In My Bungalow Bliss, sponsored by Electric Ireland Superhomes, presenter Hugh Wallace follows four innovative architects, as they are paired with four first time bungalow homeowners, who are desperately seeking a solution to their dark, damp, and dated homes.
The Irish bungalow: an iconic affordable housing solution that quickly became a quintessential Irish phenomenon became an integral part of Ireland's architectural DNA and are now dotted around every inch of our countryside. While many have fallen out of love with the humble bungalow, for some they are an opportunity to, yet again,create a better life.
However as discovered by Bobby and Ciara in Episode 2, when buying an old bungalow warmth and comfort don’t come as standard "when we first bought the house it was freezing" admits Ciara, and with single pane windows, draughts, and no proper ventilation according to Bobby "the air quality was just horrific".
Bobby and Ciara bought their derelict bungalow on the shores of the Poulaphouca reservoir in late 2019. Having spent the majority of their money on buying the home in their dream location, self confessed 'design nerds’ Bobby and Ciara had a tall order deliver a warm sustainable home that meets their high design expectations.
Bungalows, like most houses, can be transformed into cosy sustainable homes by retrofitting, which is the means of carrying out a number of upgrade measures to make a more energy efficient home that’s more comfortable to live in.
Electric Ireland Superhomes takes the view that the home is an interdependent energy system which will operate more efficiently when all energy related elements work in harmony. Its "whole house" retrofit approach acts on this assertion, by designing a purpose-built retrofit solution for your home, bungalow or otherwise, once a thorough assessment of its energy performance has taken place.
Next, the design process begins, and employs several interrelated measures to improve the warmth, comfort and BER rating of a home:
1. Air Source Heat Pump - This impressive technology extracts energy from the air outside your home and converts it into heat inside the home. The heat is then distributed throughout the interior via radiators or underfloor heating, and is used to fill your hot water cylinder, removing the need for fossil fuels. The primary energy source for a heat pump is electricity and it has an excellent efficiency in the region of 400%. This means it produces 4 units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed.
2. Heating System Design - Getting the design and installation right - It appears to be as simple as setting your thermostat to the ideal temperature inside your home, but behind the scenes, your heating system has been expertly designed, configured, and optimised for your home. Sizing the heat pump and radiators correctly is of paramount importance. The lower the heat loss in the building, the more efficient the heat pump will be. Heat loss calculations for final design and selection purposes are conducted on an elemental basis, i.e. calculating heat loss through the various elements (walls, roof, windows, floor, ventilation/infiltration etc.) and aggregated together. The end result is a more energy efficient, cost effective and cosier home.
3. Insulation - Electric Ireland Superhomes will analyse the overall thermal performance of your home using a "fabric first" approach. This approach to building design involves maximising the performance of the components and materials that make up the building fabric itself, before considering the use of any heating systems. This can help to reduce operational costs, improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. If required, a number of insulation measures will be implemented to prevent heat from being lost through the walls, roof, floor, windows, doors, and other areas, specific to your building.
4. Airtightness - A draught is the sworn enemy of insulation (and the energy bill payer). Air leakage is the uncontrolled flow of air through gaps and cracks in the fabric of a building (sometimes referred to as infiltration or draughts). A retrofit will involve a target being reached of less than five air changes per hour in the home, meaning the heat being generated is efficiently circulating and is prevented from escaping where it shouldn’t.
5. Advanced Ventilation - Fresh air and moisture control are two key factors in any healthy and energy efficient home. Poor ventilation in a home causes streaming windows, musty odours, dampness, condensation, mould growth and excessive carbon dioxide in the home. Ventilation systems are an essential part of the energy efficiency process, and Electric Ireland Superhomes will tailor the specifications based on your home.. The objective of a good ventilation strategy is to provide a balance between energy efficiency and indoor air quality. This strategy should have an integrated approach, taking into account other factors such as thermal insulation, heating systems, controls and family requirements.
6. Additional Measures - To reach the much sought-after high-energy rating, other energy-saving measures may be implemented in your home. From underfloor heating, battery storage, fabric measures and solar PV panels, Electric Ireland Superhomes will make house-specific recommendations for your home.
Bobby and Ciara undertook a number of key retrofit upgrades including triple glazed windows, external wall insulation wrap, under-floor heating, and an air-to-water heat pump, "we could feel the benefits straight away" says Ciara. Looking at the Airtightness was a key dimension to the upgrade, and according to Declan Daly, Head of Engineering, Electric Ireland Superhomes, "Airtightness will reduce all those leaks and draughts you have throughout your home. Ensuring airtightness is achieved through careful implementation throughout the design and construction phases".
Following the retrofit the couple’s energy rating has gone from a G to an incredible A2, meaning a warm comfortable home with good air quality and low carbon emissions.
"The house is always warm, the water is always warm" says Bobby, and the couple have absolutely no regrets. The retrofit upgrades have had a transformational impact on their family as Bobby says "the difference is surreal".
If your home needs an energy retrofit, start your journey to a Superhome today at http://www.electricirelandsuperhomes.ie
