PRISM Video: Enhancing Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) Skills through Virtual Reality Simulation.

John Cassidy, is the Area Manager Training Services at Waterford & Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB, which is a member of Eirmersive). At PRISM ‘25 he spoke about Enhancing Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) Skills through [Virtual Reality] Simulation. The following is a summary of his presentation and you can watch the full recording below.

Background

• NZEB = Nearly Zero Energy Building.

• Became a major focus since 2017, when national skill specifications and training programmes were developed.

• Emphasis on retrofit rather than new builds, as retrofitting is the most common requirement today.

Training Challenges

• Traditional approach: integrated learning (practical + theory) and experiential learning are essential for apprentices.

• Physical training requires:

  • Access to specific building structures (e.g., cavity walls, stone walls, block builds).

  • Significant resources and time.

  • All trainees must attend the training centre.

• Difficult to replicate real-world conditions repeatedly.

Solution: Virtual Reality (VR)

• Partnered with Immersive VR company (and Eirmersive member) Emagine

• Developed VR modules to simulate NZEB skills:

  1. Window installation – addresses modern requirements like cold bridging and sealing.

  2. Roof insulation.

  3. Wall viewer with exploded views – shows layers added during retrofitting.

  4. Ventilation installation and balancing systems.

Benefits of VR Training

• Experiential learning without resource constraints.

• Faster skill acquisition for apprentices (approx. 500 trained annually).

• Reduces time and cost compared to physical setups.

• Applicable to a broad audience:

  • Apprentices.

  • Mortgage advisers (understanding green mortgages).

  • Council officials (tender reviews).

  • Builders’ providers staff (material usage knowledge).

Impact & Insights

• Used in World Skills event at RDS (30,000 attendees, mostly students).

• Female participation rose significantly (49% in 2025 vs ~32% in 2019).

• Observation: females adapt faster to VR training because they follow instructions thoroughly.

• VR spans generations and enhances understanding even for non-construction professionals.

Key Takeaways

• VR is a powerful tool for scalable, efficient, and engaging NZEB training.

• Improves technical accuracy and confidence.

• Supports sustainability goals by enabling better retrofit practices.