See the Light 2011

- Ireland’s Built Environment Reaching for Zero

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) Renewable Energy Information Office, in association with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI), is hosting the 9th See the Light Conference on Thursday 13th October 2011 at the Memorial Hall, UCD School of Architecture, Richview, UCD, Dublin.

The recent introduction of national and international policies for the built environment is bringing about a fundamental rethink in the way we design, construct and operate buildings. Today, it is becoming clear that energy efficiency and building ‘green’ is very much at the heart of the Government’s decision making process - so much so, that increasing the energy performance of Ireland’s building stock is fast becoming the preferred choice in providing high quality, high efficiency, dynamic and cost effective solutions for consumers and businesses. 

Driven by legislation, the coming years will see a sharp increase in the market uptake of highly efficient buildings here in Ireland and throughout Europe - by 2018, new public buildings must be nearly zero energy buildings and, by 2020, this will apply to all new buildings.

According to the European Buildings Directive, a 'nearly zero energy building' is a building that has a very high energy performance and the very low amount of energy required is covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable sources. Going forward, all Member States must draw up national plans for increasing the number of nearly zero energy buildings in new construction and renovation.

This annual showcase conference for the built environment will be of particular interest to:

• Architects
• The Construction Industry
• Energy and Environmental Consultants
• Building Developers, Service & Product Suppliers and Installers
• Local Authority Planners, Engineers, Agenda 21 Officers
• Housing Associations
• Universities and Research Organisations
• Government Departments and NGO’s.

It is appropriate that the conference celebrates the 100th anniversary of Architecture at University College Dublin. Delegates attending the conference will be given an indepth understanding of the key principles and techniques in developing low and zero energy buildings, including -   

• a policy review and discussion forum on the criteria and performance requirements for low and nearly zero energy buildings and how this standard might be achieved
• an insight into the latest technology trends and solutions
• an overview on the development of sustainable buildings with some inspirational case studies
• a meeting place for the sustainable buildings community with the opportunity to share and experiences with experts leading this agenda here in Ireland and abroad - and much more.

For further information - including Programme, Registration detail, etc. - Click Here

For any further queries, please contact Paul Dykes (SEAI REIO) -
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 023 8863393