Trading up: Richmond Wood, Glanmire, €550,000

Originally built in the early 1990s, this detached bungalow at Cork’s Richmond Wood got a makeover and energy efficiency upgrade in 2009, gratis of architect John Morehead, who brings new-builds to passive and near passive energy standards.

In this case, Mr Morehead added to the comforts of this 2,230 sq ft four-bed home for a family member, who’s now about to move on.

It hits a pretty impressive B3 energy rating, thanks to things like high insulation standards, a wood-burning high-efficiency Jotul stove in the living/breakfast room, and there’s a bank of standalone solar tubes out in the front garden on this 0.2 acre sloping site, aimed up at the sun: it must be thrumming hot water this past fortnight. And, for other times, there’s oil central heating.

Auctioneer Timothy Sullivan guides No 2 Richmond Wood at €550,000, and says it’s in very good condition and well-finished inside, with some Amtico as well as oak flooring, the master bedroom’s en suite has Villeroy and Boch sanitary ware, and the kitchen has wood worktops on bright, white units, with overhead Velux for light.

No 2’s main two reception rooms interlink, and are each about 20’ by 13’, as is the kitchen/breakfast room. There’s also a study, plus a handy attic room above the master bedroom. The landscaped garden is fenced, has electric access gates, and there’s a detached garage.

VERDICT: Good to go: the pipes, the solar pipes, are coiling.