| Eco-design principle |
Cost compared with traditional Irish home |
|
Keep buildings small and compact so they need less energy to heat (or cool) and use fewer materials. |
None – design only
|
|
Build in a modular style of building components can be reused if the building is damaged or dismantled. |
Cheap if manufactured in large quantity
|
|
Use pre-fabricated sections that are made off-site to save energy of transporting equipment and people to site.
|
Cheaper
|
|
Place large double or triple glazed windows toward the sun (south in the northern hemisphere).
|
Slightly more expensive than single-glazed windows
|
|
Have fewer, smaller windows on the side of the building that gets less light and heat (north in the northern hemisphere).
|
None – design only
|
|
Consider the direction of winds and place a low pitched (rising) roof on the side of the building that is likely to get cold winds or use trees or walls carefully to direct the wind over the building.
|
Minimal – cost of trees
|
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Incorporate rainwater harvesting. |
Low to moderate cost |
