Issue 40 - passivehouseplus.ie

Grist to the mill

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.

Learning curves

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.

Form and function

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.

Lifting retrofit out of its silo

There has been a sleuth of recent reports on how to retrofit Britain’s existing homes, but we must think deeper than the practical matter of reducing energy and carbon, to how we create beautiful places to live, writes Peter Rickaby.

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.

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.

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.

Measure everything

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.

New EU law will mandate renovation of inefficient buildings

Green groups criticise lack of focus on embodied carbon.

The 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.

Rebuilt Low Energy Buildings Database to become key international resource

Leading 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).

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.

Kilbride Court EPDs

A list of EPDs from product manufacturers used in Kilbride Court.

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.

ProAir retooling for the future

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

Firebird rebrand emphasises sustainability & innovation

Firebird, 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”.

Daikin launches new Altherma 3 R heat pumps

Daikin 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.

Partel commended at the Architects’ Choice Product Awards

Partel’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.

Ecomerchant now stocking Herschel Infrared heating products

Leading sustainable building product supplier Ecomerchant is now supplying Herschel Infrared heating panels, and Ecomerchant’s Will Kirkman says they are an ideal heating solution for passive house projects.

ECD Architects recruiting for new English office

ECD Architects, based in London and Glasgow and established in 1980, is planning to open an office in the north west of England later this year, and is now advertising for several new roles.
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