Irish Times, March 2011

Bringing down the house

Jeff Colley, editor of the Construct Ireland magazine, points out how Ireland missed an opportunity during the property boom to achieve innovation and quality in construction. He mentions how current building methods can prove dangerous for our homes as well as for their occupants. Dry lining can be a striking example if poorly used, as green architect Joseph Little underlined in a serie of articles in Construct Ireland. Poor ventilation in air-tight retrofitted houses can also lead to health issues, explains eco-design consultant Xavier Dubuisson. But innovative solutions exists, such as Demand Controlled Ventilation. Innovation can be Ireland’s chance if our leaders take the necessary steps, concludes Colley.

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