Built to Last – Energy Efficiency in pre-1945 Historic Dwellings in Dublin City Dublin City Council research project presented at ULSARA's AGM, 30 April 2014 by Fergal McGirl Architect

1. Built to Last – Energy Efficiency in pre-1945 Historic
Dwellings in Dublin City
Dublin City Council research project
Upper Leeson Street Area Residents Association AGM 30 April 2014, Litton Hall
Fergal McGirl – Fergal McGirl Architects

2. Project team
Consultants
• Joseph Little / Building Life Consultancy
• Fergal McGirl Architects
• Michael Hanratty / IHER Energy Services
Steering Group
• Dublin City Council Heritage Office/Conservation Office
• Dublin City Council Architects Department
• Dept. of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht
• Irish Georgian Society
Funding
• Heritage Council County Heritage Plan Grant Scheme 2013
• Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht Government Policy
on Architecture Grant Scheme 2013

3. • Classify pre-1945 Dublin housing stock
• Assess the positive & negative energy attributes of different house types
• Examine appropriate interventions to pre-1945 Dublin dwelling
• Assess the heritage impacts and technical issues of energy upgrade
• Study pre-1945 construction materials
Built to Last – Energy Efficiency in pre-
1945 Historic Dwellings in Dublin City
Dublin City Council research project
A number of firsts….

4. Project outputs / structure
Better Building Conference 9 April 2014, Croke Park, Dublin

5. Whats a U-value?
Single glazed sash windows: Solid brick walls:
Modern walls:Modern double
glazing:
4.8 W/m2
K 1.1 – 2.1 W/m2
K
1.4 W/m2
K 0.15 – 0.2 W/m2K

6. Climate and micro-climates in Dublin
Dublin
Colder & higher RH than Glasgow or London
Rainfall lower than Glasgow
…..but more exposure to SW driving rain
Many Irish dwellings need
heating when temperatures are higher but
windspeed is stronger (shoulder seasons)
Ref: Paul Overy

7. Energy use in a three-storey Georgian townhouse
(Lennox St. case study house)

8. Finding the balance between energy
conservation and building conservation

9. Classifications
58 house types identified based on:
• Age
• Construction
• Size
• Architectural features

10. Classifications – variation in scale

11. 7 retrofit case studies
North Great Georges St.,
Dublin 1
Albany Road,
Ranelagh (19th c.)
Griffith Ave.,
Drumcondra
Albany Road,
Ranelagh (20th c.)
Whitehall Road,
Dublin 14
Belton Park Villas,
Donnycarney
Upper Leeson St.,
Dublin 2

12. 8 largely unretrofitted case studies
(dwellings in largely original condition)
Henrietta St.
Dublin 1
Ashfield Ave,
Ranelagh
Niall St,
Oxmanstown
Irvine Tce,
East Wall
Brighton Rd,
Rathgar
Lennox St,
Portobello
Dingle Rd,
Cabra
Ailesbury Gardens,
Merrion Gates

13. Technical Features –
Analysis of measured results
Analysis of measured results – BER
North Great Georges St.,
Dublin 1
(protected structure)
Albany Road,
Ranelagh (19th c.)
Griffith Ave.,
Drumcondra
Albany Road,
Ranelagh (20th c.)
(deep retrofit)
Whitehall Road,
Dublin 14
Belton Park Villas,
Donnycarney
Upper Leeson Street
(protected structure)
D2 –> C2
G–> C1
E1–> C3
G –> C3
G–> A3
F–> D1
D2–> C3

14. North Great Georges Street case study
(protected structure)
D2->C2
BER
1.03Heat loss area/floor area
€5300Actual heating costs
(551 m2
house)
12%Glazing area/floor area

15. Prioritising Works

16. 2.51Heat loss area/floor area
0.48Wall area/total heat loss area
F->D1BER improvement
50%Reduction in actual Kwh usage
Whitehall Road case study

17. 21%Increase in fuel cost!
0.29Wall area/total heat loss area
D2->C3BER improvement
9%Increase in Kwh usage!
Belton Park Villas case study

18. Upper Leeson Street case study

19. Upper Leeson Street case study

20. Upper Leeson Street case study
(protected structure)
G->C1BER
1.89Heat loss area/floor area
67%BER - estimate energy savings
12%Glazing area/floor area

21. Microgeneration?

22. Window upgrade
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/technicalpapers

23. Window upgrade

24. Window upgrade
Secondary glazing Albert Hall, DCU
(U value of 1.89 w/m2k measured at Fitzwilliam Hotel)

25. Window upgrade
Slim double glazing to existing sashes

26. Walls - In-situ U-value measurements
1.09 1.19 1.62

27. Measuring absorption rates of solid walls

28. Measuring absorption rates of solid walls

29. Walls - Absorption rates
Old ≠ more absorbent
Absorption rate of Dolphin House 1960s brick
highest of all samples
X 200Possible variation in absorption rates
between brick & rendered wall
X 3Absorption rates of different bricks

30. Walls – insulation approaches
Calcium silicate board

31. Floors – insulation from underfloor voids

32. Roofs – the difficult areas!

33. • Understand the specific thermal characteristics of your house
• Be aware of the order of priority of works
• Increased thermal comfort is possible
• Don’t expect a significant payback on investment
(after attic insulation & heating system upgrade)
• Consult with local authority conservation officer
Built to Last – Energy Efficiency in pre-1945 Historic
Dwellings in Dublin City
Dublin City Council research project
Approaching an energy retrofit of a traditional house –
Some thoughts
30 April 2014, Litton HallUpper Leeson Street Area Residents Association AGM