How "green" is the new building?
The new building will take every opportunity available to be as green a building as possible in a number of areas:
- Energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy
- Water efficiency and reduced water runoff from site
- Use of sustainable materials for construction
- Enhancing biodiversity.
Taking these together, modelling of the new building indicates that it will be 35% more energy efficient than is required to pass current building regulations. This minimises the building's impact on climate change.
Energy efficient design
Elements of this energy efficient design include:
- Underfloor heating and cooling systems
- Displacement ventilation to lecture spaces
- Condensing, Low Nox boilers
- Low energy lighting
- Intelligent control systems
- High insulation standards
- High glazing standards
- Intelligent metering systems.
Renewable energy systems
A ground source or geo thermal system will provide heating and cooling to the underfloor distribution system. A ground source system uses the ground as a natural thermal store for heating and cooling and upgrades this natural source for use within the building. This system will be able to provide the majority of the heating and cooling load for this building.
To complement this technology, solar thermal panels will be installed on the roof to meet part of the hot water load.
Water efficiency and reduced water runoff from site
The building will harvest and reuse rainwater. A rainwater harvesting system will be installed with a tank in the basement to serve WC outlets thus reducing the amount of treated water that will be used throughout the building's lifetime and also decreasing the rainwater runoff from site.
The design will consider 100% use of water saving devices which will include Low flush toilets, flow restricted showers and taps, water saving white goods and leak detection systems.
Green planting will help to reduce water runoff from the site. Hedges and plants on the roof terrace, climbing plants on the pergola and the area of garden that is retained as part of this development all absorb water through their roots thus aiding attenuation throughout the development. These green areas also provide an element of cooling for the surrounding microclimate as the process of transpiration slowly introduces water to the surrounding air.
Available roof areas of the building will incorporate a Sedum extensive green roof which has a number of benefits including reduced energy consumption, storm water management and increased biodiversity.
Use of sustainable materials for construction
- Low level of embodied energy
- Minimal environmental impact
- Good quality internal environment
- Sourced locally
- High recycled content
- Low emission finishes
- Come from a certified sustainable source
Enhancing biodiversity
The building will enhance biodiversity through the inclusion of a green roof and other planted areas.