INTRODUCTION

Sustainable housing also requires the use of

building and design practices which increase the
energy efficiency of dwellings,
reduce the use of non-renewable materials,
utilise local sources of renewable materials
facilitate the recycling of resources
Use of public transport and local employment
Social and economic dimensions are also important
including social mix, affordable accommodation,
spaces for social interaction and community
capacity building.
 SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS IRELAND LIMITED
It should be close to an existing population centre;
The land should combine a mix of housing, amenities and wilderness areas
it should be served by public transport so as to provide access to low-carbon means of transport
 "CLOUGHJORDAN COMMUNITY AMPHITHEATRE
The Cloughjordan Amphitheatre is a new multi-purpose performance space designed to stage a diverse
range of cultural events from professional and community theatre and music to performance poetry, film
screenings and educational workshops.
The 200 seat venue will be a significant addition to the cultural, artistic and educational infrastructure of
the whole Mid-West Region.
collaborating with a range of different cultural and educational organisations.
 THE SUSTAINABLE EARTH FAIR
As part of a new European Day of Sustainable Communities and the national Convergence festival the
Sustainable Earth Fair will take place in Cloughjordan Ecovillage.
This fair will highlight the sustainability features of this award winning ‘ecosystem of innovation’.
The day will feature talks, discussions, stalls, a farm and enterprise centre open day and tours of the
project.
 GREEN BUILDING AND CO-HOUSING
The ecovillage currently counts 84 members registered and 55 units built to date.
Own designs but should keep the specifications preordained by the Ecological Charter,
Use non-toxic materials that are recyclable and sustainable in manufacture,
use and decay,
regionally sourced
low-embodied energy wherever possible,
thereby reducing
Low energy consumption appliances
Recycling the household wastes
 MATERIALS USED IN HOUSING
 Passive timber frame with a variety of insulations and finishes,
 Durisol blocks (blocks of chipped waste wood bonded with Eco cement),
 Sheep’s wool,
 Cellulose (shredded newspaper),
 Hemp-lime (lime is a traditional form of finish with addition of hemp, gives it strength and insulation),
 Cob(clay, sand and straw),
 A Canadian stick-frame house with double stud walls (with no cold bridging) and kit houses [43].
 BER
Highest standards of building energy ratings (BER) in Ireland.
In 2013, the ecovillage
constituted 0.015% of all houses rated nationally yet 6.25%
of all those given an A rating and 2.5% of all those given a
B1 rating nationally
 HEATING SYSTEM
As a partner in the Sustainable Energy for
Rural Village Environment project, the village
received funding from the European Union (EU)
CONCERTO Program for the purchase and
installation of Ireland’s first renewable energy
district heating system .
This central district heating system supplies
heating and hot water for the whole ecovillage,
fuelled by local waste wood.
The entire heating and hot water for the
ecovillage is supplied by a district heating
system which uses no fossil fuels for its primary
energy sources and emits no greenhouse gas
emissions.
113.5 tons Carbon Saving