Kildare County Council launches energy-efficient house in Maynooth

Kildare County Council officially opened the innovative energy-efficient DemoHouse in Maynooth, as part of its Decarbonising Zone initiative, which can be viewed by the public from Thursday 13 March.

The DemoHouse, built in the early 1990s, has undergone a comprehensive energy upgrade and retrofit. 

The improvements include new insulation, enhanced airtightness, and the replacement of double-glazed windows with triple glazing. 

These measures have significantly improved the house's energy efficiency, with scientists from Maynooth University set to quantify the energy savings over the coming year.

In addition to energy efficiency, the house features a decentralised heat recovery ventilation system to improve air quality, an air-to-water heat pump, low-temperature radiators, an EV charger, and PV panels on the roof, which contribute to a reduced carbon energy system and provide a healthier living environment for residents. 

The house is designed with universal accessibility in mind, featuring level access doorways, accessible bathroom, height adjustable countertop, contrasting wall colours for visual impairment, and a stair lift for mobility issues. The refurbishment also prioritised the circular economy, reusing existing products and materials where possible.

The garden of the DemoHouse includes pollinator-friendly planting, a pond to attract wildlife, and sustainable drainage systems to manage surface water on-site, aiming to create a sustainable and biodiverse environment that benefits both residents and the local ecosystem.

Speaking at the official opening, the Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Cllr Kevin Duffy, said: 

"This is just one of the achievements of Kildare County Council in our ongoing efforts to promote sustainability and environmental stewardship. Today, we celebrate the completion of an innovative energy-efficient demo house in Maynooth, a project that demonstrates our commitment to creating a greener and more sustainable future."

Speaking on the importance of the DemoHouse project, Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council, said: 

"The completion of the energy-efficient DemoHouse in Maynooth is a significant milestone in our Decarbonising Zone initiative. This project not only showcases sustainable living practices but also demonstrates our commitment to achieving national targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050."

The DemoHouse will be available to the public to view from Thursday 13 March from 10am to 1pm and each Thursday morning from 10am to 1pm. 

The viewing will be by appointment only and booking available on DemoHouse booking portal hosted on KCC: https://www.supersaas.co.uk/schedule/KCC_Booking_System/DemoHouse