An EU-funded energy efficiency audit, due to commence next month, could introduce healthier living environments and significant savings on energy bills for people living in social housings schemes across Clare.
The audit of the country's existing social housing stock will take place just weeks after Budget 2008, which included a Government pledge to commence or acquire 9,000 social housing units in 2008.
The aim of the two-year project, entitled Advanced Ventilation Approaches for Social Housing (AVASH), is to determine the best ventilation strategy for existing social housing units in order to achieve maximum energy efficiency, occupant comfort and significant reductions in energy bills for householders. All data collected will be analysed and presented to social housing providers who are considering upgrading their social housing stock by performing energy intelligent retrofitting of individual dwellings and entire schemes. Leading the project is
Mr. Jay Stuart of the Dublin-based Sustainable Design Consultancy, DWEcoCo Ltd.
Mr. Stuart indicated that the audit would involve the assessment of a broad range of social housing, including family dwellings and dwellings for the elderly and the disabled. "Advanced thermal imaging and pressure testing equipment will be used to discover the state of the dwellings thermal insulation and level of air tightness. Once this has been completed, computer simulations will be used to determine the best ventilation strategy for the dwelling type. The key performance indicator for the project will be the level of increase in home energy efficiency that can be attained by implementing the findings of the project", he continued.
While welcoming the Government's Budget commitment to commence or acquire thousands of social housing units next year, Mr. Stuart expressed concern that many may not be completed with maximum energy efficiency in mind.
According to Mr. Stuart, "Unfortunately most dwellings due for completion in 2008 will be constructed to the minimum energy efficiency standards of the Building regulations. Energy savings for householders and greatly reduced carbon emissions can be achieved by going that step further without incurring large additional costs. All that is required is the knowledge and a can-do attitude, which we will offer to social housing providers through our project findings and public information campaign."
"It is anticipated that all research findings will be presented at public seminars throughout the country from autumn 2008", concluded Mr. Stuart.
The audit of the country's existing social housing stock will take place just weeks after Budget 2008, which included a Government pledge to commence or acquire 9,000 social housing units in 2008.
The aim of the two-year project, entitled Advanced Ventilation Approaches for Social Housing (AVASH), is to determine the best ventilation strategy for existing social housing units in order to achieve maximum energy efficiency, occupant comfort and significant reductions in energy bills for householders. All data collected will be analysed and presented to social housing providers who are considering upgrading their social housing stock by performing energy intelligent retrofitting of individual dwellings and entire schemes. Leading the project isMr. Jay Stuart of the Dublin-based Sustainable Design Consultancy, DWEcoCo Ltd.
Mr. Stuart indicated that the audit would involve the assessment of a broad range of social housing, including family dwellings and dwellings for the elderly and the disabled. "Advanced thermal imaging and pressure testing equipment will be used to discover the state of the dwellings thermal insulation and level of air tightness. Once this has been completed, computer simulations will be used to determine the best ventilation strategy for the dwelling type. The key performance indicator for the project will be the level of increase in home energy efficiency that can be attained by implementing the findings of the project", he continued.
While welcoming the Government's Budget commitment to commence or acquire thousands of social housing units next year, Mr. Stuart expressed concern that many may not be completed with maximum energy efficiency in mind.
According to Mr. Stuart, "Unfortunately most dwellings due for completion in 2008 will be constructed to the minimum energy efficiency standards of the Building regulations. Energy savings for householders and greatly reduced carbon emissions can be achieved by going that step further without incurring large additional costs. All that is required is the knowledge and a can-do attitude, which we will offer to social housing providers through our project findings and public information campaign."
"It is anticipated that all research findings will be presented at public seminars throughout the country from autumn 2008", concluded Mr. Stuart.