5830: With the current challenges in the construction labour market and in terms of the number of homes we need to build as a country over the next 10 years, how do we drive a Lean Mindset, Implement same and Build more with less? How can we drive efficiencies, reduce waste and implement Lean thinking and collaborative practices associated with same?

5833: How can we develop the twin learning pathways of ‘gaining experience and knowledge while working’ and ‘studying academically’ so the needs of people with different learning styles are catered for, in order to broaden the pool of new entrants into the industry and upskill those already employed within it?

5830: Noting the need to balance increased output with the climate impacts that has

5833: Identifying differences in the skills of various people potentially not fitting within the current educational and training frameworks

Should there be industry best practice to define the feasibility and business case for sustainability action in the design and construction of residential developments?

While the industry wants to transition to more sustainable building materials and processes, the cost premium on the change can be difficult to find a financial justification at a time when materials costs have increased so much in the last 2 years. Also the developer business model creates issues for increased CAPx on materials and systems which may reduce operational carbon over the life cycle of a building when the payback will not come to the developer but instead the home owner or portfolio management company. Do we need to change our housing developer models to a more Homes as a Service model rather than a build/sell model with longer term asset hold time horizons.

5812: What are the barriers, as you see them, to the introductions of low carbon binders to the Irish market?
Including the rate of change/ limitations to both Irish cement and concrete standards.

5815: Can we build for the future using methods from the past? Do you believe there are cultural barriers to change and embracing new technologies?
What level of education / training do you think is required, to allow for the use of low carbon binders/ concretes / methods of construction?
E.g. cement (CEM I in particular) has been long used with ease in construction. Deviation from that seems to have been met with various levels of resistance.

How can we accelerate national certification process for innovative sustainable products that can help us in our climate objectives? How can we overcome the challenges presented by TGD part B for timber based building methods?
In terms of innovative ventilation, e.g. the whole house DCMVHR is increasingly more popular in mainland Europe as a retrofit solution, but this method is poorly represented in mandatory guidance in Ireland. How can this innovative solution gain more acceptance as an appropriate ventilation option?

Grant awards are often on the basis of the material used having the national certification (IAB). This process is very long and expensive and rules out many suitable building products that can be used in traditional sensitive buildings despite compliance with Part D and the CPR. Many of these products already have ETA`s available and would be considered low carbon alternatives compared with some available insulation options

5803: How can we address overheating in dwellings? There is currently no Irish Standard addressing this, and nZEB (and beyond) targets are exacerbating the problem.

5806: Are there any research studies addressing post-occupancy energy usage? Design versus actual energy performance.

With low carbon technologies being of utmost importance for the delivery of our future building stock, how can we contribute and influence the delivery of such technologies?

Has any research been undertaken in collating data of actual energy usage for various building types outside of Public Sector?

Focus has been on BER certs for benchmarking energy performance, which are based on notional building occupancies/ operation etc. as well as omitting significant elements of energy usage (non-regulated loads). Move towards assessing carbon emissions for buildings will require knowledge of actual energy in-use.

How do the modern methods of construction (MMC) solve the skills shortages in the construction sector (e.g. among the bricklayers)? What are the other benefits (and challenges) of MMC?

Building industry is suffering from insufficient supply of bricklayers.

Is there any data/ research on how much time is saved by using modern methods of construction (MMC) vs traditional methods of construction?

How feasible is it to create an accessible Irish-specific embodied carbon data for commercial buildings to enhance LCA accuracy?

What proof or testing is necessary to allow mass timber/timber frame to be used in multi-story construction of housing (and other building types) across Ireland? Elsewhere in EU this is not an issue. There is a need for one standard across Ireland for fire regulations. Variety of regulations create delays. Current limits are for 30m height.

What innovation has already been done in Ireland regarding MMC?
We have a net zero carbon MMC design that was part of a 2 year innovation project and would like to show case our project in Dublin this year.

How digitalisation and automation (including modelling, digital twins, programming) can help innovation in environmental engineering, e.g. improve water and waste water treatment, anaerobic digestion, etc.

We are keen to improve our understanding of digital twins, programming as they relate to water, and waste water, anaerobic digesters etc