Why you need to go all in to reap the benefits of a passive house design. In this article we cover: I started my journey with the Passive House standard, as defined by the Passive House Institute in Germany, eight years ago in 2015. In this time, the most common question I’ve been asked by […] More
Barry McCarron, Chairman of the Passive House Association of Ireland, chats about doing up his family to make it energy efficient, including: More about the project here: selfbuildextendrenovate.co.uk/project/passive-house-retrofit-monaghan/ Favourite More
Barry McCarron explains how he went about renovating his home in Co Monaghan to the passive house retrofit methodology, EnerPHit. In this article we cover: Overview House size before: 125sqmHouse size after: 188sqmBedrooms: 4Heating: air to water heat pumpVentilation: centralised mechanical with heat recovery Construction: blockwork (cavity wall)BER before: D2 (energy consumption of 289.86 kWh/ […] More
Having lived in Australia, single level, open plan living was what Anne and Niall Jordan wanted from their Kilkenny renovation and extension project. In this article we cover: Anne and Niall had a clear idea of what they wanted for their first family home. Six years of apartment living in Australia had instilled a huge […] More
Paul Lawford explains how he built his tiny home on wheels from scratch, including: Favourite More
The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) updated its guide to working with an architect for 2023. In this article we cover: The RIAI’s new guide for working with an architect has been updated to include the RIAI’s 2030 Climate Challenge, a voluntary pledge to design buildings to have as little impact as possible on […] More
New climate data for thermal modelling of buildings will help building designers better take into account overheating. In this article we cover: Recent modelling data from Met Éireann shows that overheating is “expected to become more severe in the future”. On new builds, typical ways to prevent overheating include designing the house so that large […] More
Architect Hugh Wallace says Ireland needs a zero VAT rate for home improvements, and vacant homes grants need less red tape. In this article we cover Hugh Wallace’s presentation at the Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) 2023 conference, including: Architect and TV personality Hugh Wallace railed against the VAT regime, building regulations, and conservation officers’ inconsistent […] More
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
Upgrade your home to be more energy efficient and discover a new world of comfort, thanks to this simple guide from Pipelife Eco. Why should you invest in a home energy upgrade? Every home is different and has unique heating requirements. Often, a heating system upgrade comes about because of a breakdown or to upgrade […] More
Insulating Concrete Formwork (ICF) has a lot to offer as a construction method – here are the benefits. In this article we cover: Airtightness Unlike a porous concrete block, ICF gives you a monolithic concrete core wrapped with a continuously insulated blanket, giving you an airtight house that allows the internal temperature to be controlled […] More
Insulating concrete formwork (ICF) is now a popular way to build Irish homes; here are the pros and cons. In this article we cover: In the ever changing world of modern methods of construction, Insulating Concrete Formwork is up there with the best of them, says Daithí McGourty. Over the years working on large commercial […] More