September 1st, 2010
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In my last blog, I focused on some basic principles of Building Science that apply to most of our existing homes. I highlighted the following physical issues that can impact on thermal comfort and indoor-air quality. I outlined principles that can reduce space heating energy demand, by upgrading the building fabric’s elements that enclose all the external envelope of the house, such as the roof, external walls, ground floors, windows and external doors. This blog explored principles of science that can combat heat-loss, draughts, discomfort and poor indoor health conditions, such as:
- Thermal Insulation.
- Prevention of draughts and uncontrolled wind infiltration
- Achieving air tightness of the building envelope.
- Principles applying to moisture control, humidity and vapour diffusion.
- Indoor-air contaminants and how they can affect health.
- Ways of achieving effective fresh air-change and energy efficient methods of Heat Recovery Ventilation.
August 11th, 2010
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EuroBead Insulation are delighted to announce that they are entering the high specialised spray foam market. EuroBead are market leaders in bonded bead insulation for cavity wall construction and also specialise in attic insulation. EuroBead manufacture their bonded bead system at a specialised manufacturing facility which is operated to the highest standard to ensure a high quality product for our customers.
We have also put alot of effort into our value added products for our customers. We have introduced products like the EuroHood – insulation for the attic hatch door, EuroTank – insulation for the cold water storage tank. EuroBead also specialise in pipe lagging, draft proofing, walkway construction all of which help to make EuroBead the market leading installer of insulation in Ireland.
EuroFoam a subsidiary arm of the EuroBead empire will specialise in Open Cell & Closed cell foam for residential, commercial & industrial projects. EuroFoam is a spray applied foam insulation. As it is sprayed it expands 100 times its initial volume to fill every crevice, virtually eliminating air leakage, convection and airborne moisture movement. EuroFoam is totally cured in 20 seconds and can be covered almost immediately. Excess material can be easily trimmed after application. There is virtually no mess left when EuroFoam is installed.
Denis O’Connell Managing Director of EuroBead added. ” We are delighted to be entering the highly specialised market of Spray Foam insulation. We believe that our high standard of work that has been experienced by our customers with EuroBead will ensure that all Eurofoam customers will receive a high quality product & service”
August 5th, 2010
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If a house is made airtight, ventilation becomes critical to maintain air quality. To achieve good ventilation conditions, stale, humid, contaminated, oxygen depleted air needs to be removed from where it is generated and fresh air needs to be supplied to all habitable rooms. This is difficult to achieve and to control ventilation by simply opening windows or by depending on small permanent vents. Wind conditions vary, where some exterior surfaces will be exposed to face positive wind, blowing against the house. Simultaneously, other lea-ward surfaces are in negative pressure causing suction effects. This can occur where chimneys downdraught and create conditions of smoke fumes.
July 15th, 2010
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By creating a continuous hermetic airtight layer, enclosing the complete envelope of the house, enclosed by the roof, external walls, windows and ground floor. This should be addressed by treating the house like a ‘balloon’ with no leaks or punctures for air to escape out. Warm, vapour-laden air, that’s generated in the inside of the house, under a driving pressure to the outside, should be prevented from seeping out, by providing a continuous membrane or air tight surface, preventing it from convecting and diffusing through the interior, warm side of the insulation, or through multiple small gaps that may occur at joints and junctions.
July 8th, 2010
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During this winter’s cold spell, many householders encountered problems of condensation forming on the inside surface of roofing felts, which collected and dripped down onto the ceiling, causing dampness to rooms below. Many complained of ice forming from this condensation on the underside of the cold roofing felt. When this started to melt, it dripped down and caused puddles of dampness to form.
So where does this condensation come from? Well it is not from the outside environment, or from the cold- water storage tank, even many may be uncovered. Some of this vapour could have been generated by small expansion tank, venting the central heating system, often located in the attic space. But by far, most of this condensation is formed from warm vapour-laden air that drives under pressure from heated habitable rooms into the cold attic to condense on the coldest and least ventilated surfaces, such as roofing felt.
June 30th, 2010
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This work should be carried out on the outside of the insulation layer, of external walls, roof and ground floor, especially at critical junctions, such as at roof eaves, attic trap doors, chimneys/fireplace, dormer roofs and attic conversions, caulking and taping joints between block work walls and window frames. Also, opening sashes of windows and doorframes not draught-sealed, gaps around pipes, cables and cavity block walls that are dry-lined on the inside.
It is important that draught-sealing membranes and boards fitted on the outside of insulation should always be ‘breathable’ ‘vapour diffuse’ and adequately ventilated to the outside air.
June 18th, 2010
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Welcome back!
I hope you find you’re getting some value for time spent reading my blogs.
In my last, short introductory blog on the topic of ‘Retrofitting our Existing Homes’, I highlighted a number of typical questions that householders have been asking me on this subject. There are so many building types, construction methods, materials, heating and insulation standards that apply to our homes. There is also the financial circumstances and lifestyles that vary from one household to another. But for most existing Irish houses, energy related issues and challenges can be grouped into types that are often quite common. For most situations, suitable technological and retrofit options are available to choose from that are reasonably well tested and proven to perform effectively and continue to be durable over long time spans.
June 9th, 2010
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As from June 8th 2010, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has introduced new measures to the Home Energy Saving Scheme.
Since the scheme was launched in March 2009 over 58,000 homeowner applications were approved.
The introduction of an online self survey is now available on the SEAI’s website; the survey will only take a couple of minutes to complete and will guide householders towards the most suitable upgrade works.
Householders who apply for the HES grant on or after Tuesday 8th June will be required to use the new application system/form. A Building Energy Rating (BER) will also become an integral part of all grant applications under the HES Scheme from this date. All homeowners must undertake a BER to measure the impact of the works undertaken. Homeowners will also receive a BER certificate with an A-G performance rating, which will inform them of the effectiveness of the upgrade works of energy & Co₂ improvements. Grant Aid of €100 is available towards BER Assessment.
Ireland are now one of the leading countries in the world to use wind energy, with renewable energy growing strongly. The SEAI have announced that the share of electricity generated from renewable energy sources in 2009 was 14.4%, two-thirds of which was wind. This ensures us that Ireland is on track to the Government’s target this year.
In 2009 alone, renewable energy sources generated enough electricity to power 750,000 homes, half of all households in Ireland. There has been growth in the use of renewable energy for heating and transport, but progress is at a slower pace than the contribution of renewable sources for electricity generation. This will be an area of increased policy focus in years to come.
