Northumbria University Case Study
Customer: Northumbria University
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Application: Pressurised Solar Thermal System
Number of Properties: 1
Property Types: University Building (Law and Business School)
Customer Background
Northumbria University is an expanding multicultural learning community, with excellent links with further and higher education, industry and commerce throughout the UK, Europe and beyond.
In September 2007 the Newcastle Business School (NBS) relocated to a new development. This move afforded Northumbria the opportunity to achieve a highly efficient and environmentally friendly building.
Why Solar Technology?
The design of the new building involves innovation and commitment to reducing energy output, from using 95% of recycled materials from the building previously located on the site to installing lights which automatically turn off when not required. To comply with the Part L2A of the 2006 Building Regulations, a prime energy source was required to reduce the total emissions rate of the building.
Solar thermal is often the most cost effective way to achieve this requirement and was selected by the University for the building.
Installation Details
The installation consists of eight 5.5m2 flat plat solar thermal collectors mounted on A-frames pitched at 45 degrees to the horizontal giving a total collection area of 44m2. The pitch is steeper than usual for a solar thermal installation in the UK because the occupancy of the building is lower during the summer months, so the system has been optimised for improved winter solar collection. The collectors pre-heat water in three 500 litre unvented solar calorifiers in a custom built plant room on the roof of the building and this pre-heated water is fed into the main building instantaneous hot water boilers.
Results
As well as adding to the pleasing aesthetics of the new building, the solar thermal hot water system generates around 23MWh of energy per year and reduces the amount of CO2 emitted by about 4 tonnes per year. In February 2008, Northumbria University’s flagship development City Campus East won a national award by being named Low Carbon New Build Project of the Year as well as receiving The Sustainability and Design and Innovation award and the coveted Project of the Year title at the 2008 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Renaissance Awards. Carillion Energy Services are extremely proud to have assisted in such an large scale, innovative and environmentally focused project.