RESEARCH PRODUCTS & SERVICES

eirgreen insulation & CONSTRUCTION

With more and more people becoming aware of the benefits (both financial and health benefits) of proper insulation, Eirgreen is delighted to offer a comprehensive and expert insulation service.

We carry out a wide range of extensions and renovations to include county council grant works, bathroom adaption’s and wheelchair access changes. All works are completed to client’s satisfaction, work areas kept clean and tidy. 

Eirgreen offers expertise on home build and renovations etc..

All our employees are expertly trained and certified in all aspects of heath and safety and with the products to which we use to the highest standard and monitored to ensure quality of performance.

Eirgreen Insulation is NSAI Approved and is registered under the SEAI Better Energy Homes Scheme and is fully insured with tax clearance certificate. We can assist in all grant work applications forms from start to finish and offer a free Building Energy Rating (BER) with all completed jobs.

Eirgreen is a company that has been installing home insulation, renovation builds and business energy advice for over 12 years and pride ourselves on our performance, honesty and attention to detail. We offer our customers a friendly and efficient service and get them the results they deserve.

BONDED BEAD Cavity wall insulation IRELAND

Bonded Bead Cavity Wall Insulation is a method of insulating a house similar to putting a coat around your body when going outside or a blanket over you when watching some television. The house or external walls therefore get additional insulation (blanket) which in turn makes a home warmer.

Most houses built from the 1960 onwards usually are of a cavity wall construction. This is a tried and tested method of construction where a cavity wall house/wall is built using two 100mm or 4” walls. These walls are built side by side with a gap between them of 100mm or 4” and are joined together with wall ties. This is known as the cavity section of the wall. Sometimes during the construction stage this cavity wall space may contain an insulated sheet which is providing the insulation for the house. In retrofitting cavity wall insulation it is thid space between the walls that Eirgreen Insulation are insulating which is an effective way to save energy and money on heating your home. The cavity wall insulation is pumped into the cavity space using a series of drill holes matching a drill pattern approved from the National Standards Association of Ireland (NSAI), filling the cavity void in the wall. In older homes there may be no insulation between the cavity which means when the walls are insulated using cavity wall insulation it is a full fill cavity. The bonded bead cavity wall insulation will then act as a barrier to the heat escaping through your walls. 

In recent years construction process of building new homes will leave the cavity space empty during the build and when the windows and roof are fitted and the cavity is sealed, it is then insulated using bonded bead cavity wall insulation.

Eirgreen Insulation based in Portlaoise, County Laois are NSAI approved to install Cavity wall Insulation or pumped in bonded bead Insulation and are an SEAI approved registered contractor and are ideally located to offer a nationwide cavity wall insulation service. Eirgreen Insulation provides bonded bead cavity wall insulation in County Laois & surrounding counties to include: Cavity Wall Insulation Carlow, Cavity Wall Insulation Kildare, Cavity Wall Insulation Offaly, Cavity Wall Insulation Kilkenny, Cavity Wall Insulation Dublin and throughout Ireland.

It makes perfect sense that a house with insulated cavity walls will be warmer, hold the heat for longer and is therefore cheaper to run. By using less energy you will be saving money on heating costs, have a more comfortable living environment whilst contributing to reducing global warming. Cavity Wall Insulation is an affordable method of insulating your home and reducing your heating bills and will pay for itself ten times over.

Bonded bead cavity wall insulation is simple to install, Eirgreen Insulation will discuss your insulation requirements, ask you a few simple questions about your home and then talk you through the process.

With government insulation grants operated through the Better Energy Homes Scheme plus additional grants available from energy providers there has never been a better time to upgrade your home.

Contact Eirgreen Insulation for a free survey for Bonded Bead Cavity Wall Insulation and see how affordable it is to insulate your home.

What is Cavity Wall Insulation
Cavity Wall Insulation is a silver bonded bead consisting of an expanded polystyrene material in a bead form; a product certified by the Irish Agrement Board and is suitable for use in new builds or existing homes. This is pumped or blown into the cavity walls of an existing house or a newly built cavity wall house by Eirgreen Insulation along with a bonding agent. The cavity wall insulation system is in effect a combination of high performance insulated beads tightly packed or pumped into the cavity wall to form a honeycomb effect of insulation supported by a water based adhesive or cavity wall glue. The cavity wall insulation has a finished thermal conductivity of 0.035W/mk with air being the insulating gas within the cavity wall insulation beads and  is guaranteed to sustain its thermal performance. 

Bonded Bead Cavity wall Insulation installation Method
When applied to existing homes Eirgreen Insulation will drill small holes around 22mm in size at regular intervals in the outside walls of your home. The drill holes for the cavity wall insulation are approximately the size of a one euro coin. There is an approved drill pattern to be followed from NSAI and the cavity wall bead manufacturers to ensure that the house will get maximum fill. These holes are approximately one metre apart vertically and four metres horizontally.

If the house has brick on the outer leaf we will drill the holes with 18mm drill bits. This size is suitable for bricks as the drill will not damage the corners of the brick leaving for a better finish when the bonded bead cavity wall insulation is completed.

On new build houses, Eirgreen Insulation will drill the holes from the inside of the house.

A full inspection of the walls is carried out using a Borescope or cavity wall inspection camera. This gives Eirgreen Insulation a clear view of the inside of the walls to ensure that the cavity is present and the wall ties are in good order and that the existing insulation if any is in the correct position.

The insulation beads are blown or pumped into the walls of the house using a compressor.
As the beads are pumped into the wall through the holes it is coated with a glue which enables the bead to flow freely through the cavity thus ensuring a full fill of the cavity wall. 

When finished, the holes are filled in with concrete and a coloured mortar is used to match in with the existing wall colour. Eirgreen Insulation endeavour to best match existing or will repaint over the holes with paint provided from the homeowner. This is all to ensure that the customer will be completly satisfied with the finish job from Eirgreen Insulation. Once all the insulation is in, our team fills the holes in the brickwork/ blockwork so you'll barely notice the holes. 

The entire cavity wall insulation is completed in one day as the process is straightforward and will not interfere in family life and routine. Bonded bead cavity wall insulation once installed will increase the warmth of your home immediately thus saving money on energy bills and making your home more comfortable.

As a result of bonded bead cavity wall insulation, the walls themselves become warmer which in most cases will eliminate the risk of condensation, dampness and mould.  

With that, 35% of your heating is lost through your walls so think of the money you are spending on heating costs which is leaking out through unsinsulated walls. With government Insulation grants plus additional grants available from energy providers for bonded bead cavity wall insulation, contact Eirgreen Insulation to learn how we can save you money on your energy bills and to get your free Eirgreen Insulation Cavity Wall Insulation survey, advice and with a no obligation quotation.

Unsure if My House is Cavity Wall Construction and Suitable for Bonded Bead Cavity Wall Insulation
Eirgreen Insulation will conduct a full house survey to determine the best method of insulating your home but if you prefer there are some simple signs to check:

• The Meter Box

If you have a meter box key you can open this and sometimes at the bottom of the meter box where the electric cables join the box you may see a hole into the cavity. If the cavity is empty or might have a white insulated board inside - it usually means the walls are suitable for insulation. If you see hollow block or timber frame construction - these walls are unsuitable for bonded bead Cavity Wall Insulation and will need to look at a different  method of insulating your house – with either External Insulation or Internal Insulation. 

• Vents / Holes by sinks / Attic

Sometimes you may be able to check the wall construction via a hole or vent in the wall or an opening in the wall in the attic space. Again when looking into the void you should see a cavity.

• Neighbouring Houses

You may have seen neighbours in the estate getting the house insulated previously. This is also an indication that your home is suitable for Cavity wall Insulation.

The methods listed above are only used as an indication. A full house survey by Eirgreen Insulation will determine the exact construction of the walls and to see if bonded bead cavity wall insulation is the correct fit for your home.

external WALL INSULATION

External Wall Insulation involves fixing a layer of insulation material to the outside wall and then covering it with a special type of render. You can choose from a variety of different colours and finishes, which can be smooth, textured, painted, or pebble-dashed. All external wall systems come with a 10 year guarantee.

attic insulation

Attic Insulation helps to prevent this heat loss and save you money on your heating bills. It also has the opposite effect in the summer by ensuring your house is kept much cooler. Attic Insulation acts as a blanket, trapping any heat rising from the house below. The current SEAI standard is a depth of 300mm or 12″ attic insulation. We start by filing in the insulation gaps between the ceiling joists then covering them with another layer of insulation, this ensures that there will be no cold spots. All pipes and tanks that contain water will be insulated, ensuring that they will be able to resist freezing temperatures. We also insulate and draught-proof the loft hatch. 

internal wall / dry-lining insulation

This system uses specially manufactured plasterboard. The thickness of the insulated plasterboard dictates the performance. This insulated plasterboard can either be screw-fixed or wet-fixed to the existing walls. Irrespective of the system used in your property, any existing fixings on the external walls will need to be moved before insulating - e.g. electric sockets or radiators.  

cavity extraction service

Coming soon.

condensing boilers

Coming soon.

heating controls

Coming soon.

HOUSE renovations

Coming soon.

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

Coming soon.

house clearing

Coming soon.

solar panels

Solar heating works by capturing the suns heat through Solar Panels, either flat panels or evacuated tubes, and uses this free energy to heat up the water in your home.
 
In Ireland heating water is the second largest energy use in the average home and by using this clean renewable energy source, not only is it good for the environment by reducing our consumption of conventional fossil fuels, lowering our emissions of greenhouse gases but solar water heating saves you money and is fast becoming the number one alternative energy solution.
 
Installing a Solar Panel Water Heating System will provide you with between 60% and 70% of your annual hot water needs (less in winter, more in summer) and now with the current generous Grants offered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) through the “Greener Homes Scheme”, there has never been a better time to reduce your heating cost and your carbon footprint.

How do Solar Panels work? 
Solar Panel SystemSolar Panels are fitted to ideally a south facing roof of your house, pointing towards the sun. The solar panels are made of specially designed material that absorbs the suns rays extremely efficiently and when the sun heats the solar panels, a fluid is pumped from the hot water cylinder in your hot press up and around the solar panels. 

The fluid is then heated in the solar panels, returns to your hot water cylinder tank thus heating your water. A special type of hot water tank is always fitted with solar panels and can have 2-3 coils to tie in with your existing heating system.
 
Is the Solar Panel System automatic? 
Yes any efficient solar system is fully automatic and works in conjunction with your existing water heating system. You will always have hot water all year round, especially in the summer and in the winter time the solar panels will pre-heat the water so your existing system be it oil or gas only has to top up the water to the required temperature.
 
The only difference is you will use less oil or gas and will never or very rarely use the emersion heater.
 
What are the Components of a Solar Panel Water Heating System? 
•         Solar Panel Collectors - to capture the solar energy. These can be Flat Plate or Evacuated Tubes
•         Circulation System – to move fluid between the Collectors and the Hot Water System
•         Control System – for regulation and to prevent overheating
•         New Hot Water Cylinder Tank – with factory fitted insulation for storing water and keeping it hot for longer
 
What is the difference between Solar Flat Panels and Solar Evacuated Tubes (Vacuum Panels)?
Solar Flat Panels IrelandSolar Flat Panels look like a flat panel of glass similar to the velux windows that you see on roofs of houses.  It is a flat plate absorber fixed in a frame between a single or double layer of glass with an insulation panel at the back.  These are fixed through the roof onto the rafters and all pipe work is sealed and runs back into your hot water cylinder tank.
 
Solar Evacuated Tubes IrelandSolar Evacuated Tubes (Vacuum Panels) are a series of tube panels side by side made of 2 layers of glass.  This allows the sun’s heat to be absorbed through the tubes of sealed glass efficiently but will not allow the heat to escape.  

This system works similar to a thermos flask in the way that no heat is allowed to escape due to the vacuum.
 
Is the Irish Climate suitable for Solar Panels? 
Despite popular belief that the Irish climate is not suitable for Solar Panel Energy due to our cloudy conditions and interrupted summers, the fact is that Ireland gets the same amount of sunlight as parts of Central Europe and is suitable for Solar Panels.
 
Even on a cloudy day, the sun’s energy can heat the water in an efficient system for free.
 
Have you ever noticed that you can get sunburnt on a cloudy day even though you can’t see the sun?  The solar panel collectors work the same way and absorb the sun’s solar energy even when the sky is overcast and can then convert this to heating your water in the house.

What type of Solar Panels are better suited for the Irish climate: Solar Flat Panels or Solar Evacuated Tubes (Vacuum Panels)?
Both systems over their life span (approx. 25 years) work quite efficiently and provide solar heating regardless of the climate.  However, a Solar Evacuated Tube Collector is approx. 25% more efficient in cloudier conditions.  Please note that from time to time, the tubes may blow, similar to a fluorescent light and to maintain their efficiency, the tube will have to be replaced, whereas the Solar Flat Panels are sealed and require no maintenance at all.
 
What happens when there is no Sunlight? 
The solar panel works during the day, heating the water in your cylinder for use at night.  It is a continued process, fully automatic and in Ireland with our long summers you will have more hot water in the summer and in the winter you will have less.
 
At night, the solar panels will not heat your water but you will have sufficient hot water in your cylinder from solar energy produced that day.
 
How do we Calculate how many Solar Panels are required? 
The solar panel system required and the amount of solar panels depends on the size of the house, number of occupants and the demand for hot water.
 
The average person uses between 45 and 60 litres of hot water per day, therefore on average a 300 litre tank with 2-3 solar panels would be sufficient for up to 5 people.
 
The General Rule of Thumb is approx 3-5 people, 2-3 Solar Panels and a 300 litre tank.    
 
What size Hot Water Cylinder Tank is needed? 
The size of the hot water cylinder fitted depends on your hot water demand and number of people in the house.
 
The general rule is with 2 panels, usually a 200 litre tank, 3 panels or more usually a 300-500 litre tank. The larger the tank the more hot water the cylinder can hold.
 
The water in the cylinder heated from the solar panels can remain hot for up to 3-4 days as all tanks are fitted with factory insulation and are highly insulated.
 
Eirgreen can advise on the best fit of your Hot Water Cylinder Tank whilst conducting a site survey.
 
How long does it take to install the Solar Heating Water System? 
eirgreen use Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) registered installers to fit our Solar Panel Systems.  Usually we require 1 full day to install a system with little or no interruption to your daily life.
 
Where is the Best Place to Position Solar Panels? 
Solar Energy systems are placed in the optimum location.  Usually facing South but can work quite efficiently in South Eastern or South Western positions.  The collector area of the panels must not be obscured by trees or other buildings as this would jeopardize the efficiency of the system.
 
The General Rule of Thumb is that an object would be at least 2.5 times the distance away from the Solar Panels for e.g.: if you had a wall and it was approx. 20 ft high, the solar panel should be located 50 ft away.
 
What happens to the Solar Panel Water Heating System if there is Hard water (limescale)? 
Limescale does not affect the solar panels themselves, however hard water (lime-scale) does affect cylinders over time.  Ideally if living in a hard water area, the installation of a Water Softener will look after not only your hot water cylinder but also your washing machine, dishwasher etc.
 
Are there any Grants available for Solar Panels? 
Yes.
 
What is the cost of installing Solar Panels? 
The average cost of an installed solar system is approx. €6,500. This varies from house to house and the demand for hot water. 
 
However, there are Grants available through Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) ranging from €1,200 through €1,800 to encourage the installation of this renewable energy.
 
What is the Return on Investment (ROI) on Solar Panels? 
The average return on investment on solar panels is between 4-5 years.  This is an estimation on current fuel costs however the real return on investment is you are cutting down on your CO2 emissions and your need for expensive fossil fuels.
 
By installing a Solar Panel Water Heating System you are increasing the value of your property and will improve the new Building Energy Rating (BER) of your house.
 
What are the Benefits of installing Solar Panels? 
•         Reduce your heating costs.  Use less oil, gas or electric for heating your house
•         Increase the value of your property and improve a Building Energy Rating (BER)
•         Free hot water
•         Reduce your CO2 emissions and your carbon footprint
•         Free energy from the sun
•         Do your part for climate change

What Solar Products does Eirgreen use? 
Our Solar products are manufactured by trusted German manufacturers.  They are:
        •     Consolar GmbH
        •     NEHS 
 
I want to install Solar Panels – What is the Next Step? 
Contact Eirgreen at (057) 868 8877 or (085) 706 7879 or email eirgreen@gmail.com and we can arrange for a FREE Site Survey to determine the suitability of Solar Panels and explain the next steps, grant applications and procedure in getting Solar Panels installed and availing from free energy from the sun.    

INTRODUCTION TO SOLAR PANELS
Although the sun is approximately 146 million kilometres (96 million miles) from earth, mankind has always been fascinated by this great star. It takes about 8.3 minutes for a ray of light from there to reach us (perhaps longer in Irelandlast year!) but energy from the sun, in the form of sunlight, supports almost all life on earth and is the key component to our climate and weather.

Over the years there have been a number of technology developments and methods to harness this energy from the sun and incorporate this into our daily lives such as motoring, generating electricity and to heat water in our homes.Germany and Holland are the leaders in Solar Technology and recent studies have found that Europe (including the UKand Ireland) can meet all its needs for electricity, cut emissions of CO2 from electricity generation by 70% by the year 2050 by harnessing solar energy from the sun. Ireland has embraced this practical use of solar energy and a method of reducing green house gases, and backed by funding from the EU there are a number of grant aided programmes to install solar panels. Despite popular belief that the Irish climate is not suitable for Solar Panel Energy due to our cloudy conditions and interrupted summers, the fact is thatIreland gets the same amount of sunlight as parts of Central Europeand is well suited to capture this free energy.

Even on a cloudy day, the sun’s energy can be harnessed to heat water in your home, and better still it is for free. It is very similar to getting sunburnt on a cloudy day even though you can’t see the sun. The solar panel collectors on a roof work the same way and absorb the sun’s solar energy even when the sky is overcast and can then convert this to heating your water in the house. I am sure we have all seen solar panels on houses or perhaps thought they were unusual looking velux windows and wonder what they are all about but over the next number of years they will be essential for every house.

It makes clear economic sense to install a solar water heating systems in nearly every Irish home. From a cost point of view, the payback time for solar panels is around 5 years after generous government grants. Additional benefits are lowering CO2emissions, saving on heating bills and participating in addressing global warming.

BUILDING ENERGY RATING (BER)

Property Professionals

Eirgreen professional assessors will work closely with Estate Agents, Landlors, Developers and Property Managers in issusing the Building Energy Rating (BER) Certificates for multiple properties.

We offer attractive packages to all our clients who have numerous properties that require a Building Energy Rating (BER).

Home Owners

Eirgreen professional assessors can provide Building Energy Ratings (BER) for all existing and new dwellings. From January 1, 2009, all Existing Homes for Sale or Rent will require a Building Energy Rating (BER).

Eigreen have registered BER Assessor's to issue BER Certificates for both new and existing dwellings. eirgreen have full BER Insurance when carrying out a site survey at your home.

Contact eirgreen today for your Building Energy Rating and we will issue your BER Certificate complete with the Building Energy Advisory Report. 

What Happens if a Home gets a Low Energy Rating?
No house can ever fail a Building Energy Rating and if an existing home achieves a low energy rating there will be no obligation on owners to upgrade their home. From a tenant or a prospective purchaser’s point of view, homes with a higher energy rating will have lower running costs and are more appealing. These homes will be easier to sell / rent and are likely to achieve higher prices on the open market. An average guide for standard houses around 5 years old, the rating is in the ‘C’ bracket while newer homes will be higher. All new homes must comply with current building regulations with a minimum B3 rating.

Can I Wait until my House Sold before I get a Building Energy Certificate?
Any potential purchaser or tenant is entitled to ask for a valid BER certificate from 1st January 2009. A vendor or landlord is advised to have a BER certificate present from this date and will require one in order to close a sale. Failure to provide a BER cert could delay the property transaction. A BER certificate is a transparent document for tenants, landlords, vendors and prospective buyers and in ways is similar to a NCT on a car.
 
Are any Buildings Exempt from Building Energy Ratings (BER)?
Yes there are a number of exemptions to the Building Energy Ratings - national monuments, protected buildings, places of worship, temporary buildings, and agricultural buildings with a low installed heating capacity and small buildings with a floor area less than 50m2.

What is the Penalty for NOT providing a BER Certificate?
Failure to produce a certificate on the sale or letting of a property coming under the legislation when required can result in a maximum fine of €5,000 on conviction in the District Court.

An advisory report accompanies all BER Certificates and will set out the most cost effective ways of improving the energy rating of your home. The vendor may decide to carry out some upgrading work themselves or to pass the report on to the new owner but is legally not obliged to do so. eirgreen will also include detailed costs for all the improvement works.