Green houses for all: now we must prove energy efficiency

NEW homes will not get planning permission unless they meet very stringent environmental standards to reduce carbon emissions.
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is leading the way by forcing new applicants for planning permission from next year to prove their homes will be 40pc more energy efficient than prevailing norms.
They will also be obliged to ensure their homes get at least 20pc of their heating from a renewable energy source.
The measures apply to all new house and apartment developments with more than 10 dwellings, and to commercial properties greater than 1,000 square metres, for planning applications submitted from January 1, 2008.
Other local authorities are now expected to follow suit by introducing their own planning requirements for new homes. But builders are crying foul, claiming it will be impossible to meet different energy standards in every area.
The moves are coming because our homes contribute a staggering 31pc of all greenhouse gas emissions - more than transport (22pc) and industry (27pc) - figures from Sustainable Energy Ireland show.
Fingal County Council has introduced even more stringent standards, including a requirement that 30pc of heating needs to be met by sustainable energy sources, but these only apply in certain areas such as Cappagh and Donabate.
Builders are being provided with a menu of measures to choose from to ensure new homes are energy efficient, said Michael Gough, director of economic development and planning in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown.
Daylight
This includes simple measures such as maximising daylight, avoiding single-aspect homes, fitting high-quality insulation, and incorporating energy-efficient lighting systems and variable temperature controls. Developers would also be encouraged to incorporate group or district heating systems with options such as biomass, solar heating and heat pumps.
"This has become such an important issue that it's better we make new homes energy efficient now rather than going back and trying to do it retrospectively in a few years," he said.
The council had given plenty of warning of these measures contained in a variation to their county development plan published this month and would consult with builders on the details in pre-planning application meetings before they come into force next year, Mr Gough said.
However, the measures could lead to a slump in new house starts and place extra pressure on house prices due to considerable extra costs, the Irish Home Builders Association has warned.
Some of the measures, such as ventilation controls, also conflicted with national building regulations and builders and architects would be left uncertain which to follow, a spokesperson said.
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown scaled back some of the requirements after objections from builders, as they were initially stipulating a more stringent 60pc improvement in energy efficiency - 30pc from renewable energy sources.
Aideen Sheehan
© Irish Independent