CIBSE Ireland Golf and Annual Lunch

Details of the CIBSE Ireland Annual Golf Outing and Annual Lunch were announced recently at a reception in the RDS. Unitherm Heating Systems have come on board as principal sponsors for the annual golf outing at Luttrellstown Castle, while Wilo Ireland will sponsor this year’s annual lunch at Croke Park.

These are the two primary CIBSE Ireland social events and both are regarded as “must attend” occasions by all involved in the building services engineering sector. Demand for both is always over-subscribed so, to ensure your participation, book early.

Excellence awards

The lunch featured the presentation of excellence awards to CIBSE Ireland members for long-standing service to the Institution. The recipients were Paul Martin and David Doherty, both of whom received bronze medals. Mona Duff was also presented with her past Chair medal.

CIBSE Ireland was well represented at some of the complementary events organised at the SEAI Energy Show. It was also the main sponsor of the Women in Energy Networking event which saw an attendance of 150 + (including a handful of men) participate in an excellent exchange of views, stories and opinions.

CIBSE Ireland members also featured on the panel of judges for the SEAI Energy Show Product of the Show Awards, with Michael Curran, now immediate past Chair of CIBSE Ireland, acting as Chair of the panel of assessors.

Dates and venues for the golf and lunch are: Golf – Luttrelstown Castle Resort, Friday, 25 August 2023; Lunch – Croke Park, Friday, 1 December 2023.

Stephen Weir elected CIBSE Ireland Chairperson

Stephen Weir, the newlyelected CIBSE Ireland Chairperson, joined the CIBSE Committee in 2017 and has previously served as Honorary Secretary and then Vice Chair. In addressing the recent AGM, he paid particular tribute to outgoing Chair Michael Curran who, he said, had served in the role with great distinction, despite the exceptional circumstances presented by Covid-19.

He also acknowledged the contribution of the other CIBSE Ireland officers and committee members, and commended them for the expansive programme of technical and social events delivered under Michael’s tenure.

In looking to the future, he said: “I would like to thank the incoming committee for coming on board and look forward to working with them over my tenure as

Chairperson. Particular thanks to Laura McMahon, my Vice-Chair.

“The committee is in an extremely strong position with a vast array of knowledge and technical excellence across energy management, consultancy, education, contracting, design and supply.

“My vision for my tenure as Chairperson is that of continued collaboration across industry, from consultants to contractors and suppliers alike. This, along with industry development for routes to chartership, is a key priority. While not losing sight of the fundamentals and importance of a chartered engineer from design to installation, it is equally important that we explain to others the benefits of actually being chartered.

“Having worked in the industry for over 20 years, from apprentice to director level, I am keen to develop long-term career paths for trades and engineers alike, with a drive on inclusivity and diversification for all. With the construction industry in a resource shortage, we need to get across the importance of building services and the role of mechanical and electrical engineers. Personally, coming from an electrical background, I wish to engage further with electrical engineers and contractors, as their

CIBSE membership and chartership should be seen as a key metric for their career development.

“The role of the engineer is key across not just MEP but also for main contractors, specialist sub-contractors and suppliers. We need to promote the benefits of becoming a CIBSE member, and of getting chartered, where applicable. Support for all is the theme.

“We are truly in the age of digital construction. Data analytics of building systems and how best to optimise these post-occupancy for the wellbeing of the user around a human centric approach to design are critical. CIBSE is fully committed to education around this topic and is already involved in the development and standardisation through its intelligent buildings group. It is currently working on the assessment of the whole-life value of intelligent buildings, and on strategy development for healthy and sustainable buildings with outcomes, rather than technologies, to be defined.

“In conclusion, I am truly honoured to be CIBSE Ireland Chairperson as we embark on a new phase of development and I am committed to representing our members in a positive and productive manner throughout my tenure.”

Keltech IoE DDN or Dual Distributed Network is a fault managed power solution (FMPS) that delivers low voltage (LV) direct current (DC) microgrids and a fibre backbone in a single cable system for use in intelligent sustainable buildings.

The construction industry has long been associated with a high level of energy consumption and significant environmental impact. Buildings, both residential and commercial, account for approximately 40% of global energy consumption and around one-third of greenhouse gas emissions. As global awareness of the need for sustainable development continues to grow, the construction industry is facing mounting pressure to address these challenges and make a transition towards NetZero carbon emissions.

In response to these sustainability challenges, the construction industry has been gradually embracing green building practices, materials and technologies. This includes adopting energy-efficient designs, using environmentally-friendly construction materials, while also implementing renewable energy solutions such as solar panels and wind turbines. Furthermore, green building certifications like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) have become increasingly popular, providing guidelines and benchmarks for sustainable construction practices.

One cutting-edge technology that holds great promise for revolutionising the building industry and significantly contributing to the NetZero goal is the use of DDN. This comprehensive article provides an overview of the benefits of DDN, and then illustrates how it can enhance energy efficiency by supporting various applications that inherently require DC power to operate.

DDN offers several advantages that makes it an ideal choice for intelligent sustainable buildings. DDN utilises Voltserver’s Digital electricity (DE) to create a human safe low voltage power distribution headend. Included are: Energy efficiency – DC power distribution is more energy-efficient compared to AC (alternating current) power distribution. Studies have shown that energy losses from AC to DC conversions can range from 5% to 20%, depending on the specific devices and applications. However, by using DDN, buildings can minimise the number of AC to DC conversions, thus reducing energy waste and improving overall efficiency. For instance, a study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that using DC microgrids in commercial buildings can result in energy savings of up to 14%; Reduced cabling – The use of DDN leads to a significant reduction in cabling requirements. Since DDN requires fewer and smaller cables compared to traditional AC power distribution systems, the use of steel wirre armoured (SWA) cabling can be decreased by up to 30%. This leads to lower material and installation costs, as well as a decreased environmental footprint; Enhanced safety – DDN operates at lower voltages, which almost removes any risk of electric shock and fire hazards associated with higher voltage AC systems; Integration with renewable energy sources – DDN can be easily integrated with renewable energy sources like solar panels and batteries, making it simpler for intelligent sustainable buildings to generate and store clean energy.

Now that the advantages of DDN have been established, let’s explore how they can support various applications in intelligent sustainable buildings, leading to better energy efficiency over the lifespan of the building:

LED lighting – LED (light emitting diode) technology consumes up to 85% less energy compared to traditional incandescent bulbs and has a longer lifespan. Since LED lights require DC power to operate, they can be directly connected to the DDN, minimising energy losses from AC to DC conversions and further enhancing energy efficiency;

Access control systems –Modern access control systems, including card readers, biometric scanners and electronic locks, require DC power to function. By integrating these systems with DDN, intelligent sustainable buildings can optimise their energy consumption and reduce the need for AC to DC conversions;

Laptops and phones – Most portable electronic devices, such as laptops and smartphones, use DC power for charging and operation. By adopting USB-C charging infrastructure powered by DDN, intelligent sustainable buildings can reduce electronic waste and energy consumption by eliminating the need for multiple charging adapters and cables; HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) – Smart HVAC systems in intelligent sustainable buildings leverage IoT (Internet of Things) devices and sensors to monitor and control indoor temperature, humidity and air quality. Although these systems typically use a mix of AC and DC power, they can benefit from the energy-efficient nature of DDN, reducing energy losses from conversions and optimising energy consumption based on real-time data, occupancy and weather conditions.

Several successful examples of sustainable construction projects incorporating FMPS power delivery design are starting to emerge. The Edge, a NetZero office building in Amsterdam, is a notable case study.

This building utilises a combination of solar panels, smart lighting and fault-managed power to achieve outstanding energy efficiency, making it one of the most sustainable buildings in the world.

Another example is the Bullitt Centre in Seattle, which is considered one of the greenest commercial buildings in the United States. The building incorporates a FMPS, solar panels and other energy-efficient technologies to achieve a high level of self-sufficiency and minimise its environmental footprint.

In conclusion, by leveraging the benefits of DDN and its compatibility with various applications that inherently require DC power, intelligent sustainable buildings can significantly improve their energy efficiency while reducing their environmental impact. As the construction industry continues to evolve and embrace sustainable technologies, DDN offers a promising solution for creating a cleaner and more energy-efficient built environment, contributing significantly to the global pursuit of NetZero carbon emissions.