Energy Assessment and Insulation Services
The Institute offers a range of energy assessment and insulation fitting services. Difficult retro insulation jobs and trouble-shooting badly performing heating systems are our speciality.
While insulation work is usually confined to the Mayo area, projects further afield are sometimes considered. This is particularly the case if the project has some educational aspect. Jobs are always carried out to the highest standards of workmanship. A well insulated loft with custom made draught-proofed hatch can reduce the heat losses from a typical house by 20 percent or more.
Every single house inspected by us during the last 3 years - including new dwellings - was found to have defective insulation. Of the dwellings inspected that were built since 1997, not one was compliant with building regulations with regard to the conservation of energy (part 'L').
The energy assessment and trouble-shooting service is countrywide.
Fruit and Nut Trees
The Institute is taking orders for delivery winter 2009/spring 2010. A much larger range is now on offer.
Click below for details
Renewable Energy Equipment
From time to time the instutite has renewable energy equipment for sale. Currently, we have a brand new Victron Pheonix inverter for sale. First good offer secures.
Gurts and Yers
Felted wool covered tents have been a feature of the Asian steppes for many thousands of years. Nowadays they are collectively given the name 'yurt' in the West though strictly speaking it seems yurts are generally smaller with curved roofs (steeper at the bottom) while the larger structures are known as 'gers'. The traditional Mongolian Ger was made from larch poles and laths.
The modern Western equivalent is made from whatever timber materials are to hand but typically round poles of hazel or ash. These hybrid circular structures are usually clad with waterproof cotton or polyester.
The Institute has developed a modifed version - the Gurt - which features a lower pitch roof and a number of other innovations. A high pitch roof is advantageous in regions which experience heavy snow fall or in cases where there is an open fireplace within the structure, but suffers from greater exposure to winds and has the added disadvantage of requiring more materials for construction.
The standard gurt - the 'Meeting Place' - has a diameter of 5.35 meters (just over 17 feet) and a roof pitch of approximately 20 degrees. Click below for images.
Larger Gurts
The 'Workshop' - is a larger gurt with a diameter 7.1 meters (23 feet) while the 'Gathering' is larger still with a diameter of 9.15 meters (30 feet).
With a floor area of 40m², the 'Workshop' has twice the floor area of the more common 5 meter (16 feet) yurts , and over three times the floor area of a 4 meter (13 feet) structure.
The 'Gathering' has a floor area of 66m².
These structures are ideal for workshop spaces. They are easy to erect and dismantle, and light enough to be transported in a trailer. Looked after and stored in dry ventilated conditions, they should last for up to 20 years.
The Institute is now taking orders for gurts and can also supply fabric and other accessories.
For further details click below:
Sustainability Roadshow
The Sustainability Institute has a mobile power rig based on solar PV and deep cycle batteries capable of delivering up to 10kW of power at green festivals and other off-grid events. For more details click below:
