Passive house scheme wins Isover Energy Efficiency Award

Ireland's first passive house development emerged as the big winner at the first inaugural Isover Energy Efficiency Awards in Dublin on Friday. The Grange Lough project — by developer Michael Bennett and Shoalwater Timber Frame — won first place in the competition and will now go on to Isover's European awards in Barcelona this June. This is the first time Ireland will be represented at the finals.

The project is featured in the current issue of Construct Ireland. The Grange Lough development will eventually feature eight houses, with the first completed late last year. Energy consultant Seamus Mullins oversaw the energy design of the project.

The development aimed to localise the passive house concept — most of the project team and components used were Irish. “This project was one of Irish design and manufacture and was achieved by interpretation and adoption of existing European technologies to suit an Irish marketplace and environment," the judges commented.

Two refurbishment projects finished as joint runners up — the extensive renovation of the old Carrolls cigarette factory, now part of Dundalk IT, by BDP, and the energy overhaul of a dormer bungalow in Wicklow.

The retrofit of the Carrolls cigarette factory — a classic example of Miesian architect — boosted its BER from a G to a B1. The project is also featured in the current issue of Construct Ireland. The Wicklow renovation — designed by Integrated Energy — featured external insulation, solar PV and a wind turbine and has provisionally boosted the house's BER to an A1. It was featured in Construct Ireland last year.

A highly commended award went to another new house by the Timber Frame Company in Wexford at Newtown, Killoughrim.

The adjudication panel for the awards included leading Irish experts in the field of green design and construction. The adjudicators were Tomas O Leary, Passive House Academy Ireland, Jeff Colley, editor of Construct Ireland, sustainable design consultatnt Jay Stuart and Isover's Zdenka Debartoli.

The wininng project received a prize of €10,000, the runners-up €1,000 each. Five hundred euro was awarded to the high commended building.