[The Irish plan for Zero Carbon Homes by 2016]

By

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank to my supervisor supporting me throughout my project and giving his valuable suggestions. Finally thanks to all my friends and family for their utmost support and inspiration.

DECLARATION

I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as well as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially which are associated with university.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

ABSTRACT

Government of Ireland aims to cut down carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2016.This commitment will be required to reduce carbon emissions from all sectors, including housing, now accounting for 27% of industrial carbon dioxide emissions. Residential construction industry is facing a lot of government policy and legislative issues. This particular research aims to find out if the government's olan to build zero-carbon homes by 2016 is feasible and what steps could be taken in the pursuance of this particular goal. The feasibility of zero-carbon housing was judged by conducting a a comprehensive opinion survey by questionnaire and further data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews from the representatives of the and housing development to get the main Irish review of the situation.. Survey of the house builders agree that the provisions of these challenges are not insurmountable, rapid, comprehensive and realistic strategy could make the it possiblr for Irish government to achieve the aim.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

The driver of low carbon housing7

Commercial Drivers7

Cultural drivers8

Legislative drivers9

Barriers to low carbon housing9

Code for sustainable homes (the CSH)11

Aims and Objectives15

Research Questions15

Reliability15

Validity16

Ethical concerns17

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW18

Prototype Home19

Embodied energy reduction26

Skills, education and training is essential26

Access to economic rights27

Transformation28

Community Building28

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY30

CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS32

Key Legislative Drivers35

key cultural drivers36

Key business drivers36

key financial drivers37

The Main Legal Obstacle38

key financial barriers38

Major cultural obstacles39

Design and technical obstacles40

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION43

Advantages and disadvantages44

REFERENCES47

APPENDICES50

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Climate change has become an important issue, which requires urgent and coordinated global response to itself. To help address global warming, the Irish are on a road cut about 60% of its carbon dioxide emissions compared to 2000. This is a more ambitious commitment by the Irish in accordance with the by mid-century goal of 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in October 2008. This commitment will be required to reduce carbon emissions from all sectors, including housing industry. From the housing sector carbon dioxide emissions have risen since 1997, accounting for 27% of Ireland's carbon emissions(Hodgson 2008 12).The Government also highlights an important industry to reduce carbon emissions, which is the housing construction industry. Ireland's housing construction industry has been the subject of many government reports and initiatives in recent years, such as former Deputy Prime Minister's Office £ 60K home program, which began in 2004, with the subject of targeting production rate and the affordability of the new building houses the subject. In fact, the program has been challenging building industry construction techniques to see how it can ...