29 December 2018
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
Residents in Cork city will have warmer homes and reduced energy bills after Cork City Council completed a major energy upgrade of two apartment blocks.
These works aim to improve the quality of social housing stock, to reduce heating costs and to bring down our carbon footprint.
Families of all ages and elderly people live in the apartment blocks in Togher which are the first two of 14 Cork City Council apartment blocks that are to undergo a deep energy retrofit. Similar works are underway at two more apartment blocks and should be completed early next year. Work is also due to start on 10 more blocks in early 2019 as part of this pilot project. In total, 129 homes will be refurbished as part of the €6.2 million project which is 50% funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Southern Assembly and the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government.
Twenty one properties at Edward Walsh Road received new external insulation, new stoves, upgraded heating systems, new windows and doors, improved ventilation, the installation of air to water heating systems in ground floor apartments, and installation of solar PV panels on upper apartments. Air tightness tests were also undertaken. Roof repairs were also carried out and chimneys were replaced in some homes. Final snagging and commissioning is ongoing. The BER value of the property will improve from high Cs and Ds to B1 ratings and a number of A3 ratings.
Brian Geaney, Director of Services, Housing and Community said that ‘Homeowners will enjoy more comfortable homes and reduced fuel bills, a new beginning. Circular and climate friendly approaches like this have high potential in transforming the sustainability of our housing stock. We are setting ambitious targets.’The first two blocks to be completed are 25 to 41 Edward Walsh Road and 62 to 84 Edward Walsh Road. Two more blocks at 14 – 24 Edward Walsh Road and 105 – 127 Wolfe Tone Street should be completed early in 2019. 10 blocks will be completed in the first half of next year. More blocks have been tendered for and are in the pipeline. Cork City Council is applying for funding to start these properties in 2019.
Cork City Council intends to lead the sustainability agenda in the City.
