The Log House Company were invited to to put forward our opinions on the new draft of The Wicklow County Development Plan. Below is a copy of our presentation to members of Wicklow Co. Co. Planning Authority on 28/11/2008.

1. Climate Change & Energy Efficiency
It states in the CDP that “ Climate change is among the greatest challenge of our time” and goes on to say “In recent years there has been a strong push to promote sustainable building designs and materials that optimise the energy efficiency of buildings.”

RESPONSE: There is an urgent need to emphasis the importance of developing and promoting sustainabe building materials alongside the need to construct energy efficient homes. There is not much point in having a house that produces low CO2 emissions if large amounts of CO2 are produced in the manufacture of its materials. A building that is sustainable must, by nature, be constructed using sustainable materials: i.e. materials that can be used without any adverse effect on the environment.

2. Waste Management
“The County Wicklow Waste Management Plan for the period 2006-2011 sets out a strategy for the recovery, recycling and disposal of waste arising in County Wicklow. The Plan promotes a hierarchy of preferential modes of waste management such as, prevention, minimisation, reuse and recycling, disposal with energy recovery and disposal of residual waste.”

RESPONSE: We feel that the CDP does not deal properly with what we do with our waste in regards to reuse, recycling and salvage especially in house construction. For example we collect newspaper that goes to countries like Germany where it is transported back to Ireland as Warmcel Insulation. There is no promotion of the use of recycled materials
Many of the concepts in the review are laudable and formally correct – but I,  like many like minded people in Wicklow fear that it is just rhetoric. We have not seen any evidence of change or commitment to a new approach.

Positive Properties of Timber & Log
Wood for example is carbon neutral; this means that the carbon dioxide emitted by manufacturing timber is equal to the carbon dioxide absorbed by growing trees and so the carbon cycle remains intact. Every cubic metre of wood used saves 2 tonnes of CO2 being emittedTimber from certified sustainable forests is a renewable resource. Finland’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ms Anttila stated in 2007  “The Baltic States should continue to be active pioneers, both in increasing eco-efficiency and in shifting the focus from non-renewable resources to renewable resources. More efficient, sustainable use of raw materials, in combating the threats of climate change will be key issues in determining the future of mankind.”
There is very little waste and a clean site during construction. All of the wood removed from the forest is used, if not as raw material, then as energy for example wood pellets – with an extremely high efficiency, over 90 per cent.
Aesthetics are subjective but natural products are becoming the most popular and valued materials in every aspect of our lives. They are appreciated and recognised as the most visually pleasing and they compliment our environment. Natural timber finishes are now popular over concrete on apartment blocks.

Recycled & Renewable Materials
There is a huge push to increase insulation in homes without consideration of the effect of these materials on our health and the environment. We should avoid insulating materials involving chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). They are ozone-depleting compounds, and a source of pollution
Whenever possible we should promote the use of insulation made from recycled materials. Cellulose insulation (fireproofed recycled newspaper) is a major green product. Now produced in Cork.
We should consider natural products like Sheep Wool Insulation produced here in Wicklow.

Impacts of Carbon Dioxide Emissions
There is much talk of Global Warming and the effects of Co2 Emissions are well publicised. They’ve gone up 30% in the last century. If you add onto this the fact that the population is expected to double in the next century, and many developing nations like China with huge coal reserves are rapidly industrializing, then you can see why this Co2 projection is headed straight off the graph. Is it all talk or is it possible to address these serious environmental problems whilst living in a consumer and industry oriented society?A proactive policy by Wicklow Planning Authority should be put in place to encourage individual builders and developers to use sustainable materials as well as promoting higher U-values - in line with minister Eamon Ryan’s initiative.

The Negative Affect of the Cement Industry
Cement is one of the most environmentally hazardous materials in the world, adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than the entire weight of the global airline industry. According to the Sustainable Development Commission, 4% of Co2 is caused by aviation. Cement-based building materials, account for between 5% and 10% of all carbon dioxide emissions. Finding an alternative product to cement would, therefore, make excellent environmental sense, especially if we are to meet the government’s ambitious Kyoto agreement to limit the rise in our emissions to 13% above 1990 levels by 2012. Predictions are that Co2 will have increased by as much as 34% over 1990 levels.
Faced with spiralling fuel costs - more than 40% of the cost of cement comes from firing the kilns. Not only do modern plants consume as much energy as a small town; the kilns exhale clouds of toxic chemicals.
Most of us tend to think that cars are the source of our environmental problems and yes, they are a big source. But buildings are responsible for a larger percentage of most environmental impacts. Buildings consume about 40% of all the energy used in the U.S. All transportation including cars is only about 28%.

Types of green building material
Materials commonly used in atypical building include concrete, artificial insulation products, steel and PVC. These materials have very high-energy consumption in manufacture, Where natural materials cannot be used, materials which are recycled or that can be easily recycled in the future should be chosen as the least damaging option.
There are two main types of green materials, those, which are made from, recycled, and those made from renewable materials. There are several considerations when deciding whether a material is green or not.
Energy used in manufacturing green materials needs to involve as little high energy processing as possible. The opposite is outlined in the example above, on cement production. Alternative materials using lime, earth and renewable materials that can be grown on the land, use much less energy and would make Ireland less dependent on imported fossil fuel.
Toxic substances: as far as is possible the use of toxic glues, resins and chemicals or materials containing them must be avoided. These substances can have continuous negative effects in your home by releasing toxic and harmful fumes after drying or installation.
Source of materials: ethical and authenticated sources of materials must be identified and promoted for renewable resources
Reuse: if materials are durable they should be relatively easy to dismantle and reuse and benign if they are to be disposed of.

So the question is what can we do about all this?
If the negative impact of buildings is to be reduced we must find ways of building that reduce pollution of the air, water and soil during the construction process and in the production of materials. In addition, thought must be given to the building both during design and after it is constructed so that it is energy efficient and healthy to live in.
We need to think of buildings and their surroundings as a whole. Important issues in natural building include, orientation of buildings on site, design of the building, choice of building materials and technologies used to heat the building and treat the waste produced from the building.
There are a range of materials and products, which are environmentally friendly, which if used by architects and builders could result in buildings that are healthy, sustainable and comply with planning and building regulations.
  Eamon Murray 

 

  

   

 

Filed under: Architecture in Ireland, Log house planning permission in Ireland on November 28th, 2008