A new low energy and airtight extension is currently on site at the TLC Nursing Home in Maynooth, Co Kildare.

Solar Electric Ireland has just completed the largest solar PV installation in a single location in the Republic of Ireland.

Heat pumps from leading manufacturer Daikin have recently been installed in social housing retrofit projects across the country, helping to cut bills and improve comfort for occupants.

Traditional screeds require significant drying before the final floor covering can be installed, however, if this is not well planned for, it may well delay the completion of the entire project.

All new buildings in south-east Dublin must be built to the passive house standard or demonstrably equivalent levels, in a move that may lead to the construction of upwards of 20,000 passive houses by 2022.

Leading airtightness and vapour control product manufacturer Ampack’s BBA certification now includes the company’s external systems — Ampatop Protecta, Ampatop Protecta plus, Ampatop Aero and Ampatop Aero plus.

Kingspan Insulation UK has published its latest Sustainability & Responsibility Report, highlighting a year of continued growth and sustainable development.

Bristol City Council have appointed Gale & Snowden Architects as lead consultants on a scheme of 23 dwellings aiming for passive house plus certification.

Leading Irish low energy window supplier Ultimate Windows & Doors has introduced the Polish-manufactured Eko Okna low energy windows and door range, including airtight, thermally broken lift and slide doors.

Leading Irish heating supplier Origen Energy has launched the Genvex Combi 185 combined heat recovery ventilation and domestic hot water heat pump to the Irish market.

Double winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, Ancon Building Products continues to expand its range of high integrity structural fixings and will exhibit a number of new products at Ecobuild 2016 taking place at ExCeL, London from 8 to 10 March 2016.

Penny Randell has been appointed as a director of Ecological Building Systems UK Ltd.

The UK Green Building Council has come together with Green Building Councils from around the world to publish a series of commitments from the private sector that would result in massive carbon savings from buildings and construction.

Ecological Building Systems is pleased to announce that its Diasen Diathonite Evolution lime cork thermal insulating render system won in the ’best interior design’ category at the RIAI Architecture Expo.

Nilan Ireland has announced that all Nilan heat pumps have achieved best-in-class performance under the EU’s new Ecodesign Directive, which came into force last September.

The Association for the Conservation of Energy (Ace) has described as “scandalous” the Chancellor’s announcement of a 42% cut in the help available to households living in “dangerously” cold homes.

Our editor Jeff Colley appeared on a segment on RTE 1's Eco Eye last night, extolling the virtues of passive house, alongside passive house owner Niall Walsh of KNX Tech. If you missed it, check out this video.

Linham Construction has just announced the introduction of Geocell foam glass gravel and aggregate in Ireland.

Ecohouse Developments, a new low energy design and build service, has launched in Ireland. The company employs a team of architects, engineers and builders, and can deliver turnkey passive houses to its clients, or simply build the principle passive structure if the client prefers.

The Royal Institute of British Architects said that, despite some growing pessimism among architectural practices about business prospects, passive house design represents a new and exciting growth area that offers added value for architectural firms.