Ó Riain, M (2016) The nZEB retrofit of regional technical college buildings. PhD thesis, University College Cork, Ireland.
Abstract
The EU introduced nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) performance targets for all new and retrofit public buildings by 2019 and all commercial buildings by 2021 (EPBD 2010). In Ireland, a low regulatory scenario persists for non-residential retrofits since 1974. McKinsey (2009) established retrofit as one of the most cost effective means of achieving emission abatement. With over 50% of Ireland’s commercial building stock pre-dating energy regulation (1919-1992), this paper establishes that it is possible to retrofit precast concrete building typologies from the 1960s/70s, using primarily passive means, achieving Net Zero Energy Building performance. However systemic barriers to NZEB adoption are retarding the potential for Ireland to meet the aspirations of the Energy Performance Directive (2010). This paper also explores the factors that retard NZEB retrofit adoption in an Irish legislative context, and proposes a systematic design process to address performance oriented building retrofits. Outside the design process the structural pillars of low mandatory minimum standards and a poor availability of financing models undermine the development of the low energy-building sector in Ireland. Without this external framework, market forces result in lower performance targets at the outset of projects, truncating design processes, impacting decision-making and reducing opportunities for the adoption of energy conservation measures. Case study analysis illustrates a poor standard of knowledge, experience, and understanding of performance oriented design practices in Ireland which may impact the development of relevant skill sets, tacit knowledge and suitable design processes to deliver on the aspirations of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive 2010 in an Irish context. To address the barriers to Deep Retrofit in Ireland, existing design processes may be augmented with specialist skillsets, developing new practices and broadening the experience of existing practice with performance oriented design processes.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | McCartney, K and Harrison, J D |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Ireland; building performance; building stock; case study; commercial building; conservation; energy conservation; energy performance; financing; market; precast concrete; regulation; residential; retrofit; standards; tacit knowledge |
| Index terms: | net-zero energy building, design practice, case study, low energy, energy performance, Ireland, conservation, energy conservation, building typology, precast concrete, building stock, building performance, nearly zero-energy building, design process, tacit knowledge, public building, financing, decision-making, commercial building, regulation |
| Subjects: | political science, decision analysis, professional development, energy efficiency, energy systems, building materials, design methods, data collection methods, quality assurance, asset management, sustainable design, Geography, design process, economic analysis, environmental policy, construction type |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Geographical Context, Risk Management, Sustainability, Design Practice, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Information Management, Construction Materials, Construction Technology, Governance |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
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