Patrick Waterfield
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in Advice, Budget & Financing, Design, Energy Efficiency, Airtightness & The Environment, Heating systems, On site, Pre design, Ventilation and heating systems: WatchpointsAir to water heat pumps
If you’re thinking of installing an air to water heat pump, find out what your options are what to look out for. In this article we cover: A round the turn of the millennium, the market for heat pumps in Ireland (north and south) was still in its infancy – only a handful of heat […] More
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Are we over reliant on tech?
These days, we have become increasingly reliant on mechanised systems to help bring comfort into our homes, but how much tech do you really need? In this article we cover: What a tech reliant home looks like What mechanised systems need to work at their best What the design implications are How tech impacts on […] More
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in Advice, Energy Efficiency, Airtightness & The Environment, Provisions for on-site electricity, water, Wastewater systems, wells: WatchpointsHow to go off grid
The pandemic has focused self-builders’ minds on the already popular topic of going off grid, meaning no electricity, gas, water or sewerage connections. But how feasible is it to totally disconnect, asks Patrick Waterfield. In this article we cover: The prospects of freedom from utilities, a more sustainable lifestyle and overall greater independence, especially in […] More
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in Advice, Design, Energy Efficiency, Airtightness & The Environment, Heat emitters, Heating systems, Insulation and airtightness: Watchpoints, VentilationNI energy regs finalised
The new building regulations came into force on June 30, 2022. Patrick Waterfield shares what you need to know. Draft Technical Booklet F1 was published at the beginning of this year and is now published in its final form. The change is expected to increase the cost of commissioning and constructing buildings. Carbon target This […] More
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in Advice, Budget & Financing, Building methods, Energy Efficiency, Airtightness & The Environment, Pre designNI homes to become more expensive to build
The NI Assembly’s Path to Net Zero Carbon is paving the way for a new set of building regulations that will inevitably make it more expensive to build your house. Here’s what you need to know. What’s the timeline for the new building regulations? 2050 is the target year for Net Zero but we can […] More
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in Advice, Energy Efficiency, Airtightness & The Environment, Extension/Renovation Advice, Insulation and airtightness: WatchpointsQuick guide to energy efficient homes
An energy efficient home is built to be well insulated, airtight and ideally, environmentally friendly. Here’s what you need to know if building in Ireland today. In this article we cover: Your airtightness and insulation strategy will depend on how you build your house, what your overall aim is for energy efficiency, and how you plan […] More
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Energy efficiency requirements in NI
An overview of how they work plus why changes to the energy requirements of the NI building regulations could still be some way away. It seems a very long time since I served my two terms on the NI Building Regulations Advisory Committee (2006-2012). And even longer since the previous three years spent on an […] More
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Battery storage and EVs
Advances in electric vehicle (EV) technology and battery storage are encouraging but we’re a good deal away from a widescale roll out. Are EVs cheaper than petrol in the long run? How does a petrol or diesel car compare to an EV in UK and Ireland? A typical liquid fuelled family car costs just under […] More
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Home Stoves Explained
The modern solution to having a fire in the home without the massive heat loss of an open fire. Wood-burning and other fuelled home stoves have become very popular in our houses in recent years, as people realise the problems with open fires and the associated ventilation heat losses, even when not in use. Home […] More
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Should you replace your oil or gas boiler with a heat pump?
Making your home cheaper to run this coming winter is likely to be on your radar and if so, chances are you’ve been thinking about replacing your boiler with a heat pump. In this article we cover: The first question to ask is whether an insulation upgrade alone, which you would need to do anyway […] More
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Solar panels lowdown
With the price of photovoltaic (PV) modules falling significantly since 2009, by up to 80 per cent depending on installation type, it’s starting to really make sense to invest in solar. In this article we cover: Ireland actually enjoys a very healthy amount of solar radiation, not unlike that of the South of England. To […] More
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Battery storage
One of the biggest problems with renewable energy is that it is not always produced when and where you need it. So you’ll need a battery. This article covers: How to capture electricity when you need it, from export tariffs to batteries Battery types and most common DC to AC configuration Battery costs What to […] More
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