Sustainability Report

The Residences at Sandford Lodge project is being used by the Irish Green Building Council as an exemplary model of carbon efficiency in a low-rise, high-density development.

The project is designed in accordance with passive energy design principles and is rated BREEAM Excellent under the BREEAM New Construction standards. It has a Building Energy Rating of A2, demonstrating a very high level of energy efficiency, and is compliant with the Nearly Zero Energy Building performance requirement (as specified by the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive).

A minimum of 20 percent of the development’s energy is derived from renewable energy technologies.

The development is entirely electric and has very high levels of building fabric performance, saving energy, reducing costs, and increasing comfort. The judicious use of walls, roofs, and glazing minimizes heat transfer into internal spaces. 

A reduction in loads helped to reduce central plant capacity and size. This led to a reduction in the embodied energy consumption associated with the manufacturing and transportation of the plant and a reduced reliance on the national electricity grid for heating.

The Residences at Sandford Lodge development incorporates a number of energy conservation measures, including:

• A high-performance construction envelope with a low U-value (measuring thermal transmittance) and low G-value (measuring the solar heat gain coefficient of glazing).
• Airtight construction.
• A localized heat pump system for each apartment.
• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.
• Low installed lighting power.
• Integrated solar photovoltaic systems and battery storage to capture excess solar energy.

Water conservation measures include the installation of intelligent water flow regulators on all hot water taps and shower heads. These regulators ensure that water is discharged at a rate of six liters per minute, effectively conserving both water and the energy needed to heat it. It is anticipated that water usage will be less than 125 liters per day. A rainwater harvesting system also promotes water conservation and reduces demand on the municipal water supply.

When designing The Residences at Sandford Lodge, Shay Cleary Architects extensively tested sunlight and daylight performance within the interiors. Each apartment enjoys high levels of natural light compared to the target values for Average Daylight Factor, outlined under BS 8206-C (the code of practice for daylighting).

Energy statistics for The Residences at Sandford Lodge (measured under Irish building regulations):

• Energy Performance Coefficient (EPC) = 0.230 - 0.252
• Carbon Performance Coefficient (CPC) = 0.223 - 0240
• Renewable Energy Ratio (RER) = 0.42 – 0.55
• Building Energy Rating (BER) = A2

Extensive landscaping contributes to the area’s biodiversity and microclimate. A variety of pollinators support biodiversity such as the inclusion of bird and bat boxes. Green roofs include native species of succulent plants and pollinators. Trees to the south of the project have been retained and additional native species have been planted. Dense low-level greenery around the development’s perimeter creates a buffer for ground-floor private spaces.