This document summarizes the work of the SERVE project in Tipperary, Ireland. The SERVE project retrofitted existing homes and buildings, constructed new buildings, installed renewable energy systems, collected energy usage data, and researched socioeconomic impacts. Key results included 400 retrofits, 50 new builds, renewable energy installations, over 40 million pieces of energy data collected, and €4.1 million in grant aid secured. Energy usage decreased and biomass use increased post-retrofit. The document discusses how the SERVE project informed current national retrofit programs and energy policies in Ireland.

1. © SERVE Project, 2013
www.servecommunity.ie
SERVE-ING Tipperary
Results & Lessons
Paul KEnny

2. SERVE Region
© SERVE Project, 2010
Rural Region

3. Core Project Activities
Retrofitting for Existing
Houses and Buildings
New Buildings
Renewable Energy Supply
Monitor and prove results
Research on socio-economic
impacts © SERVE Project, 2010

4. © SERVE Project, 2010
400
Retrofits
50
New Builds
73,000m2

5. © SERVE Project, 2010
600
Wood Stoves
950 m2
Solar Panels
2,000kW
Biomass

6. © SERVE Project, 2010
40,000,000
pieces of Energy
Data
100’s of House
Visits
Many Cups of
Tea

7. Results
© SERVE Project, 2010
€4.1m in Grant
Aid
11% IRR
13% increase
in Biomass Use

8. © SERVE Project, 2008
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 D1 D2 E1 E2 F G
National
Tipperary
SERVE Pre Upgrade
SERVE Monitored Houses – Pre Upgrade
EXCELLENT GOOD VERY POOR

9. SERVE Monitored Houses – Post Upgrade
© SERVE Project, 2008
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 D1 D2 E1 E2 F G
National
Tipperary
SERVE Post Upgrade
Notable Shift towards B3 / C1
Using National & SERVE BER Databases
EXCELLENT GOOD VERY POOR

10. NOW and THEN
– Now a National Retrofit Programme and Grant
Supports which have many similarities to SERVE
structures
– No supports for retrofitting of homes
– 200 construction people trained on quality standards
– No training on retrofitting
– SERVE has 40 million data points on energy
consumption in dwellings (retrofitted and new
buildings)
– No data on energy performance of dwellings
– 1.5MW of biomass heating in place on Heat Supply
Contracts. ESCO Model Development
– No Biomass Heat Supply Contracts in Place© SERVE Project, 2010

11. • Climate change reality
• Ireland’s energy use – need to accelerate
NZEB
• Energy security
• Competitiveness
Why we need to change

12. Climate Change Reality
• “The latest science makes it clear that the world needs to reach zero
carbon emissions globally by 2050 to maximise chances of staying
below 2 degrees and to make 1.5 degrees feasible,”… Mary Robinson,
NUI maynooth, Summer 2015
• End fossil fuels for heating and electricity by 2040
• Grid Electricity is a huge challenge (but not for Today’s discussion!!)
• For housing:
– Elimination of fossil fuel at household level.
– Energy Efficiency
– Renewable energy primary and secondary heat.
• Practical implications:
– Airtightness & ventilation
– Fabric
– Wood Pellets or Heat pumps and Grid De-Carbonisation.

13. Domestic CO2 reduction options
• Credible option A:
• At generational retrofit (30-50 years) – when large works being
undertaken:
– External insulation to foundation, and through soffit.
– Remove ceilings, membrane installation, and replace floor.
– New windows & doors, airtight to fabric.
– Airtightness to 0.6-2 ACH;
– HRV, External Airsource stoves, Heatpumps with UFH.
– 60-80k additional cost Vs Standard rewire/ replaster/ replumb/ reroof.
– BER of 40-65 kWh/M2/annum.
– €300 to heat.
– 1.8M houses @70k = 126Bn Euro.
– It will take 50-100 years at current renovation rate to achieve.
• We have 25.
• We need a cheaper solution.

14. Domestic CO2 reduction options
• Credible option B:
• At deep retrofit that forgoes very long payback fabric upgrades that costs
less to do, but higher ongoing heat use using RES-E (via grid)
– External insulation only for solid walls.
– Seal up gaps and holes with 3-6 man days labour to achieve 3-5ACH/ Hr.
– New front doors.
– New windows where > 3Uvalue; new glazing where frames have long life left.
– HRV or DCV (i.e. not hole in wall!!)
– Heatpumps with LT rads (COP 3 expected) or pellets.
– 20-40k cost.
– BER of 70-100 kWh/M2/annum.
– €600- €800 to heat vs €1800 (18MWh @10c oil; after boiler).
– 1.8M houses @25k = 45 Bn Euro. (still 8-10 x current retrofit rate!!).

15. Measures
• Minimum Requirements:
• Heat pumps:
– Need Low Temperature Radiators
– Need longer heating times, therefore airtightness becomes more of an issue.
– If airtightness improved, ventilation needs to be improved.
– Controls need to be integrated (on/ off Vs radiator temperature control).
• Biomass Boilers
– Pellets may be chosen (larger, historic dwellings)
– Log gassification stoves or Boilers may be chosen with self supply, but not likely.
• Secondary heating
– Remove open fires or Install Chain based chimney closure and No HRV.
– Biomass room heater stoves with external air feed.
• Airtightness upgrade (experimental)
– Pre works test.
– Window/ door frame seal upgrade.
– Service openings external and internal sealing.
– Attic AT works (Taping services, Wires from ceiling roses/ conduits, other openings).
– Other AT weaknesses based on a test.

16. Measures
• Minimum Requirements:
• Ventilation:
– Ideally Whole House Heat recovery Ventilation however:
• Can be excessively disruptive/ costly
• Householder may be tied to Open fires or non balanced flue stoves (HRV not ok).
– Demand Control Ventilation
– Other TBC.
• Real time electricity monitor.
• External access controls
• Hot water tank for Heat pump (i.e. Low temperature coil)
• Passiv Haus Front Door.

17. Measures
Optional additions:
• Cavity wall insulation
• External Wall insulation
• Attic insulation.
• Windows (frames and glazing)
• Glazing Elements (coated, warm edge spacer, inert gas)
• Solar PV
– All houses will have day / night meter upgrades for the HP.
– High day baseload with HRV.
– Solar Water heater via PV and heatpump!
– Need Low Temperature Radiators
• Low energy Lighting.
– High Quality LED’s

18. What will we learn
• Consumer appetite
• Consumer attitudes to retrofit
• Financial model test
• Air Permeability reduction
• Heat pump performance appraisal
….. And a huge amount of other data!!

19. • Non profit, public good social
enterprise
• Partnership approach
• Energy management
• Renewable energy and energy
efficiency
• Procurement, project mgmt.
• Cost effective, value driven
• 12 expert staff
• Paul Kenny
• Chief Executive
• T: 052 7443090
• F: 052 7443012
• E: pkenny@tea.ie
• W: www.tea.ie
• Cahir
Tipperary Energy Agency