulose insulation manufacturer Ecocel is now supplying its blown cellulose insulation to English developer Bell Blue.

Founded in 2015 by Matthew Houghton, Bell Blue is a small developer working in County Durham. The company is focused on small-to-medium sized, high-quality schemes of up to ten family homes.

Bell Blue conducts all of its architecture and engineering in-house, with a focus on high spec family homes with integrated home working spaces. “We hope that by being a little bit smaller we can deliver something a little bit better, but still be affordable,” Tim Edwards of Bell Blue told Passive House Plus.

“We’re also aiming to be as green as possible,” he said. “And we’re looking to use as many renewable materials as possible.

That’s why we use timber frame, and cellulose insulation. We try to do anything we can to reduce our carbon footprint, that’s our build ethos.”

The company recently found itself looking for a new cellulose supplier that was closer to the UK, and discovered Irish manufacturer Ecocel. “I spoke to John Egan [of Ecocel] and he was so helpful and accommodating, we didn’t have to worry about any of the details related to importation [a more complicated matter post-Brexit]. He’s taken that all out of our hands.”

Bell Blue has specified cellulose insulation previously but is now on site with its first project using Ecocel. “We really like it for the fact it’s green,” Edwards said.

Ecocel manufactures its cellulose insulation in Cork City from recycled newspaper collected in Ireland. The product has its own environmental product declaration (EPD) and was also recently specified on a 52-unit social housing project at Beechwood, Clonakilty, Co Cork. •

PASSIVE HOUSE+

MARKETPLACE

ProAir retooling for the future

(above) ProAir has added the Jablotron Future all-in-one heating, ventilation, cooling and hot water system to its range of mechanical ventilation systems. (above right) The company has also appointed Shane Dennehy (left) as CTO and Shaun Morgan (right) as COO.

D

espite the uncertainty created by the global pandemic, Galwaybased ventilation manufacturer ProAir Systems has been busy optimising its lineup of products and putting in place a number of measures to enhance its business.

“ProAir Systems have been busy during the Covid period,” the company’s chief executive David McHugh told Passive House Plus.

The industry may have been in start-stop mode over the past twenty

months or so, but the company has a belief that the industry is still in its infancy. “The demand for housing combined with the need to deliver this to the highest sustainability levels, has bolstered this belief and hence the need to invest and tool-up for the future,” said McHugh.

ProAir has expanded its lineup of products to include a mechanical extract ventilation (MEV) unit that McHugh described as “rated best in class,” as well as an updated MVHR unit for larger dwellings, and the Jablotron Futura, an all-in-one unit that offers heating, ventilation and cooling plus domestic hot water provision.

McHugh said that chief technical officer Shane Dennehy has been largely responsible for introducing a bespoke data management system and the introduction of new products.

“Shane has worked himself up from production operative to this key position in the company over a decade or so,” McHugh said. “His pure determination and a willingness to study late into the night has ensured that ProAir now have a leading resource around the most advanced ventilation technology. Shane has also spear-headed the implementation of the new ERP [enterprise resource planning] system, in conjunction with a small Belgian provider who have worked with Shane to customize the system to suit company operations.”

McHugh said that Shaun Morgan has also joined ProAir from global technology giant TE Connectivity. “Shaun has responsibility for business development, sales and system delivery. Ten or so months into the job, Shaun has a very keen sense of how this industry works and the opportunities available. Shaun says he was attracted to this job because it was Irish-owned and in the right space. This interest was further enhanced when he realised that a suite of new products were so far into development.”

For more see www.proair.ie. •

Want to see your ad in the next issue of the magazine?

To enquire about advertising, contact Jeff Colley on +353 (0)1 210 7513 or email jeff@passivehouseplus.ie

www.passivehouseplus.ie

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PASSIVE HOUSE+

MARKETPLACE

Modular Cork school building smashes RIAI carbon target A

new school building in Cork City built by Irish offsite timber specialist Lidan Designs has achieved a remarkably low embodied carbon score, according to an analysis performed by sustainable building consultant John Butler. The building, at St Patrick’s College, houses four classrooms and two offices – and was erected in a single day.

The analysis, using the PHribbon software, revealed that the two hundred square metre building for St Patrick’s College has an embodied carbon score of 249.3 kg CO2 equivalent per square metre (kg CO2e/m2). This smashes the RIAI targets for schools, including the current RIAI target of 1,000 kg CO2e/m2, and the 2030 Climate Challenge target for schools of 540 kg CO2e/m2 (though that target is for entire schools, which would include

the likes of kitchens and bathrooms which may increase embodied carbon).

The building also achieves an A+ rating on the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) scale for both up front and whole life carbon emissions.

The school building was constructed in Lidan’s Roscommon factory from FSC-certified Irish timber. “The building was handmade in Ireland to a bespoke site-specific design by the Lidan team of master carpenters,” said Dan O’Brien of Lidan. It was insulated with wood fibre and cellulose insulation, and built on an existing foundation previously used by a school prefab. The building has a pitched roof of standing seam zinc.

“To do that project modularly was complex because it’s a very difficult site to access on top of a hill,” said O’Brien. “But

we delivered 12 modular boxes to the site and had them erected to roof level in just one day.”

O’Brien said that the new permanent building achieves passive house levels of airtightness and meets NZEB standards.

It is heated electrically via low temperature electric radiators. For more information see www.lidandesigns.com.

This is the second time Lidan, which won the Future Focus National Enterprise Awards for sustainability and innovation in 2021, has commissioned embodied carbon calculations – each time delivering the lowest results Passive House Plus has seen. “It’s helping us understand how to further reduce our environmental impacts and improve the sustainability of our buildings,” said O’Brien. •

Embodied carbon by lifecycle stage 600

Module A: Composite Module A: Copper Module A: Inert

400

Module A: Oil-based Module A: Timber

200

Module A: Timber-based Module A: Zinc Stored CO₂: Timber

0

Stored CO₂: Timber-based Module A: A4 Transport to site

-200

Module A: A5 Constructi on B Use (maintenance/replacement)

-400

C Demolition & Disposal Module A

Stored CO2

Module B

Module C

Total (A-C)

Gap to RIAI 2030 t arget

Embodied Carbon explainer Module A covers the carbon emitted up to the point of practical completion of the building – including manufacturing of materials, the construction process itself, and transport to site, totalling 176.6 kg CO2e/m2 in this building.

Stored CO2 is the carbon sequestered in building materials – in this case via timber and timber-based materials, totalling 254.6 tonnes.

Module B is the use phase, and includes estimates for repair and replacement of components during the building’s estimated 50-year lifespan (as per the EU Level(s) framework. This figure excludes carbon emitted resulting from operational energy and water use, as these are reported separately in the RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge.

Module B is projected to add 48.4 kg CO2e/m2, Notably, at this

point – up to the building’s projected end of life – less CO2 has been emitted in the construction and maintenance of the building than was sequestered by the building.

Module C is the end-of-life phase, including emissions arising from demolition and disposal. This totals 290.7 kg CO2e, in large part due to the assumption that the CO2 stored in the timber and timber-based products is released into the atmosphere at this stage (Even if it is assumed that these materials are reused, the CO2 moves outside of the boundaries of the life cycle assessment, meaning that from a carbon accountancy perspective, it makes little difference whether the timber was considered to be incinerated, landfilled or reused).

ph+ | marketplace | 85

D R TO B Y C A M B R AY

COLUMN

Let’s get decarbonisation done While there is much debate about whether we should prioritise retrofitting homes or installing heat pumps, the climate crisis means we may not have a choice but to do both as fast as possible, writes Toby Cambray.

L

ike them or loathe them, Insulate Britain have undeniably got everyone talking a bit more about insulation. The debate around their methods is thought-provoking, but I don’t want to delve into that here. I recently read an essay entitled ‘Insulate Britain!

Yes, but by how much?’ [find it at tinyurl.com/ InsulateBritain], the general thrust of which was that even what I’d consider to be a basic fabric retrofit is relatively expensive, and heat pumps are getting better and cheaper, therefore we should do a bare minimum of fabric work, and focus on deploying heat pumps. There is a lot to unpick in this piece, and plenty I disagree with, but it did get me thinking about whether it is time to adjust our tactics in the great game of decarbonisation.

It’s worth clearing up at the outset that, if designed properly, a heat pump, could, in theory, heat a building with poor fabric efficiency. The

Installing a heat pump does not preclude a deep energy retrofit. kicker in this statement is “if designed properly”. I would even go as far as saying, that if designed well, the heat pump could theoretically be quite efficient in terms of simple COP – it would just be doing an awful lot of work. This does not however mean that it’s a good idea to put a heat pump in a building with poor fabric efficiency. Although there are cases where other constraints mean we have little choice, ultimately we need to both (mostly) Insulate Britain and (mostly) Heatpumpify Britain.

The central point in the article is that deep energy retrofit “isn’t a realistic strategy for reaching net zero in the fastest time possible”.

This, unfortunately, is becoming a valid argument. We’re running out of time and we don’t yet have the workforce or supply chain to undertake deep energy retrofit at the scale necessary. Policy makers seem reluctant to mandate or incentivise this process (such as the culling of the Green Home Grants). Even if this changes very soon, we as deep energy retrofit advocates

86 | passivehouseplus.ie | issue 40

may need to re-think how we decarbonise within the necessary timescales, and that may mean a more circuitous route.

My main concern with the aforementioned essay is around the framing of the problem; it’s important to consider ideas from a household perspective, but this tends to obscure the significance of how our energy supply systems work. There are, it seems, some misconceptions around the ‘grid can’t cope’ argument. Much like an enormous heat pump with enormous radiators can heat a leaky building, it is possible to engineer a national electricity grid that could support a nation of leaky homes heated via electricity. The implications of this are, however, potentially significant in terms of the necessary infrastructure. There are various other consequences rarely mentioned: ecological damage to the space occupied by the infrastructure, or the upfront CO2 for example.

We’re not saying the grid could never cope with wholesale heatpumpification; we’re saying it would be expensive to make it able to cope. What’s more is that inter-seasonal electricity storage technology isn’t ready yet, a clear counter argument to concerns about the roll out of deep energy retrofit. With the latter, the technology (i.e., fluffy stuff) is well established and the barriers are “just” political and logistical.

A simple switch of heating system also does not yield the benefits to health of a well-executed retrofit (positive for the public purse as well as individuals). The interaction with fuel poverty is more than a little complicated though. While the efficiency of a heat pump can potentially offset the higher cost of electricity compared with gas, the coefficient of performance (COP) has to be consistently impressive to do this.

However, I would concede this to the heat pumpers’ argument: maybe given the urgency of the climate crisis, we need to start pulling all the levers available to us. When we started Greengauge 11 years ago, typical advice was to fit a fossil boiler, and spend the money you could have dropped on a heat pump, on insulation, airtightness and ventilation — you could always opt for a heat pump when the boiler gave up. I stand by that advice of 11 years ago, but I think the calculus has changed. The climate crisis is more urgent, the UK heat pump

market has matured significantly and the retrofit market is bumping along thanks to a band of dedicated individuals rather than soaring thanks to the bold, consistent policy support needed.

Here's the rub: in the same way that deep fabric retrofit doesn’t preclude upgrading to a heat pump at a later date, (especially if it planned in advance), installing a heat pump does not preclude a subsequent deep energy fabric retrofit, especially if it’s planned in advance. A rapid growth in heat pumps would quickly stimulate the investment in the infrastructure needed if we’re to shift away from gas in the medium term, and with appropriate forethought, we can go back and reduce the demand of those properties later.

On the other hand, we still seem to be riding with the stabilisers when it comes to fabric retrofit, and getting on with heatpumpification buys us some time to get that bit right.

I therefore offer the following idea for discussion in the retrofit community and beyond.

At the national (rather than household) level, perhaps the fastest route to decarbonisation is to heatpumpify as fast as possible, and retrofit as fast as possible – in some, perhaps even in many cases, in that order.

Of course, individual cases must be considered on their merits, and I’m certainly not saying always bung in a heat pump first, and I’m absolutely not saying we should give up on fabric. But we should acknowledge that the two approaches are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are the ideal combination. I’d welcome a debate here, but the fastest and most pragmatic route to a low carbon built environment might be a balance of fabric first, and fabric second. n

Toby Cambray is a founding director at Greengauge and leads the building physics team. He is an engineer intrigued by how buildings work and how they fail, and uses a variety of methods to understand these processes.

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heatpump@grantengineering.ie ph+ | editor’s letter | 87

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