About the PHAI
Our Mission
The Passive House Association of Ireland (PHAI) is a catalyst for the increased awareness of the opportunities and benefits of low energy design based on the Passive House principles, across the Irish construction industry as a whole. Passive House design is seen as a specifically proven successful way of designing such buildings.
The Mission of the PHAI is to promote, educate and facilitate, so as to develop a strong identity, understanding and demand for the Passive House concept.
PHAI is an Affiliated Association with the International Passive House Association.The Association is non-profit-making in so far that all membership fees collected go toward the promotion of the Passive House Principles in their many varied forms.
Our Board
Chairperson | Caroline Ashe Brady, Director of KORE Insulation & KORE Retrofit
Vice Chairperson | Helena McElmeel, Principal at Helena McElmeel Architects
Treasurer | Stephen O’Shea, Head of Sustainable Construction and ESG Reporting, Cairn
Secretary |Simon Bell, Director at HLM Architects
Other Board Members | |
Chris Millar, Brand and Project Specification Manager at Kernohan Distribution
John O’Connell, Senior Contracts Manager at OCC Construction
Stephen Donoghue, Director at MosArt
Tony Mahon, Aereco
Charlie Conlan, Sustainability Designer at Ballymore
Aaron McCarthy, Director at Hive Group
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Caroline Ashe Brady
CHAIRPERSON
Caroline Ashe Brady, Director of KORE Group for nearly two decades, has dedicated her career to advancing sustainability in Ireland’s built environment. She holds a BSc in Marketing & Management (DIT), an MSc in Strategic Procurement (DCU), and is a certified Passive House Consultant. Caroline mentors and serves on boards including the Small Firms Association and Passive House Association of Ireland, driving industry collaboration and innovation.
She has led KORE to numerous awards, including SEAI Energy Awards, and spearheaded achievements like ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 50001 certifications. Under her leadership, KORE Retrofit became Ireland’s first SEAI Registered One Stop Shop, championing nationwide energy upgrades and progress toward net-zero by 2030.
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Helena McElmeel
VICE CHAIRPERSON
Helena is a Registered Architect with over 20 years’ experience and principal of Helena McElmeel Architects – an award-winning Galway based team of architects (including four Certified Passive House Designers) specialising in Certified Passive House and sustainable buildings, urban design and public realm.
She became a Registered Architect in 2007 and a Certified Passive House Designer in 2013. Helena holds a Masters of Science in Architecture: Advanced Energy and Environmental Studies in 2013 (CAT / UEL) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management in 2018 (Trinity College Dublin). She taught the Built Environment module in the School of Engineering in the University of Galway for over five years. Helena and her practice continue to contribute to various academic and research studies relating to energy and carbon impact of both new build and retrofitted buildings.
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Stephen O'Shea
TREASURER
Stephen O’Shea is an architect of 25+ years experience whose career took a late turn towards Sustainability. He now works for Cairn, one of the largest home builders in Ireland, as their Head of Sustainable Construction, helping them to set and implement their ambitious sustainability strategies.
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Simon Bell
SECRETARY
Simon Bell, Director at HLM Architects, leads the firm's Sustainability Specialism. A Chartered Landscape Architect and Certified Passivhaus Consultant, Simon’s passion for sustainable development is evident in projects like the award-winning ‘Tigh na Croit’ and his own Passivhaus home, Knockboy Barn. Since 2019, he has built a team of 12 Passivhaus Designers at HLM, delivering certified projects in education, residential, and commercial sectors across the UK and Ireland.
Simon advocates for the Passivhaus standard’s benefits, including enhanced air quality, thermal comfort, and resource efficiency, and its role in addressing health, education, and climate change challenges through sustainable design.
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Chris Millar
BOARD MEMBER
Chris Millar has over a decade’s experience of working with construction industry professionals across Ireland and beyond. As Ventilation Project & Brand Manager with Kernohan Distribution (specialists in the supply of sustainable and low energy solutions for the electrical, drainage, plumbing, heating and ventilation sectors).
A graduate of Ulster University, Chris is additionally an independently accredited ventilation designer, working with partners, primarily to deliver Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery projects, utilising PHI approved systems and components.
Chris is passionate about sustainability and minimising our collective impact upon the environment. Central to this approach, is client education. Chris offers free, CIBSE, RIAI and RIBA accredited CPDs to architects and consulting engineers across Ireland on a weekly basis. These free seminars, encompass best practice and promote the importance of regulatory compliant ventilation solutions, to conserve energy and reduce whole life cost.
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John O'Connell
BOARD MEMBER
John O’Connell is a Chartered Engineer and Certified Passive House Designer, dedicated to driving innovation in sustainable construction. As Chairman of Engineers Ireland West Region and Senior Contracts Manager at OCC Construction, he leads complex design and build projects across the commercial, residential, and medtech sectors. Passionate about energy efficiency, John has championed Passive House principles, ensuring sustainability is at the core of OCC’s work. In 2023, he proudly led the West Region’s first Passive House-certified multi-unit housing development, a milestone in his mission to push the boundaries of building excellence.
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Stephen Donoghue
BOARD MEMBER
Stephen Donoghue is a Director at MosArt, a multi-disciplinary consultancy specializing in Architectural, Passivhaus Design & Certification services, as well as education in high-performance buildings. An experienced Architectural Technologist and Project Manager, he has led multi-disciplinary design teams on large-scale residential, commercial, and educational projects.
Stephen has played a key role in some of Ireland’s most significant Passivhaus developments, including Senan House, Shanganagh Castle, and Pipers Square. Dedicated to advancing Passivhaus principles, he works closely with clients to create high-performance, energy-efficient buildings that deliver lasting comfort and sustainability.
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Tony Mahon
BOARD MEMBER
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Charlie Conlan
BOARD MEMBER
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Aaron McCarthy
BOARD MEMBER
Our History
The Passive House Association of Ireland is a not-for-profit voluntary organisation whose aim is to promote the passive house concept in order to educate people and promote this low energy building standard. Its board comprises engineers, architects and academics who understand the standard and know that it offers an excellent solution for Ireland and its citizens.
The association was formed in 2010 essentially by those who understand the potential for passive houses and as a voluntary non-commercial organisation simply want the truth to come out.
Our Vision & Values
It’s our vision to lead Ireland's transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future by championing the Passive House standard as the benchmark for high-performance, energy-efficient, and healthy buildings, fostering a resilient and environmentally responsible built environment for generations to come.
At the Passive House Association of Ireland, we value:
Sustainability: Promoting practices that minimize environmental impact and enhance energy efficiency.
Innovation: Driving forward-thinking solutions for sustainable building design and construction.
Collaboration: Building strong partnerships within the construction industry, government, and communities to achieve shared goals.
Quality: Ensuring the highest standards in building performance, comfort, and air quality.
Education: Empowering professionals and the public through knowledge-sharing and training in Passive House principles.
Advocacy: Championing the Passive House standard as a solution to Ireland’s housing, energy, and climate challenges.
