Irish Building Stock Observatory

The Irish Building Stock Observatory was established and resourced by MaREI, the SFI Centre for Energy Climate and Marine, to provide a better understanding of the energy performance of the building sector through reliable, consistent and comparable data and to share knowledge between those engaged in buildings and energy research. Focusing on the challenges of decarbonising the built environment, the observatory is formed via a network of relevant actors who share data, ideas, problems and solutions that aim to inform and support delivery of climate and energy policy in Ireland.  MaREI has proactively engaged with building energy modelling researchers and analysts in academia and policy organisations across the island of Ireland to create a network of organisations engaged in building and energy research, as shown. 

Historically, building stock energy consumption models were informed by poor or outdated information attributed to [1-4]; i) paucity of observed data, ii) a lack of documented transparency around energy performance model inputs, iii) a lack of prioritisation of the topic for research investment, and iv) low influence of research on policy leading to regulations.  In recent years there has been a surge in the development and use of energy consumption and building performance simulation models for depicting building stocks usually based on EPC data [2, 5], this has been driven by policy [6] that seeks to reduce energy use to; a) lower greenhouse gas emissions, b) reduce dependence on imported fuels, c) reduce the cost of energy, and d) contribute to quality of life and wellbeing, in particular alleviating fuel poverty and reducing exposure to poor indoor environmental quality. 

Effective policy and decision making starts with accurate information [7, 8].   Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are the foremost source of information on the energy performance of the EU’s building stock [9, 10] and are a crucial instrument for benchmarking and formulating policy goals [11].  However, concerns have been raised as to the quality of the data [12-19].   More transparent and robust information on buildings can support monitoring the implementation of different measures and contribute to future policy making. The data published in the iBSO can therefore be very useful to policy-makers, investors, stakeholders, local and national authorities and researchers and ultimately the wider public.

The network supporting the observatory has grown purposefully to include 10 institutions or organisation across the island of Ireland, namely, University College Cork, Technological University Dublin, Ulster University, Munster Technological University, NUI Galway, University College Dublin, Codema, The Information Lab, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Irish Green Building Council and is open to new members.

Governance of the observatory is through inter-institutional coordination, facilitated by MaREI, acting as lead organisation.  Engagement is facilitated through monthly meetings characterised by a structured presentation detailing ongoing work by a network organisation followed by informal discussions among members.  This format has facilitated a flow of both formal and informal knowledge amongst institutions (inside and outside of MaREI). Meetings are chaired and recorded by the network chair and secretary respectfully.  It is envisaged that the chair of the observatory will rotate through MaREI network organisations every 2/3 years.

As such, the observatory is primarily participant governed (shared governance) wherein every organisation interacts with every other participant organisation to make operational decisions about how the observatory operates, in this vein, there is no unique, formal governance structure other than the collaborative interactions among the members; while issues that are central to the maintenance of the observatory such as funding etc. occurs through MaREI – acting as host organisation.

In June 2021 a survey of network members was undertaken. It is felt by members that the network has the potential to connect researchers and their datasets/tools and capabilities in a way that consolidates efforts and is also a very useful information exchange platform.  The engagement has resulted in the development of a mutually agreed set of data filters to be applied to Ireland’s EPC dataset to remove erroneous data making it more representative.  Standardising data processing will enable faster research outputs and cross-validation of models; while consolidating information and common issues allows SEAI to improve input parameters leading to a more robust dataset to accurately inform policy. To facilitate sharing of information and data, network members have contributed to an open-source “repository” of data, available here. Compiling data relevant to modellers in one location enables faster knowledge sharing and information gathering and hence faster research outputs.

Short-term outputs: Some of the short-term direct and indirect outputs of the network are outlined below:

Direct

1. Democratising access to stock modelling data process tools via an open source tools section of the site.  A pre-requisite for publishing tools on the website will be that the methods and protocols will have undergone a peer-review process and be prior published in an open-access journal such as Method X or similar and similarly that any resultant datasets in a Data in Brief paper or similar.  The site will be managed by an appointed member of the observatory with publication requiring sign off by the chair.
2. Journal article quantifying the impact of agreed filters on the EPC dataset – the methodology creates a standardized set of filters to be applied to the EPC dataset and also outlined how the application makes the database more representative.
3. Journal article: “Determining realistic heat-loss coefficients for existing buildings; a case-study for predominating housing types in Ireland” – that addresses a generalisable methodology for dealing with the 30-35% of EPC data inputs characterised on pessimistic default heat-loss coefficients.
4. Agree a visual interactive platform e.g. TABLEAU for representing building stock information such as inter alia EPC’s or fuel type by small area code.
5. Student forum to present on work within-group and capture the added benefits of interaction amongst research students/ institutions.

Indirect

Network effect/Research cluster – collaboration among researchers generally increases productivity, generates higher impact work (Wutchy, Jones, & Uzzi, 2007), and results in the training of more collaborative researchers (Hampton & Parker, 2011), assisting MaREI in the training of the built environment leaders of tomorrow. 

Long-term vision:

1. Utilise the repository and online platform to provide a “real-time” stock model for the building sector which matches the pace of renovation and that can be used to both guide and evaluate progress towards delivering on 2030 retrofit targets – See beta version “Irish Building Stock Generator IBSG” here.
2. Close the loop: Utilise journal articles and networks to provide feedback to EPC data processing -improving the robustness of this dataset.
3. Further, develop the EPC filters to identify appropriate substitution of default values using alternative datasets and measured data and publish work and hence incorporate into the Irish Building Stock Generator.
4. Upload datasets relevant to building energy stock modellings such as inter alia data on appliance use in buildings, heating and occupancy profiles.
5. Organise sub-groups around application domains e.g. commercial, industrial and residential buildings, allowing focus groups to report back to the main group periodically.
6. To explore how the network might support the industry (designers, modellers etc.) in using more accurate and reliable modelling tools/approaches to help reduce the performance gap (could be a subgroup).
7. In order to calibrate and validate outputs from the models to link with CRU, ESB, and GNI to create a feedback loop of metered data to verify/improve accuracy, highlight trends, etc.
8. To ascertain temperature data for buildings in order to measure the level of service as opposed to just the consumption.
9. Link CENSUS data to building data.

To date the initiative has been supported on a volunteer basis by MaREI organisations UCC and TU Dublin.  To advance the work of the observatory, it is envisaged that members will collaborate as a consortium to apply for research funding.  In this vein, it would be helpful to have the network realised as an output from MaREI along with publications, methods, and datasets resulting from the engagement.

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