Irish Housing 4.0 Energy partner, 3 Counties Energy Agency (3CEA), and the Local Authorities (LAs) as Sub Partners are working on the development of the H4.0E pilot units for the social housing market in County Carlow, Ireland. In Carlow, the small, affordable, low carbon pilot homes shall take the following forms:
- WP IP 4 - Sub Partner Carlow County Council: No 11-14, St Mary’s Court, Carlow, Co Carlow, Apartment Block, 2 floors, 4 units
The subproject partner Carlow County Council (CCC) is working on two semi-detached bungalows of four units. The CCC pilot will be built in an Insulation Concrete Framework (ICF) construction type. We, therefore, have a different approach by promoting and using a high ratio of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) in the concrete mix. This will result in reduced embodied CO2 emissions.
The planning team has appointed the design team and consultants. CCC forwarded design upgrades of drawings and MEP design to 3CEA. In the aspect of support for procuring mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design, and with regard to the project targets, 3CEA reviewed the thermal envelope and building supply design. CCC implemented the 3CEA/H4.0E specifications.
CCC has delivered the final MEP design as well as general alignment (GA) and detailed design plans. There are some issues to be resolved concerning the size of the Photovoltaic (PV) system to be applied. Except for the PV design we have achieved a platform ready model.
At the moment 3CEA are preparing the H4.0E site billboards and the CCC pilot is at the stage of tender for construction.
The project will go on-site in May-June 2021 with a planned site duration of between six and nine months.