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Green Irish house wins an award

Posted: 16/02/2007

An Irish timber frame house has won an award for the best eco-friendly building of 2007. South County Dublin Council and builders Durkan New Homes won the inaugural Local Authority Members Association (LAMA)award for the eco-house at Deer Park in Tallaght.

The house started out as a prototype, erected for the Ideal Homes Exhibition to demonstrate the ecological benefits of timber frame technology. After the exhibition the house was adapted for the use of the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation. Materials and labour for the house were supplied free of charge by several sub-contractors and suppliers.

John Goulding, designer of the eco-house, said the eco-house took only 15 days to construct. It has a variety of green features. The living spaces, reception rooms, sun-room and conservatory are positioned to the south and south-west, with storage, circulation and bathrooms to the north of the house.

The timber frame is sourced from sustainably managed forests and most of the materials used are recyclable and manufactured from renewable resources and all toxic or non-biodegradable materials have been kept to a minimum.

The landscaping of the grounds also takes advantage of the orientation, the garden includes a compost area for domestic waste, a vegetable garden, herb garden and orchard that will actively require the involvement of the residents, a specific wish of the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation.

The building is both more airtight and insulated to a higher standard than required by current building regulations. Part of the house has been insulated with sheep’s wool. A heat recovery system has been installed, along with roof-fixed solar panels, energy-efficient lighting, thermal/UV light filtering glass on the south elevation, wood pellet-fired central heating and stove, and a rainwater-recycling system to flush toilets. It has been designed and constructed to have minimum impact on the environment as well as being energy-efficient.

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