*** 30% funded discount available for eligible participants. GreenTech Skillnet is proudly collaborating with Engineers Ireland to deliver this CPD Programme. To register for the course and receive your discount code, please contact the CPD Team at cpdtraining@engineersireland.ie, referencing GreenTech. *** 

Course Overview 

This programme focuses particularly on the recommendations set out in NSAI SR54 “Code of Practice – Methodology for the Energy Efficient Retrofit of Existing Dwellings” and is divided into 5 distinct modules. The modules will cover topics including; Near Zero Energy Buildings, Basic Building Physics, Building Fabric, Building Services and Renewable Energy.  

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, participants will: 

• Develop an understanding of the issues around energy, building regulations and certification schemes in relation to dwellings.
• Understand the processes relating to the thermal properties and heat loss mechanisms pertaining to dwellings.
• Appraise the building envelope and recommend potential retrofitting solutions.
• Understand space heating, water heating and ventilation systems and their impact on energy performance.
• Differentiate between a range of thermal and electrical energy generation solutions suitable for retrofitting into dwellings. 

Course Delivery 

This is a virtual classroom in which participants will require access to a webcam and microphone for live sessions with the trainer throughout the day. Participants will receive a login code via email. 

This course will consist of 5 modules delivered across 5 consecutive weeks from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm commencing 3rd October - 1st November. See a breakdown of dates below:

• Module 1: Near Zero Energy Building - Tuesday, 3rd October 
• Module 2: Basic Building Physics; Heat Loss and Storage - Tuesday, 10th October 
• Module 3: Building Fabric - Wednesday, 18th October 
• Module 4: Building Services; Mechanical Systems in Buildings - Tuesday, 24th October 
• Module 5: Renewable Energy; Thermal and Electricity Generation – Wednesday, 1^st November 

Course Content 

Module 1 - Near Zero Energy Building

At the end of this module delegates should be able to:

• Appraise principles of NZEB design and construction of dwellings.
• Differentiate between different Energy Certifications Schemes.
• Devise retrofitting solutions that comply with the Building Regulations Part L & Part F.
• Interpret information provided in low energy retrofit case studies.

Module 2 - Basic Building Physics relating to heat loss and storage

At the end of this module delegates should be able to:

• Explain the different heat transfer processes as they apply to the building envelope.
• Calculate the U-Values of building envelope elements.
• Identify thermal bridging problems and propose potential retrofitting solutions.
• Identify air permeability problems and propose potential retrofitting solutions.
• Describe problems associated with condensation in dwellings.

Module 3 - Building Fabric

At the end of this module delegates should be able to:

• Appraise the building envelope and its role as the primary climatic modifier.
• Differentiate between potential construction details suitable for retrofitting.
• Compare potential insulation retrofitting options for dwellings.
• Examine a range of insulation materials suitable for retrofitting dwellings. 
• Interpret the effect of different insulation retrofitting solutions on the building envelope properties in terms of; thermal mass, air permeability and interstitial condensation.
• Examine the best practice retrofitting treatment for each building envelope element.
• Discuss thermal bridging in terms of its consequences and prediction of the heat loss associated with thermal bridging.
• Differentiate between the products associated with; airtightness, vapour control & windtightness.
• Develop solutions for the retrofitting of windows in dwellings.

Module 4 - Building Services; mechanical systems in buildings

At the end of this module delegates should be able to:

• Describe the processes of ventilation in dwellings.
• Distinguish between ventilation and airtightness.
• Solve a range of ventilation problems using psychrometric charts.
• Appraise natural and mechanical technical solutions for retrofitting ventilation in dwellings. 
• Differentiate between different space heating solutions for dwellings. 
• Examine heat generation methods and potential retrofitting solutions. 
• Identify domestic water heating technologies and potential retrofitting solutions. 
• Describe controls associated with space heating and water heating systems. 

Module 5 - Renewable Energy, thermal and electricity generation

At the end of this module delegates should be able to:

• Differentiate between a range of thermal energy generation solutions suitable for retrofitting into dwellings, particularly; heat pumps, solar thermal, small scale CHP, biomass.
• Examine the feasibility of thermal energy generation solutions in terms of energy and cost.
• Differentiate between a range of electrical energy generation solutions suitable for retrofitting into dwellings, particularly; solar PV, wind turbines, small scale CHP.
• Examine the feasibility of electrical energy generation solutions in terms of energy and cost.

Who Should Attend 

Engineers or professionals who wish to improve their expertise in the area of energy retrofitting of dwellings should attend this comprehensive programme which is fully aligned with NSAI SR54 “Code of Practice – Methodology for the Energy Efficient Retrofit of Existing Dwellings. 

Certification 

CPD Attendance Certificate supplied upon successful completion of the course.

About to Trainer 

Mervin Doyle BEng (Hons) MPhil CEng MIEI, Lecturer, SETU
Mervin is a lecturer in the School of Engineering at Waterford Institute of Technology since 2002 and is programme leader of the MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering at SETU. He holds a research Masters Degree from Dublin Institute of Technology and a BEng (Hons) in Environmental Services Engineering from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. Mervin lectures on a range of topics, including low energy building design, energy performance of buildings and dynamic thermal simulation. Mervin’s main research interests lie in dynamic thermal modelling of building energy performance.

Mervin is a Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Engineers of Ireland.

Colm Tynan BSc Eng (Hons), MSc Eng CEM MEI, Lecturer, SETU
Colm is an experienced engineer with over 20 years lecturing and programme management knowledge in the education sector. He is currently programme leader of the BEng (Hons) in Sustainable Energy Engineering and the BEng in Fire Engineering courses in Waterford Institute of Technology. He lectures on a range of topics including Energy Performance of Buildings, Low Energy Building Design, Building Services Systems and Air Conditioning Design. He holds an MSc in Fire Safety Engineering from University of Ulster and a BSc Eng (Hons) in Building Services Engineering from Dublin Institute of Technology. He is also a Certified Energy Manager and a member of the Energy Institute.