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Students from Waterford Institute of Technology have won this year's Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Student Challenge 2010.
The challenge required the students to act as consultants retained by a local authority to provide specialist advice on retrofitting pre 1920s, 1950-1960s and 1980-90s housing stock.
The advice had to include details of how they would improve the thermal performance, comfort and living space of three types of houses, which would meet the needs of a community with both young families and an ageing population.
The challenge consisted of a number of exhaustive exercises, including the production of a detailed written report that had to demonstrate different house types required different approaches. Including the financial benefits and costs associated for each one.
To complete the challenge, the students gave a ten minute presentation to industry experts that covered the findings and recommendations for the proposed projects.
Dr Sarah Peace from the CIOB said: "This year's challenge produced some really innovative and insightful solutions. The challenge these students faced today have become an increasingly familiar one for the UK and our existing housing stock.
"The need for our industry to tackle this issue is paramount if we are going to reduce our C02 emissions.
"What impressed the Judges the most was the passion and awareness all the student teams showed throughout the event. But for us Waterford gave the most complete and creative set of solutions for all three types of houses."
The judging panel included Tim Yates and Peter Ball from the Building Research Establishment (BRE), Dare Oduye from Xtratherm and Dr Sarah Peace the CIOB's Scholarship and Research Manager.
Second place went to Anglia Ruskin University, and in third place was University College London and Northumbria University were Highly Commended.
Other teams to reach the final included Coleg Sir Gar from Wales, Leeds College of Building, Mid Kent College, University of Wolverhampton, Belfast Metropolitan College, Heriot Watt University and Blackburn College.
(BMcC/GK)
