Sustainable Business - Sustainability Leaders Awards

Sustainability Leaders Awards 2013 39/44 SUSTAINABLE BUILDING The atrium is covered with ETFE, a semi-opaque material that is 1% the weight of glass. In fact, 80% of the development will achieve a daylight factor of 3% or more. All the material used has been selected with sustainability in mind – detailed façade, roof and airflow studies using 'dynamic simulation modelling' provided a thermal model of the building so the efficiency of heating, cooling and ventilation could be maximised. The energy performance rating is A and the whole life savings will amount to some £40m – with costs in the region of £3m, that's not bad. A building management system (BMS) also maintains environmental control and monitors the building services systems. All meters are interfaced with the BMS supervisor computer located in the facilities management office. So, thanks to solar shading, natural ventilation, high-performance façade, and CCHP, the BCC has cut its carbon footprint by a third. This has rocketed ges said: What the jud exciting building. ly This is a real roach to holistic app It has a BREEAM y, it's rated sustainabilit omoting and they're pr outstanding e should be vation.W ongoing inno our country. having it in proud of the building to the top of the pile when it comes to sustainability in 2013, but here's the really clever bit – this building is also designed to adapt to predicted future changes in the climate. The overheating test, for example, was based on a temperature of 33.6°C – the norm for London is 29°C. So, in future extreme summer conditions, when outdoor temperatures are a few degrees more than they reach today, the natural ventilation will be supplemented by treated cool air operating in 'mixed mode'. The office areas, forming 75% of the building will also work in natural ventilation mode for more than 90% of the time. With a life expectancy of 60 or more years, and at a time of increasing awareness of climate change and sustainability issues, the development "fully justifies the cost" – and effort – that has gone into achieving these results, says the council. But beyond the anticipated benefits in carbon and cost savings, this is a building that "stands as a beacon in the community". User guides and displays provide general information on the energy systems, landscape and the building's initiatives and construction strategies with live information boards derived from sub-meters connected to the BMS. In this way, the BCC provides much more than a low cost and low carbon building, it provides the opportunity for the education of local residents and building users on what the judges referred to as a "holistic approach to sustainability". "We should be proud of having it in our country," they added.

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