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Applying potential energy and CO2 emissions saving rates to the 20 year average new build dwelling construction rate of 40,000 homes per year the following results were calculated.
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Although in recent years Ireland has tightened up its regulations concerning dwelling energy performance, the results presented above indicate that substantial savings are achievable in this area. This assumes that all built dwellings comply with TGD Part L. Evidence of a ‘very low level’ of compliance was found within a recent energy performance survey of Irish housing, commissioned by SEI and carried out by CODEMA and DIT, which suggests that in reality greater savings may be achievable. In striving to meet Ireland’s Kyoto Protocol commitment and in implementing the EPBD, an ideal opportunity exists for the application of the Passive House standard to Ireland. Given the evidence of the benefits of its application the reasons for the current lack of penetration of the Passive House concept in Ireland need to be addressed. Lack of knowledge in the public domain of those benefits may be a primary barrier to increased penetration. By increasing public awareness to the potential savings that Passive House standards could achieve over traditional constructions and reinforcing the fact that increased energy performance does not mean decreased comfort conditions (and often could mean an improvement in comfort conditions) a significant increase in Passive House application in Ireland may be achieved.
Authors Note:This article has been written based on a conference paper on the study presented at the 10th International Passive House Conference in Hanover, Germany, on 19-21 May 2006, within the framework of the Promotion of European passive Houses (PEP). The PEP project is partially supported by the European Commission under the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme. The objective of the PEP project is to promote the potential of the European Passive House concept in Europe by the development of information packages and design tools for passive houses, the organization of (inter) national workshops, symposia and conferences and the set up of an international passive house website.
Further information available on the PEP project web site:
http://www.europeanpassivehouses.org
Authors
Vivienne Brophy, Dr Irena Kondratenko, Patxi Hernandez and Kevin Burke, UCD Energy Research Group, School of Architecture, Landscape and Civil Engineering, University College Dublin, Richview, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Tel: +353 (1) 269 2750
References
[Brophy et al. 1999] Brophy, V., Clinch, J.P., Convery, F.J., Healy, J.D., King, C. and Lewis, J.O.. Homes for the 21st Century – The Costs & Benefits of Comfortable Housing for Ireland. Report prepared for Energy Action Ltd. Dublin: 1999
[DOEHLG 2002] Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 2002. Technical Guidance Document Part L: Conservation of fuel and energy.
[DOEHLG 2006] Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 2006. Housing Statistics.(Accessed March 2006)
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[EPA 2006] Environmental Protection Agency, 2006. Ireland’s Emissions of Greenhouse Gases – Revised and Updated Figures.
[SEI 2005] Sustainable Energy Ireland, 2005. Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions in the Residential Sector: 1990-2004. SEI Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit.
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