IMPACT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS ON THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN IRELAND

Introduction.

The construction sector in Ireland does enhance the competiveness of the national economy since it develops the buildings and infrastructure that each and every sector of the economy needs for operation. The sector can also potentially create regionally distributed employment and wealth. Therefore, in the overall economic domain, a competitive and sustainable construction industry does play the dual role of enhancing economic development and/or optimizing economic sustainability especially during periods of economic slowdowns or financial crises. Currently, the construction industry does account for about 6.5% of the Irish GDP with its optimal contribution to GDP being projected to be around 12% of the overall GDP (Forfás, n.d).

The construction sector did experience a period of unsustainable growth during the tumultuous economic periods and consequently its output contracted, thus causing a contraction in the entire construction industry and its myriad of allied affiliates, especially the housing sector (Innovation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, 2011).

The construction industry does support other economic sectors, and its economic sustainability does guarantee the vitality of the national economy. In the employment domain, the construction industry does provide employment to various occupational groups, and these employment opportunities are regionally distributed (Forfás, n.d).

Generally, the domestic market conditions do have a direct bearing on the overall performance of the construction industry and its potential to create employment. Nonetheless, the Irish construction industry has the capabilities to internationalize thereby partially shielding itself from the volatility of the domestic market while simultaneously leveraging its skills and world-class technical expertise into providing cutting-edge, innovative and advanced property solutions to other economic sectors such as ICT (Information and Communications Technology), pharmaceuticals, energy generation and food processing industries (Forfás, n.d).

Sustainable growth in the industry is hinged on removing unnecessary constraints inhibiting infrastructure and property development, adoption of modern energy efficient systems; and acceptance of innovative cost-effective and environmentally-friendly building designs. This will reinforce the capability of the construction industry to simultaneously create a sustainable development momentum and also inspire market confidence thereby enhancing the competitive edge of the sector in both the domestic and international markets (Forfás, n.d).

Renewable energy systems have been adopted by the construction sector in order to create energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly and cost-effective builds which do fit aptly into the ecosystem. Several technologies have benefitted the commercialization and integration of renewable energy into existing structural systems, energy systems and building designs. The collective term for these technologies is green technology (Lund, 2014).

Conformity of renewable energy systems with Irish Building Regulations.

In the European Union (E.U), it is estimated that buildings consume 40% of the available energy and produce 36% of the total (carbon dioxide) CO² emissions thereby contributing significantly to the global phenomenon of “the greenhouse effect”. However, the extent of energy consumption and CO² emissions vary from building to building depending on the building’s energy systems, architectural designs, proximity to energy sources and extent of incorporation of green technologies into the building’s structural and operational frameworks (Innovation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, 2011).

In Ireland, the revised Building Regulations aims to ensure that all buildings which have a floor area of more than 1000 square-meters do conform to the regulations of the EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive). The EPBD contains a set of provisions whose principal aim is to improve the energy efficiency of buildings (Innovation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, 2011).

Apart from EPBD, building standards in Ireland are also regulated by the following four pieces of legislations: Building Control Act 1990, Building Control Act 2007, Building Regulations 1997 – 2013 and the Building Control Regulations 1997 – 2014. These pieces of legislations do among other things set standards for workmanship, energy conservation, fire safety standards, building standards (and the recommended materials to be used to achieve the required standards) and accessibility of buildings for disabled persons. They also provide for legal transposition and registration of titles of “Building Surveyor” “Quantity Surveyor” and “Architect”. Moreover, the 2009 NEEAP (National Energy Efficiency Action Plan) is also meant to ensure that energy efficiency is improved in the construction sector alongside its affiliate dependent sectors such as the transport, residential, energy and business sectors (Innovation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, 2011).

Rapid advances in technology have enabled architects to design new energy-efficient builds that conform to all the acts of the above-mentioned pieces of legislations (Innovation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, 2011). Proper training in use of modern technological appliances has improved the workmanship in building sites, and use of green energy technology has served the triple purpose of enhancing energy efficiency, promoting environmental conservation and enhancement of safety (for instance, fire safety since there is little use of combustibles to provide energy) within a new build (Stolten & Scherer, 2013). Modern technology has also helped new builds to be designed with multiple access routes which provide accessibility for people with disability, emergency exit routes and rapid accessibility via escalators. In-built parking lots have enabled new builds to save space, and in the process also save energy and cost thereby sustaining an operational cost-effective and energy efficient builds (Innovation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, 2011).  

Green technology has enabled architects and engineers to design buildings with efficient energy systems and waste management systems thereby limiting pollution associated with chemical toxicity, air exhaust, acidic deposition; and water pollution due to discharge of waste into water systems. Avant-garde innovations in green technology have also enabled some buildings to comply with the futuristic policy of zero emissions, zero waste; thereby eliminating the intractable conundrum of persistence of toxic bio-accumulative waste in the environment and the ecosystem (Hill, 2004).

Cost-benefit analysis of incorporation of renewable systems.

Conventional wisdom state that saving energy does translate to saving cost. Current economic circumstances demand that both energy and operation costs have to be reduced while still maintaining the qualitative edge. Innovative green technology has enabled architects, structural engineers and technical experts to successfully incorporate renewable systems into new builds at a cheaper overall cost while also improving the energy efficiency of the new builds (Forfás, n.d).

There is an urgent need to transform the total energy performance of the Irish building sector in order to provide the required stimulus and also increase the available opportunities in the construction industry. Estimates show that upgrading a million buildings will save €17 billion, and also significantly reduce the CO² emissions. According to the IIEA (Institute for International and European Affairs), an investment of €1.5 billion in the construction industry can create approximately 35,000 jobs (Innovation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, 2011). 

Innovative green technologies have enabled architects and engineers to utilize abatement technologies to incorporate renewable systems into builds in order to improve their energy efficiencies. Energy efficiency measures have been shown to be the most beneficial and most cost-effective of all abatement technologies (Innovation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, 2011). 

Studies have also shown the Ireland still has immense potential (in the building sector) for energy efficiency (Innovation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, 2011). 

Types of renewable energy systems.

The various types of renewable energy systems that can be incorporated into new builds are discussed briefly hereafter. Most of them are considered to be carbon-neutral energy systems which can be incorporated into the design and operations of a build (Lund, 2014).

The most popular, cost-effective, carbon-neutral; and easy to install and operate renewable energy system is the solar energy system. It is also the most versatile system that architects can incorporate into new builds (Stolten, & Scherer, 2013). The solar energy system is categorized into two types: solar hot-water systems or photovoltaic cells. Solar hot-water systems utilize solar energy to preheat water before it enters a conventional hot-water system. The solar heating panels should be installed in roof positions which maximize solar exposure while simultaneously maintaining the aesthetic quality of the building. Photovoltaic (PV) cells are energy transducers which convert solar energy to electric energy, and they only generate electricity so long as sun-rays hit their surface which in turn causes electrons to dislocate and subsequently flow around the circuit. PV cells should be placed in places where there is abundance of solar exposure. Recent technological advances have led to the development of functional photovoltaic tiles which serves the dual purpose of improving the build’s energy efficiency and its aesthetic quality. Crystalline-silica solar panels are also used to provide electricity in residential homes (Lund, 2014).

Wind turbines can also be installed in buildings which are located in terrains which facilitate smooth and steady air flow. Obstacles to smooth air flow such as trees and other buildings do cause turbulent air flow which causes the wind turbine to operate ineffectively by reducing the air velocity (thus causing the turbine to rotate more slowly) while also increasing the wear and tear on the turbine thereby reducing its operation quality and lifetime. The turbines should also be carefully incorporated into the design of the building so that it does not adversely affect its structural fabric and aesthetics. Wind-power energy systems are categorized as carbon-neutral (Lund, 2014).

Seasonal energy storage techniques can be used to store solar energy for use during winter. This can be achieved through drake landing which stores both water and thermal energy for future use. Heat pumps also ensure that energy-efficiency is maintained during heating and air-conditioning. The main types of heat pumps are air-source heat pumps (either air-to-air or air-to-water heat pumps) and ground-source heat-pumps and the more recent Low Temperature Air-Sourced Heat Pump. The heat pumps must be installed in the most appropriate location in a building (Stolten, & Scherer, 2013).

Energy efficiency is also improved by incorporating heat and energy recovery ventilators, transpired air ventilators and earth tubes into a building’s energy system. Earth tubes (also called ground-coupled heat exchanger) utilize a driving mechanism, air filters and a ductwork system composed of parallel buried pipes to provide air-conditioning systems for buildings. Transpired air ventilators can be used to preheat air before it enters into the ventilation system of a building (Stolten, & Scherer, 2013).

The aforementioned energy systems are described as on-site renewable energy systems since energy-generation and utilization occur concurrently at the same site. However, renewable energy can also be supplied to a building from an off-site renewable energy supply centre.  Examples of off-site renewable energy supply centres are off-site biomass digester facilities, and other facilities which utilize biodiesel, ethanol and wood pellets to generate energy which is subsequently supplied to a building via a grid supply network (Jones, 2014).

Acceptance and Opposition to Renewable Energy Systems.

Renewable energy is fairly well-understood in Ireland by the general populace, and experts in the construction industry do have an advanced understanding of the practical utility, integration capabilities and operational intricacies of renewable energy systems. A majority of experts in the industry do opine that obtaining energy from renewable energy systems is much better than obtaining the same energy from fossil fuels (Forfás, n.d). However, the approval ratings of the different renewable energy systems do vary with solar energy systems receiving the best approval ratings while sewage gas, landfill gas and biomass receive the least approval. Approval is influenced by perception, cost-benefit analysis and the practical utility of the various energy systems (Stolten, & Scherer, 2013).

Opposition to renewable energy systems by construction experts is greatest in regions which have an abundance of affordable energy that is well integrated in the grid and is not subject to power blackouts. The construction industry is also opposed to non-integrable energy systems such as that obtained from offshore wave energy. Some construction experts are opposed to installations of wind turbine in buildings located near sensitive communication and defense assets, and builds located in unsuitable terrains or when such installations would compromise the structural fabric of the existent build or ruin the aesthetic quality of a build. Also, there is a significant resistance to renewable energy systems in the construction industry in areas which utilize cheap imported power. There are also instances where political lobbying has led to lack of political goodwill to rollout renewable energy systems in certain sectors of the country. Most the political lobbying effort in these cases is financed by oil companies which feel disadvantaged by the fact that their share in the energy market is continuously shrinking (Lund, 2014).

Prospects of integration.

In the near future, solar energy systems will be the most utilized renewable energy system in the construction industry. Solar energy systems have five unique advantages that give it excellent prospects as a renewable energy system for new builds. These advantages are cheap set-up costs, seamless integration with existing energy systems, easy maintenance, versatile designs and preservation of the aesthetic value of the builds (Stolten & Scherer, 2013).

Both the public and private sectors do recognize and appreciate the unique benefits that renewable energy systems provide.   However, there is a need to make these energy systems more affordable in order to increase their uptake in the construction industry which is currently cash-strapped. One of the ways of doing that is for the government to provide incentives such as tax deductions on equipment associated with renewable energy systems, tax incentives for businesses which utilize renewable energy systems and also provision of the necessary grid infrastructure in areas which obtain power from renewable energy generation facilities (such as wind farms, solar farms and biomass power generators). Reduction in costs of renewable energy systems will increase their uptake by the private sector as the cost-benefit edge will assure the sector of increased profit margins (Forfás, n.d).

Renewable energy systems are considered green energy since they preserve the milieu of the ecosystem. For this reason, environmental groups and green political parties have been at the forefront of pushing for the adoption of renewable systems in the economic sector, the construction sector inclusive. Politically, they have enabled the government to re-orient its energy policies, and some pro-environment parties have passed legislations in government which favor usage of renewable energy over non-renewable energy (Hill, 2004).

Environmental groups, scientists and manufacturers of renewable energy systems have partnered together to offer the prerequisite training of operating, maintaining and replacing renewable energy systems. Moreover, easy-to-follow training manuals and troubleshooting manuals have enabled even more people to understand the operations of renewable energy systems (Stolten & Scherer, 2013). Installation of renewable energy systems has been plagued by various troubles with the major ones being faulty installation, poor integration of the energy system into the existing energy system, lack of appropriate maintenance and inappropriate safety protocols which have led to accidents and subpar operations of the energy systems. Also, there have been instances where installations of energy systems have attracted litigations, active judgments and liens against them. In order to deal with these unfortunate eventualities, regulations have been formulated and implemented in order to guide the renewable energy sector. The most important of these regulations is the one that requires that adequate training must be provided to the technicians who will install, maintain and repair renewable energy systems (Lund, 2014).

Solar energy system providers have provided exemplary training to their technicians and engineers on how to install, operate, maintain and troubleshoot solar energy systems. Such training has enabled renewable energy systems to be impeccably integrated into the existing energy infrastructure without causing operational incapacitation. In residential homes for instance, innovative automatic switching mechanisms have enabled architects and electrical engineers to integrate both the conventional power provided by the national grid and individual solar energy systems; thereby reducing power consumption from the national grid which translates to reduced power output by the national power generators plants which in turn translate to a reduction in usage of fossil fuels to power the plants thus consequently reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases and inhibiting the progression of the greenhouse effect (Lund, 2014).

Regulation in the energy sector, and specifically concerning the utilization and operation of renewable energy system have increased the uptake of green technology in the nation as they have eliminated the grey areas which previously hampered use of renewable energy systems, for example, regulations guiding that solar panels must face southwards have also provided general tax incentives and price quotas for installation of the solar energy systems thereby inducing more businesses and homes to install and utilize solar energy systems (Innovation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, 2011).

References.

Forfás. (n.d). Ireland’s Construction Sector: Outlook and Strategic Plan to 2015. Dublin: Forfás

Hill, M.K. (2004). Understanding Environmental Pollution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Innovation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. (2011).Environmental Challenges and Opportunities for the Construction Sector in Ireland. Environment and Green Technologies.

Jones, L.E. (2014). Renewable Energy Integration: Practical Management of Variability, Uncertainty and Flexibility in Power Grids. Dublin: Academic Press.

Lund, H. (2014). Renewable Energy Systems: A Smart Energy Systems Approach to the Choice and Modeling of 100% Renewable Solutions. Dublin: Academic Press.

Stolten, D & Scherer, V. (2013). Transition to Renewable Energy Systems. New York: John Wiley & Sons.