CLIMATE TARGETS VERSUS LONGTERM PERFORMANCE - HOW EFFECTIVE IS B2 RETROFIT IN THE RACE TO 2030?

Ireland’s Climate Action Plan details a roadmap of measures that align with the European Union’s ambition to achieve a net-zero target carbon emissions by 2050. It seeks to play a key role in delivering energy efficiency in Ireland and follows a Europe wide approach to reduce energy consumption across the building sector. In this context, Ireland has introduced the National Retrofitting Scheme which has set a goal of retrofitting 500,000 existing homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 by 2030. The route to attaining this rating is dependent on the pre-works BER of individual properties.\nThis research paper followed a structured approach to assess the potential long-term effects of shallow retrofit to dwellings that required minimum intervention to achieve the required standard.\nIt is demonstrated that scenarios exist where shallow retrofit (a) is insufficient to enhance the quality of the indoor environment, (b) may promote conditions for condensation and mould growth, and (c) can reduce indoor air quality.\nThese findings have significant health and wellbeing impacts for occupants and have implications for the policy framework.