:focus(640x490:641x491))
Our Low Carbon Campus Journey – Our Key Milestones
Our campus was an early adopter of the low energy/carbon agenda, with our low carbon campus journey beginning in the early 1990s.
Although the need to reduce CO2 emissions primarily became a focus for the HE sector after 2005, running an efficient and low energy estate has been a long-standing goal of ours. The challenges of operating a 1960s estate with poor thermal performance led us to develop a series of highly thermally efficient buildings, both to counter the original building stock and to ensure the estate as a whole was cost effective to operate.
)
1990 – 1995: The Elizabeth Fry Building (1995)
After 20 years, the Elizabeth Fry Building still exceeds current building regulations for thermal performance and is one our most energy efficient buildings on campus.
“Best building ever”, Building Services Journal (1998).
High thermal mass, highly insulated triple glazing.
Low energy structural ceiling slab system, TermoDeck, provides very consistent conditions throughout the year.
)
1995 – 2000: CHP and District Heating (1999)
Through our combined heat and power (CHP) engines, UEA regularly generates over 60% of its own, low carbon, electricity. This reduces our carbon footprint by around 20%, or 5000tCO2e (compared to traditional boilers and grid electricity).
Four CHP engines installed (4700kW in total)
Provide electricity and heating, via existing district heating scheme.
Use natural gas to generate electricity; waste heat captured and used to heat buildings. Overall efficiency is around 80%.
Regularly reduces energy costs by over £1 million per year.
)
2000 – 2005: ZICER Building and Integrated PV (2002)
The ZICER (The Zuckerman Institute for Connective Environmental Research) Building was our first building-integrated photovoltaic (PV) system. The 34kW system demonstrates the potential of building integrated PV.
Won the ‘Low Energy Building of the Year' award in the Building Magazine's sustainability competition, 2005.
Second low energy building using the TermoDeck system.
Thermal performance improved over the Elizabeth Fry Building.
Over 240,000kWh of zero-carbon electricity generated since opening (the amount required to power the average house for 72 years).
)
District Cooling System (2006)
Bringing the double benefit: reducing electrical demand by creating value from waste output from low carbon technology.
Project uses waste heat from the CHP engines, not electrical energy, to generate the power to create cold water. An absorption chiller unit replaced electrically-driven compression refrigeration, saving even more energy.
Existing district pipe network provides cooling to laboratory equipment and areas prone to overheating.
)
Thomas Paine Study Centre (2009)
Continuing to specialise in using thermal mass and innovative ventilation, with increased zoning for local comfort.
360-seat lecture theatre, seminar rooms and offices.
TermoDeck heating/cooling system, with similar performance to Elizabeth Fry and ZICER.
Learnt from other buildings: installed displacement ventilation and more zone controls to improve occupant comfort.
)
Julian Study Centre (2013)
The Julian Study Centre began our exploration of the potential of cross-laminated timber (CLT) for academic and residential buildings, allowing quick construction and a lower carbon footprint.
TermoDeck heating and cooling system, with hollow concrete floors, still used.
CLT structure reduced the amount of concrete used (saving ‘embodied carbon’) and speeding up construction.
Achieved an air tightness far exceeding current building regulations, meaning that it loses heat much more slowly in the winter.
LED lighting; 22kW of PV roof-mounted PV; received the highest-rated Energy Performance Certificate (A, out of G).
A building that used less energy in construction, but is also more efficient during use.
)
Crome Court (2014)
Our most environmental and energy-efficient accommodation block, Crome Court has won several awards for its innovation in new construction software, and is a finalist in the 2015 Green Gown Awards.
Cross-laminated timber superstructure completely replaces concrete in the frame.
Around 21kW of PV; external green wall; greywater recycling system; energy display screens per flat, helping residents understand their energy use and flat performance.
‘BREEAM Excellent’, a top rank in the world’s foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings.
First building on campus to fully embrace Building Information Modelling, or BIM: one of the first projects in the UK to achieve a fully-integrated, '6D' BIM Level 2 (ahead of government schedule).
)
Boiler Replacement (Spring 2015)
Replacing the 50-year-old boilers used to back up the CHP engines and provide extra mid-winter heat will save money on an ongoing basis, as well as reduce wasted energy through increased efficiency.
Three new, 6MW natural gas Bosch boilers installed.
Boiler efficiency improved from 75% to over 90%, saving over £50,000 per year.
Saves over 300tCO2e per year.
)
Enterprise Centre (June 2015)
Targeted the challenging and internationally-recognised Passivhaus standard, the world’s leading ‘fabric first’ approach to low energy buildings.
Expected to achieve a 'BREEAM Outstanding' rating, the world’s leading design and assessment method for sustainable buildings.
An exemplar of sustainable procurement, and low embodied energy and carbon construction technologies, through natural and bio-renewable materials sourced through local supply chains.
Looking forward
A key part of our NetZeroUEA strategy will be delivered through the Campus Development Programme by improving the energy efficiency of the Lasdun Teaching Wall.