Courses at Ardnashee
Energy Courses at Ardnashee
Ardnashee is holding a series of affordable half-day sessions where you can learn how to select or install renewable energy systems and how to save energy in the home.
We have our own 2.5kw wind turbine, various solar water heaters, a micro-hydro system and photovoltaic panels. All courses include a short tour of our strawbale house and its renewable energy systems during the tea / coffee break.
A booking form appears at the bottom of this page, and early booking is advised. Please click here to email us and book a space on the course and then send in the booking form with your payment by post, or pay us online using Paypal (see below).
The following courses are scheduled. Please click here to email us if you want to be added to a mailing list for future course dates.
Solar Water Heating for DIY Enthusiasts & Plumbers
A solar panel can be installed on virtually any house, to save both energy and money.
This course will look at safe and effective use of solar water heaters covering;
• Suitable systems for your needs
• Installation options (roof mounting and plumbing options)
• Ancillary equipment (differential thermostats, pumps, dump loads etc.)
• Safety and protection from overheating, freezing, Legionnaires Disease and excess pressures
• Different solar panels types and their benefits
This course is intended for competent DIYers and plumbers, (though professional installers would require further training for SEI grant approval).
Dates:
Sat 20th Sept. 2.00pm – 5.30pm
Sat. 18th Oct. 2.00pm – 5.30pm
Sun. 16th Nov. 9.30am to 1.00pm
Fee: €45
Tutor: Quentin Gargan
Wind Energy, Micro-Hydro & Solar PV for DIY Enthusiasts & Electricians
This workshop is intended for builders and DIY enthusiasts who are interested in installing their own turbine, or wish to examine the feasibility of doing so.Content includes;
• How to assess your site for wind and micro-hydro potential
• Different turbine systems and their pros / cons
• The feasibility of domestic wind turbines
• Requirements for ground-work and foundations
• Grid-tie –vs- battery systems
• Turbine raising and lowering
• Broad introduction to PVs and micro-hydro systems
• Electrical Theory – D.C., A.C.. power, volts, ohms, amps etc., for calculating cable requirements.
There will be basic instructions on installation, though grid connection should only be carried out by properly certified electricians. There will be some outdoor time, so please bring waterproofs and wellies.
Dates:
Sun. 21st Sept. 9.30am to 1.00pm
Sun. 19th Oct. 9.30am to 1.00pm
Sat. 15th Nov. 2.00pm to 5.30pm
Fee: €45
Tutor: Quentin Gargan
Energy Saving in the Home
There are many low-cost, or no-cost ways of saving energy and money. This half-day workshop will explain cost effective solutions available to householders including;
• What energy ratings on appliances actually mean
• Which appliances use the most energy in your home and how to reduce this
• Cost-effective changes to be made in areas such as attic insulation, draught-proofing, lagging jackets & double-glazing.
• How to make the most of the basic central heating system using simple controls to reduce fuel costs.
• How to reduce condensation and improve ventilation
• How to monitor electricity use & the costs / benefits of night-rate electricity.
We will study a sample house and see what the cost of certain alterations might be, and the savings made, so you can decide what would work for you.
Dates:
Sat 4th Oct: 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Sun, 2nd Nov: 10.00am - 1.00pm
Fee: €45
Tutors: Patricia Bevan & Quentin Gargan.
Alternative Energy for Beginners
This is a very basic introduction to technologies that are fast becoming the norm for new and existing houses, including;
• Solar water heating systems
• Domestic wind turbines & micro-hydro systems
• Wood pellet, wood chip and log gasifying stoves
• Geothermal and Air to water Heat pumps
• Heat Exchange Ventilation
This course is not intended for would-be installers, and assumes no prior knowledge. It should enable you to consider what system might suit your needs, and to know when salesmen are spoofing. You will also learn what the real payback time might be for the various technologies available.
Date: Saturday 1st Nov. 2.00pm to 5.00pm
Fee: €45
Tutor: Quentin Gargan
Course Tutors
Quentin Gargan is a qualified Building Energy Rating Assessor and has certification for installation of solar water heaters and wind turbines. He lectures on solar water heating on the SEI approved training for plumbers at Cork Institute of Technology, and has lived and worked with renewable energy at Ardnashee for 10 years.
Patricia Bevan is an Architectural Technician with over fifteen years experience and is qualified as a Building Energy Rating Assessor.
Patricia also offers an energy assessment service for the home which assesses existing levels of insulation, draught-proofing, energy and fuel usage. A detailed report includes cost effective recommendations on how to improve the energy efficiency of your home, and estimated costs for proposed improvements and the expected payback period.
Make a weekend of it
We have arranged some course dates so you can take a Saturday and Sunday course and enjoy a visit to West Cork.
Please click here to email us if you would like a list of suitable B&Bs in the area.
Farm Produce
There is usually lamb or other meat for sale from the farm. Please bring a cool-box if you wish to purchase some at the end of the course
Bantry Energy Trust
We have a policy of donating a share of our fee to a nominated project. For our Autumn course series 10% of all course fees go to Bantry Energy Trust – a non-profit organisation recently set up under the auspices of West Cork Community Partnership which aims to promote energy conservation in Bantry and surrounding areas.
Booking:
Please complete the form below and send it to Ardnashee, Coomanore, Bantry, Co. Cork. Please click here if you want to email us and check that there is space on a particular date, or you can call and leave a message on our phone at 027 52773.
After you have confirmed that there is a space on the course, you can either send the booking form and a cheque, or pay us by paypal by clicking the button below.
For further information:
If you need more information, please click here to email us or call Quentin on 027 52773 and leave a message.
Directions:
Please click here to email us for directions.
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Booking Form
Name: __________________________________
Address__________________________________
__________________________________
Course Topic _____________________________
Course Date:______________________________
Phone /Moble No.__________________________
(E-mail):__________________________________
(If you give an email address, we will use this to send you confirmation)
Number of People attending: __________
Fee Enclosed: €__________
(Please make Cheques payable to Quentin Gargan)