High insulation standard makes East Cork developments good options

LANE Homes have upped the bar in terms of sustainability with new developments in east Cork.

In fact, the company are so far ahead in terms of eco-friendly buildings that their schemes have been granted, aided and approved by Sustainable Energy Ireland.

According to Martin Lane, their houses are built to a much higher standard than required by regulations. “We checked out the heat recovery system at the commissioning stage in Tuam and Limerick and decided to use it ourselves. The houses at Cois Maigh and Trá Geal have extra sound insulation and insulation all round. If you were to upgrade to this level on an average house it would cost at least €20,000 more.

“Our houses are completely sealed and are checked on completion for leaks — air leakage is a huge problem, because where there’s air loss, there’s heat loss. The spec is very high in the houses and each comes with a back-up pellet or log stove.

We’re approved as ‘homes of tommorrow’ by SEI.”

The company’s low-density estates in Mogeely and Garryvoe, both designed by architect Andrew Lane, use an almost passive insulation system. Air and heat recovery is the primary system, with underfloor heating at ground level, and there is a structural seal in the build.

Their newest scheme, Cois Maigh on the Mogeely Road in Castlemartyr, is a development of three-bed semis, townhouses and detached properties with 20 houses on offer in the first phase. Prices start at €239,000 for the mid-terrace units, rising to €359,000 for the four-bed detached units. Prices are competitive, and running costs of these high, U-value houses are low, says Margot Foy of Brennan and Foy, auctioneers. The development is located in a beautiful rural area, she says: “These are the homes of tomorrow at yesterday’s prices.”

Close to Midleton and on the route of the proposed bypass, the Cois Maigh scheme is also handy for commuters to Cork city.

The Trá Geal scheme at Garryvoe has six of 25 units in the first phase remaining, including two four bed detached houses at €435,000 and four detached three-beds at €379,000. Heat recovery is again its main heat source and like Cois Maigh, underfloor heating is standard at ground floor level. These properties, have a superb, beach side location, ranging from large four bed detached houses to three-bed townhouses.