Caherconlish Passivhaus Interview
Interview with Ronan and Sharon owners of the passive house in Caherconlish in Co. Limerick. Passive house id. 2472
1. Why did you want to build a passive house?
We wanted to build a house with a low running cost.
2. Where did you hear/ become aware of passive design.
Heard about passive houses on the internet and at home/ house shows.
3. Was it hard to persuade you to build passive?
We were very interested from when we first heard about passive, but there was no evidence of this achieved when we were first going to build. We would have liked to have been able to experience staying in a passive house at the time. Friends and family were in denial and were trying to persuade us against passive house as they had no proof of this working.
4. Did you encounter problems? Biggest problem
We had to widen the windows to ensure that we would meet passive standard. This increased our solar gains. We had to alter the plans a little, make the area smaller to make the house more compact which is relevant for passive design to work. We wanted to have a fire in the house but passive wouldn’t allow so had to wait until a stove was designed that would meet passive criteria. Getting a builder with experience of how to build a passive house.
5. Why did you choose a masonry construction?
We believe that concrete built is better built. It was just as cheap as other methods and it was flexible for us if we needed to have bigger openings there was no problem with masonry as we could just change it straight away. Just had to be skimmed and plastered internally.
6. Why did you choose to use Quinn Lite block?
Has a good u-value. Irish product. Single block no cavity so resulted in a cheaper block laying cost as only one block had to be laid.
7. Was there a big cost difference compared to building a house to the building regulations?
No very little if any.
8. Had you to change any detail so you would meet Passive standard?
We reduced the area slightly and increased the size of the windows by four inches in
width to increase our solar gain. Windows have to be triple glazed to meet the
passive standard.
9. How long did the house take to build?
It took 12 months to build but it could have been built in 9months only had to wait
for the windows to be made which increased the project time.
10. What is it like to live in a passive house?
We are very happy to live in a passive house, it’s the quality of life you get. The feel
of the house is great. It is a privilege the house is always at 20*C. Passive House is
buying a way of life. It is pure comfort.
11. Any opinions?
We would encourage everyone to build a passive house.
12. Advantages/ disadvantages?
House is always at a comfortable temperature; don’t have to worry about heating.
House is dust free due to the filters. Less cleaning compared to a standard house.
Disadvantage is that fruit and veg and bread go off in the passive house. I would tell
people to buy a big fridge and to put your fruit and veg into the fridge.
13. Does the house preform to how it was anticipated?
Yes, better than anticipated, very comfortable. Some advantages that we weren’t
even told about.
14. What would you change to improve this house?
No changes.
15. What would you do differently if you were building this house again?
Nothing we are very happy with how the house turned out and delighted we choose
to build a passive house.
16. Were there any problems with the site? (site details)
No the site has a gentle slope that caused no problem to the build.
17. Builders experience did this help?
Yes most definitely. We used passive house builder Cyril Mannion who had
experience at building passive houses and he was very good and understood passive
principles and was able to advise us. He suggested some little changes that we are
really happy with and that have influenced the house. He was in charge of every aspect of the building so it mint we had no worries.
18. Was it difficult to source the different types of insulation/ materials?
The builder sourced these but products for passive houses are and have become more readily available in the last couple of years as people are learning and realising the benefits of passive housing.
19. Where did you source the different insulation materials?
Some were sourced through agents in Ireland others came from Europe.
20. Where did you source the triple glazed windows?
The windows were sourced from Smartwin who are a European company, but they were made in Rosslare Co. Wexford under licence for Smartwin.
21. Did the windows meet passive standard?
Yes. Windows are very important in a passive house as they are like your radiators gathering the heat from the sun and keeping it in. They have to be triple glazed.
22. Why did you choose to have a wood burner?
The wood burner doesn’t actually have any heating effect on the house it is solely for therapeutic qualities. My wife wanted to have an open fire as she was used to this all her life. This burmur stove was the only option at the time, which was as close to an open fire that was passed by the passive institute.
23. Was it harder to get planning for this type of house do you think?
No we don’t think so, but councils should put in incentives for people to build passive houses.
24. General conclusion.
We are very happy that we built a passive house and went all the way to get it registered. We are very happy with how the house is preforming and the acoustic insulation is great as with the recent storms we were not disturbed. The house is really easy to use and very comfortable all of the time. We would encourage anybody to build passive.
Interview with Ronan and Sharon owners of the passive house in Caherconlish in Co. Limerick. Passive house id. 2472
1. Why did you want to build a passive house?
We wanted to build a house with a low running cost.
2. Where did you hear/ become aware of passive design.
Heard about passive houses on the internet and at home/ house shows.
3. Was it hard to persuade you to build passive?
We were very interested from when we first heard about passive, but there was no evidence of this achieved when we were first going to build. We would have liked to have been able to experience staying in a passive house at the time. Friends and family were in denial and were trying to persuade us against passive house as they had no proof of this working.
4. Did you encounter problems? Biggest problem
We had to widen the windows to ensure that we would meet passive standard. This increased our solar gains. We had to alter the plans a little, make the area smaller to make the house more compact which is relevant for passive design to work. We wanted to have a fire in the house but passive wouldn’t allow so had to wait until a stove was designed that would meet passive criteria. Getting a builder with experience of how to build a passive house.
5. Why did you choose a masonry construction?
We believe that concrete built is better built. It was just as cheap as other methods and it was flexible for us if we needed to have bigger openings there was no problem with masonry as we could just change it straight away. Just had to be skimmed and plastered internally.
6. Why did you choose to use Quinn Lite block?
Has a good u-value. Irish product. Single block no cavity so resulted in a cheaper block laying cost as only one block had to be laid.
7. Was there a big cost difference compared to building a house to the building regulations?
No very little if any.
8. Had you to change any detail so you would meet Passive standard?
We reduced the area slightly and increased the size of the windows by four inches in
width to increase our solar gain. Windows have to be triple glazed to meet the
passive standard.
9. How long did the house take to build?
It took 12 months to build but it could have been built in 9months only had to wait
for the windows to be made which increased the project time.
10. What is it like to live in a passive house?
We are very happy to live in a passive house, it’s the quality of life you get. The feel
of the house is great. It is a privilege the house is always at 20*C. Passive House is
buying a way of life. It is pure comfort.
11. Any opinions?
We would encourage everyone to build a passive house.
12. Advantages/ disadvantages?
House is always at a comfortable temperature; don’t have to worry about heating.
House is dust free due to the filters. Less cleaning compared to a standard house.
Disadvantage is that fruit and veg and bread go off in the passive house. I would tell
people to buy a big fridge and to put your fruit and veg into the fridge.
13. Does the house preform to how it was anticipated?
Yes, better than anticipated, very comfortable. Some advantages that we weren’t
even told about.
14. What would you change to improve this house?
No changes.
15. What would you do differently if you were building this house again?
Nothing we are very happy with how the house turned out and delighted we choose
to build a passive house.
16. Were there any problems with the site? (site details)
No the site has a gentle slope that caused no problem to the build.
17. Builders experience did this help?
Yes most definitely. We used passive house builder Cyril Mannion who had
experience at building passive houses and he was very good and understood passive
principles and was able to advise us. He suggested some little changes that we are
really happy with and that have influenced the house. He was in charge of every aspect of the building so it mint we had no worries.
18. Was it difficult to source the different types of insulation/ materials?
The builder sourced these but products for passive houses are and have become more readily available in the last couple of years as people are learning and realising the benefits of passive housing.
19. Where did you source the different insulation materials?
Some were sourced through agents in Ireland others came from Europe.
20. Where did you source the triple glazed windows?
The windows were sourced from Smartwin who are a European company, but they were made in Rosslare Co. Wexford under licence for Smartwin.
21. Did the windows meet passive standard?
Yes. Windows are very important in a passive house as they are like your radiators gathering the heat from the sun and keeping it in. They have to be triple glazed.
22. Why did you choose to have a wood burner?
The wood burner doesn’t actually have any heating effect on the house it is solely for therapeutic qualities. My wife wanted to have an open fire as she was used to this all her life. This burmur stove was the only option at the time, which was as close to an open fire that was passed by the passive institute.
23. Was it harder to get planning for this type of house do you think?
No we don’t think so, but councils should put in incentives for people to build passive houses.
24. General conclusion.
We are very happy that we built a passive house and went all the way to get it registered. We are very happy with how the house is preforming and the acoustic insulation is great as with the recent storms we were not disturbed. The house is really easy to use and very comfortable all of the time. We would encourage anybody to build passive.