I am hopeful that positive change in the construction sector will happen

“I believe new homes should be built to passive standard using renewable materials where possible; 95% of the materials in my house consist of timber, straw, cellulose, wood fibre and clay,” said Liam Walsh.

Tofino Building Solutions is a small professional construction company specialising in alternative construction and custom carpentry in County Cork, owned by Liam Walsh. Liam has recently completed his own house which was the first prefabricated straw-panel house in the country. Throughout the design stage he was eager to create a low embodied energy home by eliminating the need for steel beams and using only the necessary concrete in the foundations to keep the building’s carbon footprint to a minimum.

“I was happy to be a guinea pig with my own house, aiming for not just a low carbon footprint, but also a passive-standard building that would be efficient to run. It has proven successful and I do not need any heat source when outside temperatures are above six degrees, although I intend to install an efficient boiler for prolonged periods of cold weather. Currently all the hot water required for day to day use is heated on night rate electricity and stored,” he added.

“There has been a strong interest in this type of build and I have been contacted by people from all over the country. However, some are hesitant due to lack of encouragement from their architects, engineers & builders. This is not indicative of any issues with this type of build, rather, a lack of knowledge and experience in this area.

“I feel big name construction companies & construction training authorities are not doing their due diligence to up-skill or learn about new products and techniques for the betterment of the country, and ultimately this is holding back positive change in the housing sector. Not to mind the fact that we paid tradesmen to sit at home during the recession when that was the perfect time to up skill and prepare for the future. I see many new homes being built today that will need energy upgrades & retro fits in the near future,” continued Liam.

“Having spent a number of years working in Canada I noticed a genuine feeling of pride and responsibility among Carpenters for their work, something I have not seen at home. As for prospective homeowners, don’t get caught up worrying about paint colour, room size, shaker-style kitchens, tiles or wood. Such things are superficial, and although they add character to your finished home, if you end up skimping on the basics like insulation and air tightness detail you end up with cold rooms or mould developing and it will have all been in vain.

“I am hopeful that positive change in the construction sector will happen. There is a demand for high quality, energy efficient homes and Tofino Building Solutions has the knowledge and expertise to deliver,” concluded Mr Walsh