An EU-funded project has commenced an energy performance audit of Ireland's existing social housing stock.

The audit begins less than two weeks after Budget 2008, which included a Government pledge to commence or acquire 9,000 social housing units in 2008.

The aim of the two-year project, entitled 'Advanced Ventilation Approaches for Social Housing (AVASH)', is to determine the best ventilation strategy for existing social housing units in order to achieve maximum energy efficiency, occupant comfort and significant reductions in energy bills for householders.

All data collected will be analysed and presented to social housing providers who are considering upgrading their social housing stock by performing energy intelligent retrofitting of individual dwellings and entire schemes. The existing social housing schemes, which are being audited, are located in counties Meath, Kildare and Dublin.

Leading the project is Jay Stuart of Dublin based Sustainable Design Consultancy, DWEcoCo Ltd.

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Explaining the background of the audit, he said: "Existing social housing in Ireland consumes a large amount of energy for heating with significant emissions of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels. It is important, therefore, to understand how the energy consumption of existing dwellings can best be reduced whilst achieving a comfortable and healthy environment for the occupants through good ventilation strategies."

Mr Stuart stated that AVASH project partners in the UK and Denmark had recently launched similar audits.

He added: "It is expected that the result of these projects, along with the analysis of social housing schemes in Ireland, will have a European wide impact, will contribute to the exchange and sharing of knowledge and experience in the field, and will improve the energy performance of the existing social maximum energy efficiency in mind."

According to Mr. Stuart: "Unfortunately most dwellings due for completion in 2008 will be constructed to the minimum energy efficiency standards of the Building regulations. Energy savings for householders and greatly reduced carbon emissions can be achieved by going that step further without incurring large additional costs. All that is required is the knowledge and a can-do attitude, which we will offer to social housing providers through our project findings and public information campaign."

"It is anticipated that all research findings will be presented at public seminars throughout the country from autumn 2008," concluded Mr. Stuart.

The European Commission’s Intelligent Energy Executive Agency (IEEA) have part funded the ‘AVASH’ project, which will be co-ordinated by Dr Ryan Southall and Professor Mike McEvoy from the School of Architecture & Design at the University of Brighton.

(JM)