The latest Standard Recommendation (S.R.) from the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) in relation to building services has just been published (26th April 2021), and it deals with the design and installation of heat pumps in homes. This new Standard Recommendation (S.R. 50-4:2021) is one of a suite of measures developed by the NSAI […] More
Tips on Building Your Own Home – Quantity surveyor Lisa O’Brien, on behalf of the Irish Concrete Federation, shares her advice and tips before you start building your home. Favourite More
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
What do the more esoteric eco building methods look like in Ireland today? We take a look at everything from cob to shipping containers. In this article we cover: DIY earth building, from cob to rammed earth: what they are and how to build with them Shipping containers: pros and cons, and how to build […] More
The Irish Green Building Council has launched a campaign to tackle the whole life environmental impact of buildings, in a bid to think beyond the energy we use to heat and light our homes. Building an eco-friendly home can mean different things to different people; in most cases though it has to do with making […] More
Thanks to advances in technology, there are plenty of modern construction methods available in Ireland to build new or extend. In this article we cover: Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs): what it is and how to build with it Mass timber construction including Cross Laminated Timber (CLT): what it is and how to build with it […] More
The Department of Environment is launching a public consultation today (14th January 2021) to help design how the Microgeneration Support Scheme will operate. Homes, small businesses and farms that generate a small amount of energy from their on-site electricity system, often photovoltaic (PV) solar panels in the case of homeowners, are known as microgenerators. Homeowners […] More
The role of an energy consultant in a self-build – Self build energy consultant Eric Davidson of Reinco chats with Brian Corry of Selfbuild+ about the reasons why you need independent advice on the energy aspects of your design, including comparing technical details and quotations and making sure the house’s energy systems are adapated to […] More
Episode 26: First time self-builder David Dobbs, who happens to be an estate agent, shares his experience getting planning permission from Wicklow County Council and running into some trouble with his main contractor. He talks about:– How the existing cottage on the site helped secure planning permission– His bungalow design tips to add light and […] More
How eco will you go?: Self-build advisor John Corless delves into the question of energy efficiency, airtightness and the environment, and why the decision of how eco you want to go has to be taken early on. This, in large part, has to do with buidling a low energy home, and the need to commit […] More
Episode 3: We have a chat with Belfast-based energy advisor Patrick Waterfield about how you will generate heat and hot water in the home. Some of the main points we cover are: Boilers vs heat pumps Underfloor heating vs radiators Fabric first approach How the building regulations affect system choice The situation in NI ROI […] More
Burning wood might not be as environmentally friendly as you think. In fact, burning solid fuels of all kinds is making us sick. The environmental world has come a long way since I wrote an article for this magazine on heating/energy choices for both new builds and occupied homes. In 2015 I did not mention […] More