Whether it's the introduction of energy rating;

increased energy bills or the new Fianna Fail/Green Party coalition, the Irish are now embracing the concept of sustainable living, according to Owen Reilly, director of Gunne New Homes.

"It's going to be one of the top factors, up there with location, " he predicts. "It's all about bringing down costs at a time of rising energy bills and interest rates, doing your bit for the environment and resaleability.

"People are making enquiries in showhouses about the insulation and the materials used. A lot of people coming in and looking at the plans for sustainable developments see the package of the property and the small car as their lifestyle."

This change in mindset is something that Gerry McCaughey, chief executive of Monaghan-based Kingspan Century has waited 17 years to witness. "With the slowdown in the market, builders cannot afford not to know about very energy efficient homes. Up until now, energy efficiency was something that the Department of the Environment paid lip service to but now it's being driven by Europe and then consumers, " he says.

"A new Green Minister for the Environment, will hopefully mean that we can expect a dramatic increase in energy efficiency requirements in new buildings, " McCaughey says.

Last week Kingspan Century unveiled what it hailed as the most sustainable mainstream home in the world in advance of the Offsite 2007 show at the Building Research Establishment outside Watford, England.

The zero carbon, 93.3m2 two-and-a-half storey twobed 'Lighthouse' is designed in line with level six of the British government's Lifetime Homes and Scheme Development Standards for 2013 for public sector housing and benefits from stamp duty exemption in the UK.

Costing just 50 per year to heat and producing its own electricity, it will form part of Kingspan Century's entry into the British government's zero-carbon challenge competition.

The house was constructed in six weeks using Kingspan Century TEK building system, based on Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS).

The airtight building fabric was designed to provide generous daylight levels, and includes 40sq m of photovoltaic solar panels, brought in from Japan, to generate electricity. The triple glazed windows are from Scandinavia.

Sleeping quarters are on the ground floor where less daylight is required, with living accommodation upstairs for natural ventilation and light, and a home office on an upper level mezzanine with potential to provide a third bedroom.

Sustainability features include a solar thermal panel to heat water and a biomass wood pellet boiler heating system.

Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery extracts heat from warm stale air to heat incoming cool fresh air.

There is also low water usage;

greywater recycling for WC flushing; and rainwater harvesting for the washing machine and irrigation as well as smart metering.

The curved exterior on the sweet chestnut external cladding, as well as providing shading, shows that interesting design moves can be achieved using available technology, says Dan Burr, associate partner, Sheppard Robson architects.

Miele appliances have A++ ratings and low energy lighting is also used. "The open plan interior allows warm air to naturally rise through the windcatcher over the stairwell, " says Burr.

"The cooler breeze comes in through natural drops into the space and provides passive natural ventilation in summer. In winter, it relies more on the mechanical ventilation, which has heat recovery, " he says. "The heat from the warm, moist air in the wet rooms is used to heat the cool fresh air. The photovoltaic unit powers the heat recovery ventilation system."

A lot of these technologies have been used in different configurations but this particular one demonstrates a new code of level six sustainability standards can be achieved, says Burr.

Although the 'Lighthouse' was designed for high-density developments, Kingspan Century is offering the concept to builders and those building one-off homes as a complete package, available immediately.

With Fingal and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown county councils having introduced standards to compel developers to build more energy efficient buildings, Kingspan Century which has been running a radio advertising campaign on future proofing homes, believes that former environment minister, Dick Roche's plans on tighter energy regulations were less than ambitious.

"It seems a bit ridiculous that the Government plans to introduce a national standard of improving energy standards by 40% in 2008 when Fingal has achieved 60% ahead of current regulations. and we have reached 100%, " says McCaughey.

"Forty per cent should be seen as a starting point to even greater energy efficiencies and not the end game.

"We have demonstrated that it's achievable and it's real."

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTS

>>Offaly green: In Brian Cowen's stomping ground, Brian Coughlan and Paul Sweeney of Future Proof Homes Ltd. (www. futureph. com) will start work on 13 vernacular style sustainable homes at Ballyboy Road, Kilcormac, Co Offaly, within the next month. Designed by Emer O Siochru of EOS Architects, Rathmines, the Kingspan Centurymanufactured houses feature two, three and four bedrooms.

The pre-insulated airtight houses will incorporate solar panels, heat recovery and a wood pellet boiler. Wood from managed forests will be used along with low energy lighting, A-rated appliances, with a single point of control to turn of all electrical appliances and lighting. Prices range from 240,000 to 360,000.

>> Making a mint: Watermint, (www. watermint. ie) Cabinteely, Co Dublin, developed by Neil Monaghan of Monti, comprises 13 apartments over two residential units on the main street. The south-facing properties were constructed using eco cement incorporate floor-to-ceiling glazing; solar panels; and a woodchip boiler in the basement; and heat recovery ventilation, all subject to air tightness testing on completion. Rainwater will provide irrigation for the landscaped gardens. Teak Japanese tubs are a feature of the interior where renewable materials are used where possible and recycling will be encouraged. While the apartments are reserved, Gunne New Homes will be releasing penthouses and further apartments. Prices are from 650,000 for a two-bed apartment.

>> Turning back the clough: approximately 50 sites out of a total of 130 remain for sale at the Cloughjordan eco village in Co Tipperary. Prices range from 40,000 for an apartment site in which the purchaser will be involved in its construction with the other inhabitants, to 140,000 for a fully serviced site with Outline Planning Permission. Building is taking place on 20 of the 67 acres. The rest, according to Greg Allen, CoOrdinator, Sustainable Projects Ireland Ltd, will be dedicated to organic farming and a passive nature system. "A feature of the whole estate is the concept of the edible landscape, with apple, pear and walnut trees planted, so people can pick one as they walk through." Further details are available by emailing sales@thevillage. ie