Now is the time to upskill to nZEB!

Buildings can use and waste a lot of energy. A nearly zero energy building (nZEB) is a high-performance building that needs only a small amount of energy use. the nZEB standard is mandatory and will shape the future of construction. Now is the time for everyone across the building supply chain to upskill in how to achieve nZEB.

Under the revised building regulations, all new residential buildings must have a Building Energy Rating (BER) of A2. Consequently, new homes will be warmer and more comfortable. nZEB will also help reduce our carbon emissions. So, making buildings more energy efficient is a big part of the national effort to tackle climate change.

however, energy efficiency doesn’t just apply to new builds, if we want to renovate our existing homes, they need to perform better. The majority of houses in Ireland are wasting energy with 78% having a C2 Building Energy Rating (BER) or lower. Under the new regulations, if a major renovation is carried out on a home the entire building must achieve an improved energy rating, typically a B2 BER. A major renovation means the renovation of a building where more than 25% of
the surface of the building envelope undergoes renovation.

In addition, the Government’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) has a target to renovate half a million Irish homes to a B2 BER by 2030. This commitment will generate a huge increase in renovation activity in the coming years and it is important for everyone in the sector, including builders’ merchants, to get up to speed on the principles of achieving low energy buildings.

There are a number of training courses available for upskilling in nZEB. A good place to start, is the nZEB Fundamental Awareness course and the nZEB Retrofit Course which are now being delivered online and face to face by Waterford Wexford Educational Training Board (WWETB) and other ETBs.

These courses demonstrate how to achieve a high quality nZEB building using a number of best practice case studies, looking at the building fabric (envelope and detailing) first and then looking at building services (heating, ventilation, smart controls etc).

Using the first principle “Build tight, Ventilate right”. They explain the importance of how a correctly insulated building will reduce heat loss, where common gaps and detailing defects occur, how these can affect the building performance and best-case examples on how to resolve them. The benefits and importance of airtightness for buildings are also presented and explained, requiring the necessity for controlled ventilation systems in nZEB buildings.

There are a number of other nZEB training courses available at WWETB, specifically for craft workers – plasterers, carpenters, bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, and ventilation providers, as well as site managers. These provide an in depth understanding of nZEB related to their specific trade and role on site, with certification through City and Guilds.

Training incorporating and demonstrating how Building Information Modelling (BIM) and other Digital Tools can assist with achieving nZEB compliance are also available through Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). It is important to understand how to manage and streamline work on site, address and provide solutions, ensure nZEB compliance and  work as a team using digital tools, especially when renovating an existing building.

The BIMzeED programme consists of a number of short learning-units that let you do the training in a blended format (online and face-to face). Early next year all learning units will be available online.

The Irish Green Building Council have launched the #WaterMatters campaign, which calls for retailers to communicate the importance of water efficiency to
consumers. As part of this Water Efficiency Awareness Campaign, IGBC are currently developing a training course for Hardware Stores & Retailers in water efficiency and the requirements of sustainability certification systems such as HPI and LEED.

To find out more about the project and how we can help you contact Alice Ryan, Alice@igbc.ie and Benny McDonagh, benny.mcdonagh@lit.ie. nZEB Awareness Courses http://nzeb.wwetbtraining.ie

This Business Support article featured in the November/December 2021 issue of The Hardware Journal