What i am going to discuss here now is the The EnerPhit Standard – a brief overview of its criteria, the obstacles and challenges in achieving this standard – what and how much is possible and then final the cost implications – including a brief run down of what other countries are doing.
Firstly EnerPhit . Well as Its not always possible to achieve the Passive House Standard for modernisations of old buildings. Thus the reason that the PHI has developed the “EnerPHit – Quality-Approved Energy Retrofit with Passive House Components” Certificate. Your talking Significant energy savings of between 75 and 90 % can be achieved even in existing buildings.
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The following measures have proved to be particularly effective: Improved thermal insulation (based on the principle: if it has to be done, do it right) Reduction of thermal bridges Improved airtightness Very good quality windows and doors Ventilation with highly efficient heat recovery
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So the criteria with regards to Enerphit. As you can see from the chart – the goal post has been set slight lower with some of the performance criteria. However achieving these is sit quiet a challenge . I wont go into the technical side of things too .
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EnerPHit External wall Exterior insulation: U ≤ 0.150 W/(m²K) Interior insulation: U ≤ 0.300 W/(m²K) In pretty much all Retrofit scenarios or cases – pumping the cavities will not achieve these values, so your talking really either internal or external insulation, which as you can imagine is going to have its difficulties. For external insulation – it may be required to install right down to foundation levels, and even removing soffit & fascia in alot of cases. So again quiet a challenge. The ideal situation would be that you internally and externally insulate to achieve the required values – unless the house is unoccupied this will probably not be possible. Windows are obviously are going to be quiet an expense. In some cases 0.85 may not be achievable – perhaps a listed building – im not aware yet of any sash windows that have been certified, or perhaps the conservation officer may be restrictive and only allow double glazing. So in the case further measures may have to taken to reduce you heat demand, perhaps further insulation and lower u values to compensate. Dormers and velux roof windows are going to be difficult. Minimizing thermal bridges for example – and again.
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Due to strong economic development in Ireland in the 1990s, emissions are already well past this target and Ireland has the highest per capita emissions in Europe. the EU targets to cut emissions by 20% by the year 2020 currently is out of Ireland's reach. This is not something that can be ignored. What happens if we dont meet this target – perhaps penalties like our septic tank situation. -Passivhaus/EnerPHit the only standard which sets clear fabric effciency targets -Some €2 billion had been paid by the State in fuel supports in the last 10 years, while less than €200 million had been spent in bringing houses up to energy efficiency standards. Enerphit could reverse these figures.
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SOME 180 unfinished or “ghost� housing estates have been abandoned by their developers, according to new figures submitted by local authorities around the State to the Department of the Environment. The report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments singled out some 350 estates, representing almost 8,000 houses, where there was less than 50 per cent occupancy and partially finished or vacant housing, which posed safety hazards for residents. Perhaps this is the perfect training ground for training our tradesmen.
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Is it possible – I say why not. Maybe as an incentive - investors can purchase these houses at a cost that would cover materials, with a contract that on completion they will be handed back a certified enerphit house – which would be guarranteed to have a return on investment. This could be minimal or no cost to the government. So mininal labour costs. The trades would be training to install external and internal install – how to install a MVHR unit, how to install certified PH windows and how achieve airtightness. This could result in Ireland having perhaps the highest skilled workforce internationally in Passive house construction. We could be leaders in this field – we are already exceeding with regards to certified designers. This could also be possible for comercial buildings – maybe Nama properties. It could attract foreign investors. Also First time buyers if they manage to get a mortgage in this climate – they are more than likely to be buying a property and doing it up. Perhap there could be an incentive for people to buy old properties if they retrofit to this Standard.
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-How much people are willing to spend and how much payback they receive in terms of savings in energy bills seems to be the determining factor when approaching refurbishment. - the reasonable rate of return. -Unfortunately in this current climate very few people can afford upfront investment cost.
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- Windows are the least cost effective measure out of all components. The second least cost effective is MHRV which can only be implemented on highly efficient fabric performing buildings. However it is needed if an extremely low space heat demand is to be achieved. - Airtightness is the most cost effective measure, but good levels require a more rigorous approach to detail. - Insulation is the next most effective measure - Measures taken would certainly require the removal of tenants - EnerPHit demands maintenance on an annual basis due to MHRV system.
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EnerPHit would become more feasible if: 1) costs fall 2) technology advances 3) supply chains become more efficient 4) tradesmen become familiar with technology and way of building to high levels of airtightness - Only then can high performance triple glazing and MVHR will become more cost effective - Government would have to place more emphasis on decarbonising the grid if it is going to realistically meet targets if costs do not fall........
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The Green Deal framework will be launched from October 2012. Every British home and business will be able to install packages of energy saving technologies such as insulation at no upfront cost making their property warmer and cosier straight away, with repayments made over time out of the energy savings. Strict standards will be put in place to prevent consumers being ripped off by cowboys. A new requirement on energy companies to provide support with an estimated value of £1.3 billion a year to ensure everyone is able to benefit from the Green Deal – no matter their income or the type of house they live in. Additional help will be available to ensure the fuel poor get better boilers and fix draughty homes while subsidy will also be provided to help tackle homes that are hard to insulate. The Green Deal is expected to kick start around £14 billion of private sector investment over the next decade – with new safeguards to help small family firms as well as big high street names get involved in the Green Deal. The Green Deal could support at least 65,000 insulation and construction jobs by 2015.
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In this situation – perhaps if the homeowner invests or provides some upfront funding they can achieve Enerphit resulting in further reduction in heat demand and long term savings. In this scenario once the repayments exceed the payback period – the government makes a return on investment.
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A similar scenario has been announced in the states only last week .
The programme announced on Friday calls for spending $4bn to overhaul the federal government's enormous collection of office buildings over the next two years. Half of the money, $2bn, is to be raised by businesses, universities, and local government. So pretty much a privat public partnership situation. The changes would reduce energy use 20% by 2020. The plan also calls for retrofitting 1.6bn square feet of commercial real estate – the equivalent of 500 Empire State Buildings project would create 50,000 jobs
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Next steps: Make this type of building acceptable to the Irish public. Show people the comfort benefits. Reflect energy efficient design in property prices. Make every renovation a retrofit. Other drivers will be legislation and energy prices. Build up the tool-kit and train the tradesmen. AND THEN Watch the market grow‌
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