Better Homes 2022

Network with industry leaders and policy-makers to design pathways for a low-carbon future 

Better Homes is back as a live event. An unmissable chance to network with industry professionals.  Meet up, make connections and build to zero carbon.  

What are the next steps for sustainable housing? At this conference, we will launch version 3 of the Home Performance Index and look at how we can square the circle of reducing carbon emissions by 51% by 2030 whilst greatly increasing our housing output. The BuildingLife roadmap launched in October set out challenging targets for meeting our 2030 goals, including better optimisation of the existing building stock, and radical reductions in the carbon intensity of new construction per square meter and per capita. Are we ready for this transition? Is the industry ready for radical cuts in carbon intensity? 

SCHEDULE

              SPEAKERS

David Mikhail is a founding director of Mikhail Riches and 2019 winner of the prestigious Stirling Prize, for their Passivhaus Social Housing scheme, Goldsmith Street in Norwich. David continues to develop the Mikhail Riches team and ethos; recognised for its strong social and environmental purpose, combined with exceptional design quality.  

Robbie McGrath is the Head of Sustainability at D/RES Properties where he is responsible for driving ESG throughout the company.  With 15 years of experience in sustainability, Robbie, priorly to working with D/RES, provided expert sustainability services to a multitude of companies, to develop ESG strategies and enact business change in assessing climate risk and implementing mitigation actions. 

Prof Jamie Goggins is a chartered engineer with more than 20 years of experience in consultancy, construction, expert advisory work and research on many projects worldwide, including in the areas of structural engineering, earthquake-resistant structures, building design, structural health monitoring, marine renewable energy and infrastructure in developing countries. Effectively, as an engineer, he designs, creates, solves problems, innovates and uses maths and science to shape the world.

Laura Heuston is an accountant and tax expert by training, Laura pivoted her career to focus on renewable energy and sustainable finance.  Laura has in-depth knowledge of the global sustainable finance landscape and has used this knowledge to raise awareness in Ireland about the jobs and business opportunities linked to this sector. Laura previously worked with KPMG, Airtricity, and Sustainable Nation Ireland.

Dr. Sarah Rock is a transport and urban design specialist with over 18 years international and cross-sectoral experience encompassing urban design, urban planning, transport planning, heritage conservation, research and education. Sarah lectures in the School of Transport Engineering, Environment and Planning at TU Dublin; is Chair of the MSc in Urban Regeneration and advises the public and private sector on sustainable urban development.

Ivan Gaine started his career with Sherry FitzGerald in 1999, initially working in the Business Space Department within DTZ Sherry FitzGerald (now Cushman & Wakefield). After qualifying as a chartered surveyor, Ivan made the move to Sherry FitzGerald New Homes where he specialises in residential development land, mixed use developments and portfolio work. This year his team have managed over 2,000 transactions across New Homes & Residential Investments.

Brian Crowley, Technical Support Officer, joined IGBC in 2022 to work on the Home Performance Index Certification. Brian is a co-lead in IGBCs research into EU Taxonomy. He is an architectural graduate with a Bachelors and Masters in Architecture from University College Dublin (UCD) and a further Masters in Environment Policy from UCD. Brian has a history of working with rural communities in helping to develop regeneration plans for their area.

Ali Harvey is a the programme manager for planning and regeneration at the Heritage Council. She a back ground in economics and planning with 20+ years’ experience of setting up and managing collaborative planning and regeneration programmes in Ireland and the UK. Ali is a member of EirGrid’s National Advisory Committee (NAC) since 2015. Most recently Ali is working on series 2 of her successful CTCHC Podcast- Putting Town Centres First.

Darragh O’Brien TD was appointed Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in June 2020. He is an elected TD for the constituency of Dublin-Fingal. Prior to his election to the 30th Dáil in 2007, Minister O’Brien worked mainly in Financial Services and was elected to Fingal County Council in 2004. He was elected to Seanad Éireann in 2011.

Claire McManus is the RIAI Spokeswoman on Housing and is a sitting member of the RIAI Council. She holds an MBA and is involved in the research and the development of RIAI policy with respect to Housing and Building Control.

Lorraine Fitzgerald has over 20 years’ experience leading and influencing in the area of sustainability, ESG and stakeholder engagement. With a background in environmental science, she has combined this with excellent communication skills to drive purposeful and dynamic change. This has included leading and delivering a range of sustainability and climate change strategies and projects for corporates as well as governments and agencies both in Ireland and Scotland. Lorraine is currently Head of Sustainability with Glenveagh Properties.  

Paul Kelly is Head of Sustainability in Real Estate Finance at AIB with over 20 years’ experience in different finance roles, with the majority of time being concentrated in property finance.

Paul is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and received an MBA from the Smurfit Business School in 2016.

Stephen O’Shea is Design Manager for Preconstruction & Delivery for Cairn Homes and Technical representative to the company ESG Team. An architect by profession with a Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design) postgrad from TU Dublin, now focussing on delivering robust, low-carbon homes in neighbourhoods which prioritise quality of life and biodiversity.

Olivia Rusk is an associate at Henry J Lyons with over 10 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. She recently delivered No.2 Central Plaza and is currently the project lead for a 140-unit housing scheme in Blackrock. Involved in various practice initiatives for innovation and collaboration, Olivia has been driving the formation of an industry-wide peer group to enable and promote the use of mass timber construction in Ireland.

Joe Giddings is UK Networks Lead at Built by Nature, a grant-making fund and network aiming to increase the use of timber construction across Europe to mitigate climate change & realise biodiversity and wellbeing benefits. In this role, Joe coordinates a network of key stakeholders; developers, architects, engineers & insurers, collectively driving the transformation of the industry towards biobased construction. Having trained and practised as an architect, Joe went on to lead research into the challenges and opportunities for mass timber in the UK as Project Director of the ASBP’s Timber Accelerator Hub. He is also an Associate Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, School of Architecture & Campaigns Coordinator at the Architects Climate Action Network.

SPONSORS

As Ireland’s leading housebuilder, Cairn is driven by a singular purpose – to build homes and create places where people love to live. From planning and design through to construction and landscaping, Cairn focus on sustainable placemaking sets them apart. For Cairn, people always come first, and they take great pride in the fact that thousands of families now live happily in a Cairn Home – with more joining this growing community every day.

SIG is the largest provider of specialist building products on the island of Ireland. They supply world-class brands and technical expertise to the construction industry, who require a flexible and agile supply chain partner to navigate its ever-changing demands.

EXHIBITORS

Grant is Ireland’s leading manufacturer of heating technologies, and has been providing innovative, efficient, reliable and energy saving home heating solutions for over 40 years. Committed to helping homeowners on their journey to achieving zero carbon, Grant’s diverse product portfolio includes the award-winning range of HVO biofuel compatible Grant Vortex condensing boilers, the A+++ Aerona3 R32 air to water air source heat pumps, integrated and pre-plumbed hot water cylinders, the Uflex underfloor heating system and Afinia aluminium radiators, and smart heating controls.

Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) provides funding at market rates for commercially viable residential developments in the State. HBFI offers a number of different funding products depending on the type of residential development being undertaken. Their Green Funding Product is designed to encourage the development of sustainable housing across all HBFI products. In order to qualify for the product, the project design must be certified to the Home Performance Index (HPI) or equivalent standard.

With vast experience using award-winning products on pioneering low-energy projects, Ecological Building Systems are in a unique position to impart their knowledge to industry professionals. Their technical expertise and leading range of ecological products provide the highest specifications for diffusion-open, healthy, low-energy, sustainable buildings. Ecological Building Systems offer on-site technical support including Hygrothermal modelling using WUFI, U-value calculations & Dew Point assessments. In addition, Ecological also offer a range of CPD’s and training courses.

 Aereco develops innovative ventilation solutions for residential and commercial buildings. With a key concept – the modulation of airflow rates according to the needs – Aereco ventilation systems fully meet the actual challenges of the building industry with regard to energy efficiency and indoor air quality.  Aereco strives in its approach, its development, and its commitment to meet as best possible the requirements of sustainable development.

SIG is the largest provider of specialist building products on the island of Ireland. They supply world-class brands and technical expertise to the construction industry, who require a flexible and agile supply chain partner to navigate its ever-changing demands.