International Saint-Gobain ISOVER Energy Efficiency Awards 20th March 2014, Dublin. One Winners perspective.

The Energy Efficiency Awards have been created to reward Europe’s most successful energy efficient building renovation and innovative construction projects, both in residential and non-residential sectors

Every two years, Saint-Gobain ISOVER launches a competition among the building professionals to encourage environmental-friendly construction techniques with substantial energy savings and rewards creativity and expertise through the EEAs. ISOVER welcomes the winners to join the ceremony that takes place in a different European capital for each edition. This year’s Energy Efficiency Awards ceremony was  held in Dublin, Ireland, on March 20th, 2014.

All expenses for this 24 hours celebration were paid including flight tickets !

The luxurious Shelbourne 5* Hotel overlooking St. Stephen's Green  Dublin was the Home of the international Award Winners.

Archie O'Donnell, Zeno & Karen Winkens in the Gravity Bar

All was well organized from the registration to the welcome lunch buffet, architectural Dublin City tour to Departure to the Guinness Storehouse for the evening ceremony. Through the Guinness history exhibition we made our way to the roof top bar. The Gravity Bar was back drop for cocktails and of course Guinness.

This event was a celebration of all Worldwide Saint-Gobain ISOVER Award Winners. There was no overall winner, just 39 winners from 19 countries.

The presentations were slick - Country mentioned with flag, photo of build with name of project, name of winners, awards given, next please. Sile Seoige was Master of Ceremonies.

The award is a lovely brass sculpture on glass base, I shall keep this award next to my 2012 Residential Green Award.

A lovely dinner was followed by live music with plenty of dancing. Our table had two sets of Bulgarian Winners. And our Winning team my wife Karen @MizzWinkens, Archie@Beyondpassive,  Chris @gr8developments and wife Vamessa @vanessaboconnor. Unfortunatly the clients Francis  @fclauson and Brigid @clausonb could not make it.

At the end of the successful night all celebrants got a well produced full colour hard back book 127 pages with all winning projects and teams.

Thank you The ISOVER International Marketing team.

Especially Valérie Saint-Mleux who was very attentive and welcoming.             

The Best of Book 2013 - page 94/95

2013 ISOVER Energy Efficiency Awards Link

Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014

 The new Building Control (Amendment) Regulation 2014

 S.I-9 (replacing S.I-80) will come into force on 1st of March 2014.

This is in relation to the Commencement notice that needs to be sent in before construction can start.

This is quite a heated subject currently with architects, engineers and building surveyors as all the information on these new regulations are not in yet.

This is not widely publicized yet, but it will have quiet an impact on all in the building process from the 1st of March 2014.

E.G. As a self builder, you will not be able to nominate yourself to be the builder after 1st of March 2014 when the new regulations comes into effect.

Read IAOSB

More info on this forum

And on Linkedin

Safety Guide for Homeowners wanting to build

Have you started on your domestic project & informed the HSA?

There is a guide that tells you what you need to know and do when you
are having construction work done in your home. The Health
and Safety Authority (HSA) developed this guide in light of new
responsibilities for homeowners under the Safety, Health and
Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013. The regulations
apply to construction work that you pay to get done in your
home. They do not apply to DIY (Do it yourself) jobs.

Here is a to do guide you must follow since the 1st of Aug 2013.

Home owner Guide

Best Eco Green Blog Shorlisted 2012.

We are happy to be shortlisted for the Blog Awards Ireland

Best Eco Green Blog 2012.

 

 

Blogawardsireland best-ecogreen-blog-shortlist

Waterless toilet solutions

 

In Dublin there is a companty now offering waterless toilet solutions.
Are problems with septic tanks a thing of the past?

 

>Urine diverting toilets

>Composting toilets - NSF certified >>>>

>Waterless Urinals - for men and women

>Incinerating Toilets - (perhaps not the most eco friendly but waterless none the less !)

>Deep Freeze Toilets

All of the above dispose of human waste without the need for water so a septic tank is not required. There are options that do not require any electricity either.

http://www.toiletrevolution.ie/

 

 

 

 

 

Brazil's star architect Oscar Niemeyer is 104 today, and he still has no plans to retire.

The constant presence, of Oscar Niemeyer on the scene of international contemporary architecture from 1936 until the present time, has transformed him into a symbol of Brazil.

His pursuit of great architecture linked to roots of his native land has resulted in new plastic forms and a lyricism in buildings, not only in Brazil, but around the world. For his lifetime achievements, the Pritzker Architecture Prize is bestowed.

Happy Birthday Oskar Niemeyer, it’s my Birthday too.

But will I still be around at 104? And still working?

Timeslive tribute

Lego Architectural Scale Kits

On a recent trip to Germany I came across a LEGO shop. There were about 13 architectural master pieces ‘to scale’ in LEGO elements. A bit pricy from about € 25 to €300.

Fallingwater House is about €95.

Farnsworth House pictured  below here about €60.

Link to Lego Germany.