Steiner School, Belfast City CentreConceptual Design Booklet

AuthorsNoel HughesAnthony Kelly Chris McGeoughDaniel Roe

Produced in conjunction with:Queen’s University, BelfastMSc. Sustainable Design

1

The aim of this project was to design a school in a unique city centre location in Queens Street, Belfast. The school is to follow the ethos of Steiner Education developed by Rudolph Steiner, where the focus is on student interaction with nature as opposed to more mainstream educational methods. With this it was decided to implement sustainability and holistic construction as the core of the design process.

A sustainability checklist was developed to ensure sustainability was examined in every aspect of the building’s design. Following on from this, a number of precedents were examined and their conformity with our sustainability checklist was evaluated.

With all this information at hand, a project brief was created as a guide to the design process stating clearly what issues any possible design must address.

A sketch design was shaped to adhere to our sustainability checklist and project brief. The resulting design is hoped to address all the main issues ranging from recycling of the initial site to the performance of the structure once completed.

Introduction

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3Contents

Contents • SustainabilityChecklist 04 • Precedents 05 • Precedents 06 • Precedents 07 • ProjectBrief 08 • AreaAnalysis 09 • SiteAnalysis 10 • SiteAnalysis 11 • BuildingApproach 12 • Basement 13 • Ground 14 • First-Fourth 15 • Roof 16 • BuildingForm 17 • Water 18 • Heating 19 • Electrical 20 • Access 21 • StructuralFrame 22 • FacadeandInsulation 23 • Ventilation 24 • Lighting 25 • Flexibility 26 • StudentInvolvement 27 • ImpactonPeople 28 • ImpactonPlace 29 • Appendix 31

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1. Structure TypeDetermine whether to use a frame or cellular approach. If a basement area is necessary and how it should be constructed.

2. Materials• RecyclingofCurrentSite• Materialsusedforthemainstructuretoreduceembeddedcarbon• GlazingAreatouseofnaturallightwhilereducingsolargains• Insulatingmaterials

3. Open Spaces/Green Roof• Infollowingasustainableapproachtotheschemeitisimportanttoconsider a space which can easily adapt their function, thus extending their lifespan of the scheme.• Thelimitedaccesstogreenopenspaceinurbanenvironmentsisaconcern to the education development of children in the Steiner School system. It is important that we provide an external green open space for the children and therefore we will be implementing a living green roof within our structure.

4. Heating/VentilationOur approach will examine the possibilities of heating strategies for an urbanmulti-storeystructure.Weshallexploretheefficienciesofaverityof technologies and methodologies to reduce the energy requirement and environmental impact of the heating requirements of the building.

5. Water Recycling With an ever increasing focus on water usage in buildings we believe water recycling as well as water usage reduction should be incorporated into our design. Aside from obvious financial reasons to cut waterconsumption from the mains, the unsustainable use of water at present cannot continue. Using water treated to drinking quality for activities such asirrigationandflushingtoiletscannotcontinue.Asidefromtheobviouswaste of water, considerable energy consumption is associated with the treatment and delivery of potable water.

6. Access/TransportExamine how people access the site and provide sustainable solutions.

7. Local Community Use/Education

8. Whole Life Design• Maintenance• FlexibleSpaces• Disassembly

9. Student Involvement: Considering the structure is to be used as a Steiner school, we decided from the outset that student learning and involvement should be incorporated into as many of the sustainable technologies as possible. We hope to enablestafftousethefinaldesigntoincorporatesustainability intothecurriculum.

Sustainability Checklist

Sustainability ChecklistTheSustainableChecklistidentifiesresourcesandsavingopportunitieswithinanyproject.Thechecklistfocusesonsustainabilityinenergyandwateruse,wastemanagement, procurement and carbon management, among others. All the tasks are designed to promote or develop sustainable policies and action within any building or structure.

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Holywood Steiner School, Belfast

Steiner education is an alternative method of education to more mainstream methods. It was developed by Rudolph Steiner who applied his concept of anthroposophy to education to provide a creative learning environment. Steiner has its own particular style of architecture with softer corners and the use of rounder forms with a focus on ergonomics.

Hollywood Steiner SchoolAlthough not effectively a precedent as it contains few of the characteristics required on our sustainability checklist we thought it may be of use to study an existing Steiner School here in Belfast. The school caters for students from kindergarten all the way up to class 11. The classrooms were all designed to ensure good acoustical qualities which most of the teachers we spoke withbelievedworkedwell.Gooduseofnatural lighting is evident in the main building.

Precedents

RequirementsThe school principle believes that if a second Steiner school were to be built in Belfast it would ideally act as a feeder school acting as a Kindergarten for the existing school. She also believes it wouldbebeneficial if certain facilitiescould be shared by the two schools and with the school lacking a number of facilities the new school could provide these. The existing hall is inadequate so a new sports hall with provisions for a stage for drama etc was high on her list of priorities as well as a green area for the kindergarten class.

Performance against ChecklistObviously due to the nature of the school it compared extremely poorly with our sustainability checklist however the visit and subsequent study did enable us to create a clearer andmorespecificbrief.

6Precedents

Kingsmead Primary School Northwich, Cheshire

Kingsmead Primary School locatedin Cheshire was designed by White Design Associates and completed in July 2004. With sustainably sourcedwood being used for the timber frame and cladding the building has a low embodied energy. Recycled glass has been used as insulation.

Lighting and VentilationVentilationisbynaturalmeansviarooflights at the back of the classrooms. Passive solar design was executedextremely well on the project and lights are rarely needed in the classrooms. With all classrooms north facing it was possible to use tall walls and allow as much sunlight as possible in with the roof lights boosting light levels towards the back of the classrooms. Automated blinds on the roof lights allow solar gains when needed and block it when not.

Sustainable TechnologiesA water harvesting system collects rainwater from the sloping roof which cuts water use by approximately 32%. Heatingcomesfromabiomassboilerbacked up by a gas boiler however problems with the biomass boiler led to complete reliance on the gas boiler initially. PV’s and solar thermalpanels were also included to contribute towards electricity and hot water usage.

Student Involvement A building management system allows the rainwater harvesting system and PVarraybeusedasanenvironmentalteaching tool and can be incorporated into maths and geography lessons. Also a transparent downpipe allows students see the rainwater being collected.

Other Key CharacteristicsBike racks and a short access road hope to encourage walking and cycling to school. Sustainable materials and construction methods were used wherever possible and the possibility of dismantling and recycling building materials was considered in the designPerformanceagainstChecklistInterior concrete walls aren’t structurally important giving the building the flexibilitytoadapttoanyfutureneedsand low embodied energy ensures it rates highly on matters of whole life design and materials. Ventilation,water recycling, access, and student involvement are all well addressed however a number of factors have led to poor performance on the heating and electricity front however these shouldberectifiedinthefuture.

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Holywood Steiner School, Belfast

Steiner education is an alternative method of education to more mainstream methods. It was developed by Rudolph Steiner who applied his concept of anthroposophy to education to provide a creative learning environment. Steiner has its own particular style of architecture with softer corners and the use of rounder forms with a focus on ergonomics.

Hollywood Steiner SchoolAlthough not effectively a precedent as it contains few of the characteristics required on our sustainability checklist we thought it may be of use to study an existing Steiner School here in Belfast. The school caters for students from kindergarten all the way up to class 11. The classrooms were all designed to ensure good acoustical qualities which most of the teachers we spoke withbelievedworkedwell.Gooduseofnatural lighting is evident in the main building.

Precedents

RequirementsThe school principle believes that if a second Steiner school were to be built in Belfast it would ideally act as a feeder school acting as a Kindergarten for the existing school. She also believes it wouldbebeneficial if certain facilitiescould be shared by the two schools and with the school lacking a number of facilities the new school could provide these. The existing hall is inadequate so a new sports hall with provisions for a stage for drama etc was high on her list of priorities as well as a green area for the kindergarten class.

Performance against ChecklistObviously due to the nature of the school it compared extremely poorly with our sustainability checklist however the visit and subsequent study did enable us to create a clearer andmorespecificbrief.

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Brief

The proposed new Steiner School on Queens Street Belfast shall provide a creative learning environment for childrenbetweentheagesof3-7.Thisschool shall encourage imagination and creativeflair,whilegrowingintellectualdevelopment. The building must also reflecttheSteinereducationmentalitywhich adapts to every child’s strengths and aptitudes, and thus dispelling any forms of inequality.At present, no such facility exists within Belfast City which offers this form of anthroposophical learning. A Steiner schoolexists inHolywood,around20minutes outside of Belfast, however despite offering a relative case study, is completely contrasting to our proposed compact and urban site.

• Multifunctional Hall, whichshall provide performance and sporting needs.

• ReadingRooms.• Outdoorfacilities.• Garden(s)/Vegetation.• ArtRoom.• Efficientstoragespace.• Acoustically sound and bright

rooms/spaces.• Administration/Teacheroffices.• MeetingRoom.• Children’sLibrary.(Ifneededon

site)• Canteen/ Eating/ Water

Facilities, in each classroom.

The focus of the project will be on the creation of rooms and spaces with can adapt to the varying facilities provided by the Steiner Education.

Integration of thinking, making and doing to the design is crucial. Educate through movement and physical interaction.• Receptionarea.• Multifunctional Hall, which

shall provide performance and sporting needs.

• ReadingRooms.• Outdoorfacilities.• Garden(s)/Vegetation.• ArtRoom.• Efficientstoragespace.• Acoustically sound and bright

rooms/spaces.• Administration/Teacheroffices.• MeetingRoom.• Children’sLibrary.(Ifneededon

site)• Canteen/ Eating/ Water

Facilities, in each classroom.

The focus of the project will be on the creation of rooms and spaces with can adapt to the varying facilities provided by the Steiner Education.

ProjectBrief

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Local Amenities • ExtensiveShopping(VictoriaCentre,Castlecourt) • OfficeSpace • TwoareaofPrivateGreenSpace • EventVenues(Waterfront,Odyssey) • CivilCentre(BelfastCityHall)

Lack of Amenities • PublicActivitiesArea(Parks,Swimmingpoolsetc) • CommunityArea(CommunityHall,MeetingArea) • SportGrounds • Children’sPlayZone • CommunityAnchor

Area Analysis

Area AnalysisAnareaanalysisofBelfastcitycentre(thelocalcatchmentareafortheproposedStienerSchool)hasidentifiedthefollowingcommunityassets/amenitiesandnumber of urban shortcoming in relation to the development of a new school.

10Site Analysis

Site Analysis

Analysis of vehicular and pedestrian trafficacrossthesite.Inadditiontotheprevailing meteorological conditions.

11Site Analysis

Site Analysis

Analysis of various environmental conditions affecting the site.

12Building Approach

Front Aerial Elevation

13Basement

Basement

GymA two storey space to accommodate the physical education requirements of the school and greater community. The gym is half buried, which an entrance at basement level.

Store RoomThis area connects to the gym to store the associated equipment

Plant RoomThe central for all the building heating and plumbing mechanics

Access CorridorA combination of the building circulation space and a natural ventilation stack.

External Ground Works This zone is external to the buildingand located under the buildings proposed playground. Here is wherethe proposed heat pumps boreholes and holding tanks for the rainwater catchment systems will be located.

14Ground

Ground

Office SpaceThis area will contain the reception and greeting area. It will also house the officespace for thevariousmembersof staff within the school.

GymA two storey space to accommodate the physical education requirements of the school and greater community. The gym is half buried, which an entrance at basement level.

Access CorridorA combination of the building circulation space and a natural ventilation stack.

15First-Forth

First - Fourth

Classroom / Multi-Use SpaceThese areas will provide a space for the school to educate in. The spaces and structure will be design to be able toadapt tomultipleusage.Willsemi-permanent wall and open plan layout

Access CorridorA combination of the building circulation space and a natural ventilation stack.

16Roof

Roof

Roof GardenThe proposed roof will be a living garden with a high hedge line around the perimeter to act as a wind screen. The area will provide an education area and planting patch for the building, it will also act as a catchment area for a rainwater harvesting system.

Solar PanelsAn area of the roof space dedicate to the housingofbothaPVandthermalsolarpanel system. The area will be covered in rapeseed and will be separated from the rest of the roof space. This is for security, safety an ease of access for maintenance reasons.

Access CorridorA combination of the building circulation space and a natural ventilation stack.

17Building Form

Rear Aerial Elevation

18Water

Water Conservation System

Rainwater Harvesting System• Usedtocollectstoreandrecycle

rainwater usually from roof area• Incorporated into roof garden-

Some plants would help filterrainwater however would significantly reduce collectedvolumes of water

• With an 850mm per annumof rainfall and a 350m2 roof,300,000l of water is availablefor collection

• However a sedum roof cancapture 75% of rainwatermeaningonly75,000lbutthisisstillasignificantreductionintheneedless use of potable water.

Greywater Recycling System• Wastewatercollectedfromhand

basins etc is treated, stored and recycled to the same systems or for irrigation when required

• New systems refill cisternsdirectly from basin run off (reduces energy & storagerequirements)

• Mustbecollectedfrom>80%offittingstocomplywithBREEAM

Combining Both Systems• Combination of both to meet

BREEAM requirements ofcollectionof 50%ofpredictedtoilet and urinal flushing(BREEAM,2010)

• Better economies of scaleleading to reduced payback period

• Howeverunlessseparatetanksare used rainwater must be needlessly also treated to same level as greywater.

WC’s/Taps• Dual flush cisterns which

incorporate low volume technologies to reduce the water needed to 4l and 2.6lper flush for solids and liquidsrespectively(Waterwise,2010)

• Waterless urinals using eitherfan or deodorizing pads toeliminate odours

• Sensor operated spray tapscan reduce consumption by up to80%over conventional taps(GreenBuildingStores,2010)

19Heating

Heating Management Systems

Technologies• HeatZoning• AdjustableRoomSettings• Under-floorHeating• PassiveSolar

Heating Zoning• Isolatezonesbytheusageand

requirements• Provides a more efficient

system of heating the structure

Adjustable Room Settings• Allow for individual control of

rooms and spaces.• Providesforamorecomfortable

heating environment

Under-floor Heating• Createsamore stable internal

temperature.• Provides for the heating

requirements for after school activities more efficiently thatradiators

• More compatible with hatrecovery systems

Passive Solar• Maximum the heat gains of

natural daylight

Heating Generation Systems

Technologies• GasBoiler• AirSourceHeatPump• GroundSourceHeatPump

Gas Boiler• Efficientandlowrunningcosts• ExistingCitysupplyline• Relativelylowemissions• Noneedforfuelstorageontight

city site

Air Source Heat Pump• Ability to use proposed roof

space to recover exhaust heat• Reduces heating generation

requirements of the structure

Ground Source Heat Pump• Use of required external play

ground space to generate heat• Reduces heating generation

requirements of the structure

Solar Thermal Panels• Ability to use proposed roof

space to generate hot water.• Reduces the thermal energy

requirements of hot water of the structure

20Electrical

Electrical Management Systems

Technologies• ElectricalZoning• SmartMeters

Electrical Zoning• Isolatezonesbytheusageand

requirements• Reduces thebuildingelectrical

requirement• Provides a more efficient use

electricity dictated by the activity of a space

• Invisible technology, nomaintenance

Smart Meters• Proven to reduce theelectrical

use of any building through changing peoples habits

• Educationaltool• Incomegeneratedbyproviding

energy to the grid• Invisible technology, no

maintenance

Electrical Generation Systems

Technologies• HelixWindTurbines• PVSolarPanels

Helix Wind Turbines• ProvenTechnology• Helix form has an advantage

over Axis turbines in the chaotic urban wind environment

• Incomegeneratedbyprovidingenergy to the grid

• Attractivefeatureonstreetfrontelevation

• Promotes buildings characterand focal point for the community

PV Solar Panels• Open access to east to west

direct south sunlight• Limited obstruction of sunlight

at city roof level • Incomegeneratedbyproviding

energy to the grid• Reduces the buildings energy

requirements and carbon footprint

• Roof layout provided for easymaintenance access

• Educationaltool

Proposal A

Proposal B

21Access

There currently exists a network of access to the site. There are bus stops located either side of Queen Street, no morethan50mfromthesiteentrance,and there is a pedestrian crossing where Queen Street meets College Street.

This proposal will specify bike racks/sheds on site and propose a new pedestrian crossing at the Queen Street-CastleStreetjunction.

Early on it was identified that due tothe age of the children attending the school that there would be a large number of students being dropped and collected at the school by car. As the site of Queen Street is a busy area this issue needed to be addressed by the site.

ProposalAwastoutilisethebasementspace as a drop off area. The site provides ample area for this action. Thebenefitofthisisthatitisalldoneon site. The problems are that of maintainingconstantflowofcars,andalsosufficientventilationinabasementlocation with running vehicles.

ProposalBsuggestsadropofflocationcut into the existing footpath. The footpath outside the site is wide enough to support this solution and there is already an example of this outside one oftheneighbouringsites.Thebenefitsare that the basement can be used for its original purpose, it’s a much simpler solution to the problem and it is easily accessible and visible for parents. The primary problem would be that of planning permission and also making the area large enough to accommodate as many cars as possible.

ProposalBisthepreferable.

TimberSuper-structure

ConcreteSub-structure

22Structural Frame

The existing site is a tarmacadam car parkwithanestimated150mmtarmaccovering1.5mofhardcore.Thetarmaccannot be recycled but the hard core canbere-usedashardcoreforunderthe basement or cleaned and graded andusedasaggregate.Tore-useitashard core is the cheaper option.

It was decided that a basement would be needed to house plant, gym and potential access. On a tight inner city site the easiest method of construction is interlocking bored concrete piles, to form a wall. As concrete was already being utilised it was decided to continue the concrete structure up to first floor level. This has manyadvantages (Appendix).Theconcretewill be specified to use a percentageGGBS and recycled aggregates tominimise environmental impact.

Several solutions were looked at for the superstructure, but in order to reduce the embedded carbon of the structure it was decided that timber would be the primarystructuralmaterial(Appendix).In order to achieve the height and spans required glulam would be needed. In addition the floor structures willbe constructed from timber-concretecomposite(Appendix).

The roof will be constructed flat tohouse a green roof over two-thirdsof the area, with the remaining third housing solar panels and a small area for services. The green roof poses manyadvantagesoveraplainflatroof,even more so considering a basement will be constructed for the bulk of the plant.

Continuous bored pile wall Timber-Concretecompositefloor

Atrium

N

23Façade and Insulation

As the main elevations of the building areeast-westorientatedcaremustbetaken to allow sufficient natural lightbut also have solar shading, as a lot of the light will be low angle.

Therefore the exposed façades on the East and West of the building will be amixofsolidandglazedfaçade.Theonly south facing elevation will have increasedglazingareabutopaque toreduce solar gains but maintain natural light.

The atrium will be a mix of clear and opaqueglazing.

The solid façade area will be highly insulatedpanels,andtheglazedareaswill be kept low to avoid undue heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. Current building regulations have the glazed area no more than 40% offaçade area, for unprotected glass.

When looking at insulation, several criteria were important to the selection; environmentally friendly materials and thermal conductivity.

Alsosemi-transparentinsulationtypeswere considered to optimise light, such as Kalwall.

The various contenders were compared (Appendix) and what waschosenwascellulosefibre.

Cellulose fibre is a grey colouredcellulose fibre insulation made fromrecycled newsprint. It has been treated with inorganic salts to provide pest and fire-resistance and is non-irritantto handle and touch. The salts give it the fire rating required and cellulosefibrecanabsorbandreleasemoisturewithout significant loss of thermalresistance.

Photoofopaqueandclearglassfaçadehouseby Wiel Arets Architects

Cellulose Fibre Insulation

A

A A

B B

B

24Ventilation

What currentlyexists for specificationof ventilation in the construction of schools in the UK is that of Naturalventilation for classrooms and officesetc and mechanical ventilation for W.C and kitchen areas.

For this project the same basic principles will be used, Naturalventilation for classrooms, offices etcand mechanical for W.C, kitchen areas, basements and gym.

The natural ventilation will be achieved using buoyancy driven effect in an open atrium, running the length of the building. The solution of the atrium was chosen as it also helps utilise natural light.

CO2 sensors will be used in winter and temperature sensors in summer to regulate air intake.

As noise is an issue with natural ventilation, and the proposed site is beside a main road, care must be taken to avoid undue noise from entering the classrooms. Also pollution from car fumes is an issue close to a road.

To mitigate this, specialised vents will be used at the intake in each classroom.

Noise Reducing Intake Vent

In addition to this, the option of a mechanical solution could be put in place for classroom areas, to be utilised during the winter months to avoid heat loss. This option is a possible addition and not chosen for the scheme due to cost.

NaturalVentilationusingtheatriumforbuoyancydriveneffect

25Lighting

In order to maintain the issue of sustainability, natural light will be utilised asmuch as possible. Naturallight is also more preferable for a better indoor environment for the occupiers.

To optimise daylight in the building the east-westelevationsofthebuildingwillhave sufficient glazing, coupled withsolar shading due to low angle light. Theatrium,orientatednorth-south,willalso be utilised to increase the volume of natural light entering the building.

Fibre optic lighting was an option to further the penetration of natural light into the building but not a feasible option for this site. Light wells werealso examined

Artificiallightingwillhavetobeusedinthebuilding.ThespecificationsforthetypeoflampwouldideallybeLEDsbutdue to cost this might not be feasible. Alternatively compact fluorescentlamps could be used. For this build LEDs will be specified due to theirincreaseddesignlife(Table1)

LightWell

Table1: Comparison of light types

Light Life (hours) Efficiency (lumen/watt)Incandescent 1000 15Halogen 1500 20Fluorescent 8000 70-100LED 50,000 50-100Blennerhassett(2010).

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Open Spaces & Flexibility

Semi-Permanent Wall PanelsThese are prefabricated vertical panels suspended concealed, side guides. They are usually slid or clipped into place. They are a simple means of divide Common Rooms, LectureTheatre, and as long as they have properly sized storage space theyhave little impact on the space when closed.

Folding Wall PanelsSimilar in construction to a semi permanent wall panel. A panel hung from lightweight aluminium track, without the need for floor track orguides. The main difference is these fold out were semi permanent panel are either slid on a track or clipped into place.

Gym

Retractable SeatingFlexible seating is required to allow the building to cater for much larger sporting events, lectures, concerts and any graduation ceremonies which may occur there. The rows would be spaced ina610mmby840mmgridwithsafetyrailings (fixed or removable options).This would create a uniform look and anefficientstorageunit.

Flexibility

27Student Involvement

The Rainwater Harvesting System• Designsimilartotheprecedent

study of Kingsmead school to include a transparent downpipe which runs collected rainwater through building to storage tanks below

• Allowsstudentsseethesystemin operation

• An electronic displayincorporated into the system will allow students record levels of rainwater being collected during year

Exposed Wall Cavity• Promotes understanding by

allowing students see a cut away section of wall and insulation used

PV Cell Meters• Wouldallowstudentsseehow

much electricity was being generated

• Incorporate intomaths lessonsfor older students

Smart Meters/ Educational Light Switches• Will encourage more

responsible energy use by both students and staff

• Educationallightswitchessuchas those used in Birchensale Middle School creates betterawareness among students on how to cut energy usage

Roof Garden• Kindergartenchildreninexisting

Steiner school allowed plant in school garden

• Roof Garden would allowstudents do this and gives them their own space

• Canalsobeusedbycommunityafter school hours and during Summer

Sustainability in the Curriculum• Technologies such as those

mentioned above for the rainwater harvesting system andPVcellswillallowteachersintroduce sustainability

28ImpactonPeople

Impacts on People

Our centre shall reach out and offer its services to the local community. This shall allow the building to integrate with the community in a positive way, while also allowing the building to be more sustainable by using the building out of school hours. These design features shall also contribute greatly to the area as it shall offer local society the chance to further education and develop their own personal development.

Adult LearningThe Steiner School shall offer the opportunity for adult education centre for Belfast city centre. Using the versatile open spaces and multi functional aspect of the design, the building shall adapt in the evening time, to facilitate adult learning. The centre shall provide individual and group tuition in reading, writing and spelling foradultswithreadingandwritingdifficulties.Theschoolshalloffertheelderlythechancetolearnfromcurrentstudentsoftheschool.Classesteachingthebasicsof the internet and the learning of new technologies shall be offered, enabling the elderly learn modern skills, while allowing students develop teaching skills. This aspect of the building shall improve social relations and offer a viable community learning facility.

After School ClubThis feature of the design shall enable the buildings aspects be used beyond the standard schooling hours, while offering a safe place for school children to come study and interact. Using the building after hours shall add greatly to the sustainable nature of the building... It shall also address a problem which affects the site currently, that of anti social behaviour. Offering a safe and inspiring place for children to come after school, enables working parents to work longer hours and peace of mind.

Community EducationOurdesignhasfocusedonallowingthebuildingtobeusedbyboththestudentsoftheschoolandthelocalcommunity.Multifunctionroomsandspacesshallprovideidealteachingfacilitiesforadultandcommunallearning.Thedesignshallbenefitallaspectsofsociety,cateringandincludingbothyoungandoldgenerations.

29ImpactonPlace

Impacts on Place

Our design shall provide not just for the people of the area but also provide new attractions and facilities currently needed.

Social CentreThe building shall act as the main community space for the area, and will allow a wide range of disparate activities. In the evenings the school shall become a centre for local activities and provide a place of support networks for minority groups and the community.

Gym in Basement The gym in the basement shall be multi- functional space for sportseducation, theatrical performances, lectures, social gatherings, conferences, exhibitions and public/private meetings. This new asset to the community shall easily manipulate to suit both the needs of the school and the needs of the wider community.

30

31Appendix

AppendixContents

• General 33

• Electrical 39

• Heating 47

• Technology 57

• References 66

32Appendix

33Appendix

General

34Renewable Energy Facts

Renewable Energy Facts

• Combining solar collector witha wood burning stove provides an ideal year-round renewableenergy heating solution. A solar collector system can provide around60%ofyourannualhotwaterneedsforfree(80to90%insummer).

• Simple Passive Solar Designtechniques can make a big difference to energy consumption in the home. Just by facing a house south to capture the maximum daylight energy bills can be reduced by 30%.

• Transmission of light throughwindows(passivesolarheating)canreduceheatingcosts-couldyou allow for passive solar heating in the design of a new home? What about integrating a solar water heating system onto a south facing roof?

• Adding an unheatedconservatory or sun-space tothe south face of your house increases passive solar gains and provides an insulating effect.

• Space and water heatingaccountforover70%ofenergyused in the home, so switching toclean;renewableenergy(e.g.wood fuel, solar energy or heat

pump systems) makes a bigreduction in the environmental impact of your home.

• Wood is a renewable fuel youcan use without producing the harmful greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuels. Instead of coal or peat, throw on a log onto a fire.Whereaspeat and coal take hundreds of thousands of years to form, wood is a renewable fuel that growsinjust3-70years.

• Using renewable sources ofenergy like wood and solar energy to heat our homes reduces our reliance on polluting, imported fossil fuels like oil and coal.

• Ifyourecycleglassandpaper,you save on a great deal of energy, raw materials and pollution.

• Ground source heat pumps,which collect solar energy stored in the ground, are ideally suited to the Irish climate and can provide year round space and water heating for the fraction of the costs of a conventional system.

• Amodern wood burning stovecanachieveefficienciesofupto80%comparedtoonly20-30%foratraditionalopenfire.

35NaturalDaylight

Lighting

A building’s lighting system is one of the major contributors to its electrical consumption. Luckily, it is an easyarea to improve efficiency. This partof chapter will look at ways of how to reduce electrical consumption is of lighting.

Natural DaylightBefore you even consider electric lighting make sure you make maximum use of all available natural sunlight. Daylight provides a healthier indoor climate, can provide higher standards of visual comfort and makes for more enjoyable interiors. And that is apart from the energy savings and environmentalbenefits.

• Rooms should be furnished toallow daylight in and activities for which daylight or sunlight is essential should be positioned near windows.

• Furniture and other obstaclesshould not obstruct daylight penetration of the room. Netcurtains hamper daylight penetration of a room.

• Paint the surfaces of rooms,including ceilings, with colours ofhighreflectancetomaximisethe day lighting opportunities (and also the effectiveness ofartificiallight).Lightcolourscanreflect up to 80% of incident

lightwhile deep / dark coloursmight reflect less than 10% ofincident light.

• Dirt on vertical windows canreduce performance by 10%and even more if the dirt is allowed to build up on roof-lights.

36Construction/Insulation

Construction / Insulation

The advantage of having a concrete substructure is that it allows the super structure of timber to achieve more stories. Timber construction is limited to about four stories but if you utilise concrete in the substructure, as it was already used for the basement construction, one can achieve greater heights with the timber. Also, a proposed solution to having a “Drop off” area was to put it in the basement, with traffic running through the basementa much more impact stable material wouldbenefitovertimber.

Timber as the main material was chosen due to its better embodied carbon value than the other main structural frame materials of steel and reinforced concrete, Table 1. It has a higher embodied energy value per weight but when you factor in the weight of a timber structure

Compared to a concrete or steel structure it performs much better. Also timber frame has no thermal bridges.

Timber-concrete composite floors area relatively new idea derived from a very old one. Using it in commercial settings is rarely done but when using a glulam frame the addition of the concrete makes the section perform better (Natterer, 2002). The systemalso adds thermal mass.

Insulation chosen was cellulose fibredue to several reasons. It’s made from recycled materials, newsprint, it has a good thermal conductivity value, and it is lighter thansheep’swool(Table2).Weight is a big factor when dealing with timber construction. It is always good to keep dead loads to a minimum (McKenzie,2007).

Table 1: Embodied energy of building materials.

Material Weightkg/m3 EmbodiedEnergyMJ/kgRecycled Steel 8000 9Reinforced Concrete 2400 1.5Glulam Timber 550 16.5Berge.B(2009),“TheEcologyofBuildingMaterials”,2ndEd.ArchitecturalPress,OxfordUK.

Table 2: Insulation comparisons.

Insulation Type ThermalConductivityW/mK Densitykg/m3

Bonded EPS Board 0.038 12Rock Wool 0.04 18Urea Formaldehyde Foam 0.04 10Cellulose Fibre 0.035 14.8Sheep’s Wool 0.039 19‘GreenBook-MeathVEC,2009’

37

38

39Appendix

Electrical

40ArtificialLighting

Artificial Lighting

Artificiallightconsumesalotofenergybut worthwhile savings can be made by sensible use of efficient electriclighting. Simply put, lights should remainoffaslongasthereissufficientdaylight and the lighting should be as efficient as possible to meet thehousehold requirements.

Artificial lighting levelsshouldbekeptaslowastheactivitypermits.Generallythe more intricate the task, the greater the lighting level required. On this basis rooms where activities are performed, typically require about twice the lighting level of hallways. Studies need even more. Having several independentlyswitched lights in a room allows the appropriate lighting level to be selected to suit the activity.

Usetasklighting(e.g.deskorreadinglamps)when required for locally highlevels of light. A desk located away from a window may need additional artificiallightingwhileadesknearthewindow may often have more than sufficientdaylight.

41FilamentBulbsvs.CFLs

Filament Bulbs vs. CFLs

There are many types of lighting available for use in the home today. Lighting choices have improved a lotin recent times and now offers us the following alternatives:

All light bulbs are now labelled for efficiency in a similar way to kitchenappliance labelling (though generallyit is printed directly onto the product packaging) so you can always checkhow efficient your chosen product isbefore purchase. The label will also allow you to check on other important lighting information which will help to inform your purchase, including the average rated lamp life. For most people the choice will be between the conventional incandescentandCFLs.And while an individual CFL may bemoreexpensive,theylastsignificantlylonger(upto10times,orinsomecasesevenmore)meaningtheyactuallycostless to purchase in the long run and theyuseonlyonefifthoftheenergy.

In some situations the use of strip fluorescentlightingmaybeappropriate.If this is the case then be sure to use the 26mm tubeswhichare10-15%moreefficientthantheir38mmcounterparts.

• Compact Fluorescent Lamps(CFLs)use80%lesselectricityand last up to10 times longerthanordinarylight-bulbs.

• Dirtcanreducelampefficiencyby20-25%.

What Can You Save?Replacing 3 x conventional light bulbs withCFLscansaveabuildingsavesupto€37perannumandifeverybuildingin Ireland did the same it would save €24mnationally,withCO2savingsofover115,000tonnesperyear.

42ElectricalZoning

Electrical Zoning

Electrical Zoning is when a buildingis divided into a number of areas, each with its own individual electrical properties. It works on the same principleasheatingzoning.

Different areas of the building are set out because of the similar energy need.Thisallowsforspecificelectricalproperties to be applied to an individual zone.Forexamplethelightingineachzone can be programmed to turn offat an appropriate time, based on its usage.

Thebenefitsofelectricalzoning,isthatit’s allow for the prevention of energy wastage when an area of a building is no long in use (i.e. at weekends,eveningsetc).

The drawback of such intelligent electrics systems is that it requires a modern electric grid in a building and may not be feasible in older structure.

It is advisable to consider such electrical system, if new wiring is going to be installed in any building.

The drawback of such intelligent electrics systems is that it requires a modern electric grid in a building and may not be feasible in older structure.

It is advisable to consider such electrical system, if new wiring is going to be installed in any building.

43EnergyMonitor/SmartMetres

Energy Monitor / Smart Metres

A home energy monitor provides prompt, convenient feedback on electrical or other energy use. These devices can also display the cost of energy used, and estimates of amount greenhouse gas emissions produced in real time.

Variousstudieshaveshownareductioninhomeenergyuseof4-15%throughuse of home energy display. Electricity use may be measure with an inductive clamp placed around the electric main, via the electric meter (either throughan optical port, or by sensing the meters actions), by communicatingwith a smart meter, or by direct connection to the electrical system. The display portion is remote from the measurement, communicating with the sensor using a cable, power line communications, or using radio.

They provide a possible means to reduce household energy consumption, as these monitors display real-timefeedback to the building’s occupants, so they can change their energy using behaviour.

Recently, low-cost energy feedbackdisplays, such as The Energy Detective, Eco-eye, Wattson, PowerWatch,orCent-a-meter,havebecomeavailable.

Upon getting into the coalition government in 2007, EamonRyan, the Green Party Minister forCommunications,EnergyandNaturalResources, pledged to introduce smart meters for every home in the country withinafiveyearperiod.

44Electrical Appliances

Electrical Appliances

Electrical appliances use a lot less electricity than they did 20 yearsago. This can be attributed to the fact that manufacturers have made technological developments that meet the demands of an increasingly discerning market who are better informed by energy labelling. But even today there can be substantial differences in energy consumption between different models. Even small reductions in the amount of electricity consumed daily can add up to significantsavingsoverthe lifetimeofthe appliance which could be as long as10-15years.

EnergylabellingofapplianceswasfirstintroducedinIrelandin1995underEUlegislation. The legislation currently covers washers, dryers, combination washer dryers, fridges, freezers,fridge-freezers, dishwashers, ovensand air conditioners as well as lighting.

Appliances are labelled to indicate energy consumption and are rated from A-G, withA being the most efficient.Energy efficient appliances will saveyou money on your energy bill and are less harmful to the environment.

Energy labelling of appliances helps you to make a more informed choice when buying an appliance by allowing you to easily compare the energy consumption of different models. In addition, other performance

information allows you to choose the best appliance for your individual needs.

In some instances, the indicative range on labels has been adjusted or adapted as a result of either legislative or market led interventions. These include:

• On the basis of the significantimprovements in efficiency ofrefrigeration appliances since the introduction of energy labelling, the EU introduced a Minimum Standards Directiveso that all such appliances are now only in the A – C range.

• Onfootofavoluntaryagreementamong the majority of large appliance manufacturers /suppliers in Europe some years back, most washing machines available in retail outlets will fall in the A – D range.

45Energy Saving Tips

Energy Saving Tips

• Compact Fluorescent Lamps(CFLs)use80%lesselectricityand last up to10 times longerthanordinarylight-bulbs.

• Dimmers allow you to onlyuse what level of lighting you require at any time and so control the amount of energy you use. Dimmers cannot always be used with CFLs socheck the product packaging or manufacturers details before use.

• Movementsensors, timedelayswitch etc are all available to improve lighting efficiency,but good manual operation of lighting in a building is always vitally important.

• Alwaysturnofflightswhenyouleave a room.

• Dirtcanreducelampefficiencyby20-25%.

• Configure your computer to“energy saving” mode in which it will automatically change to the state of low consumption when not in use.

• Switching off the screen cansave even more than just letting the screen saver run.

• Rememberyoushould turnoffyour computer whenever you are not going to use it for more than an hour. Turning your computer off at night instead of leaving it on will save on average 25% of its annualenergy bill.

46

47Appendix

Heating

48Boilers

Boilers

The majority of modern conventional boilersshouldachieveefficienciesofamaximumefficiencyof84%regardlessof what type of fuels they burn.

Typically, any oil or gas boilers over 15 years old are unlikely to achieveefficienciesgreaterthan70%

Increasingtheoperationalefficiencyofyour boiler by this amount represents an actual fuel saving of more than 25%.Inotherwords,byreplacinganolder,lowefficiencyboilerwithanew,highefficiencyboiler,youcancutyourfuel bills by a quarter.

A building’s heating system should be efficient,notonlyatfull load,butalsoatlowerloads.Nomatterwhattypeofwhat you were looking at, whether it is oil, gas or solid fuel boilers, you should ensure that the boiler complies with the EUboilerefficiencydirective

If you have a natural gas supply then it is likely to be the lowest cost option in terms of both boiler installation cost and running cost. If you don’t have a natural gas supply then the choice is betweenoil,LPGorpelletboilers.Forrural areas or areas that are off the nationalgasgrid,bothoilandLPGareviable solutions.

49Combination Boilers

Combination Boilers

Combination boilers are capable of providing instant hot water and heating while saving space within a home.

The conventional arrangement in Ireland is to have a normal boiler which heats the radiators via a sealed water circuit. By “sealed” it is meant that the water is contained within the system, going around in a loop between the radiators and the boiler.

Toheat the “domestichotwater” (i.e.the water that comes out of the hot taps) the storage cylinder in the hotpress has a coil in it through which the “radiatorwater”flows.

The disadvantage with this arrangement is that if the cylinder does not have hot water in it you have to wait some time for the coil to heat it up.

A ‘combi’ boiler is a boiler which combines both a conventional boiler for radiators and an independent water heater, together in the one unit. This dispenses with the hot water cylinder in the hot press. But better still, it means that hot water is always available instantly and for as long as you need it.

50Condensing Boilers

Condensing Boilers

Where possible, you should consider installing the highest efficiency boilerpossible. Condensing boilers have a much higher efficiency than non-condensing boilers; however there are some rare situations where installing one may not always be feasible.

Condensingboilersarehighlyefficient.They use less fuel and have lower running costs than other boilers. Higher efficiency levels are madepossible by extracting heat contained in the combustion gases, which would otherwise have been lost to the atmosphere.

This is because both oil and gas contain hydrogen locked within chemical structure called hydrocarbons. When oil or gas is burned, the hydrogen breaks its links with the carbon atoms and instead links with oxygen in the airtoformH2O(water).Thiswater(asvapour)canbeseenfromtheexhaustsof cars on cold days.The vapour (orsteam)containsabout8%ofthetotalfuel’s energy and capturing it makes energyefficiencysense.Thisisexactlywhat condensing boilers do. They “condense” the vapour and capture the energy contained there, making modernboilerssomuchmoreefficient.

Condensing boilers burns gas or oil at approximately92%orhigherefficiency.These boilers are more costly to buy than conventional boilers but the price differencewillberecoveredover10–15years due to reduced annual running costs.

These boilers, which operate at maximum efficiency when runningat lower temperatures, are ideal for under floor heating systems. Forradiator systems operated at lower temperatures the radiators may need tobeoversizedtoprovidetherequiredheat output. A condensing boiler will emit a plume of water vapour to the atmosphere during operation, this is normal and harmless.

51Fuel Types

Fuel Types

Solid FuelTurfWoodCoal

OilKeroseneGasoil

GasNaturalgasLPG

ElectricityDay rate electricityOff-peaksupply

Sustainable FuelsSolar energyWood*Wind energy* Wood fuel from managed forests

Considerations for Fuel ChoiceAvailabilityCheck with local fuel suppliers for convenience of supplying a particular fuel.

StorageSome fuels, i.e. solid fuel, oil, LPG,etc will require you to provide space to store the fuel. This may be bulky or unsightly or may have safety or insurance implications.

CostsThe annual running costs of a heating system depend largely on the cost of the useful energy of a fuel taking account of the efficiency of the heatgenerator employed. The associated table for the energy costs for each fuelandattheassociatedefficiencyatwhich they are used.

Environmental IssuesAll fossil fuels when burnt will cause emissions to the atmosphere. All these fuels will emit CO2, the main greenhouse gas which is contributing to global warming. In addition to carbon dioxide and water vapour, some fuels will also emit smoke particles, sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen to the air which will reduce our air quality.

*WoodPelletsarea‘CarbonNeutral’fuelasistimberifitcomesfromasustainedforest. ‘CarbonNeutral’ means all the CO2 that is given off while the pellets are being burn is offset by the CO2 absorbed by the plant as it grown. The two amounts are equal so no extra CO2 enters the atmosphere.

Table 1: CO2EmissionsandCost/UnitofcommonFuelTypes

Material CO2 Emissionsg/kWh

Energy Costs£/kWh

Natural Gas 227.2 0.0185Oil 290.3 0.0769Solid Fuel* 389.1 0.0176Electricity 896.9 0.0769(SolidFuel=WoodPellets*,Timber*andPeatBlocks)

52HeatPumps

Heat Pumps

Heatiswidelyavailableintheground,air and water around your house. These natural sources of heat are constantly replenished by the sun, wind and rain. A heat pump system will harness these free and renewable energy sources for heating your house and supplying hot water at a very low cost. The role of the heat pump is to ‘pump up’ heat from a low temperature source, for example the ground under your lawn and release it at a higher temperature into your central heating system.

There are three main types of heat pump available on the market, those that take heat from the ground, from water (riversorwells)ordirectly fromthe air. Ground source heat pumpscome in two varieties – vertical bore or horizontalloop.

Heat pumps are very economical,for every unit of electricity used to power theheatpump,3 to4unitsofheat are generated. They work best in conjunction with low temperature heat distribution systems e.g. under-floor heating. Because they requireelectricity to run, they are most cost effective when they can use night rate electricity. This requires a night rate meter. A buffer store is required to maximiseefficiencyasthisallowstheheat pump to store heat on a constant basis, releasing it as and when required.

Air-Source Heat PumpAir/Air heat pumps take the energyfrom the air and transfer it to a warm airheatingsystemandAir/Waterheatpumps take the energy from the air and transfer it to the heating system

Water–Source Heat Pump Water source heat pumps work in a similar fashion to ground source systems and transfer the heat from your water source to the house. Water source heat pumps use an open loop collector. Underground water sources such as a well circulate the water throughpipe-workthatinturntransfersheat to your house.

53GroundSourceHeatPumps

Ground Source Heat Pumps

Ground Source Heat Pumps area system that extracts heat from the ground, upgrades it to a higher temperature and releases it where required for space and water heating. The GSHP function can also bereversed for cooling purposes.

Space HeatingBecauseGSHPsraisethetemperatureto around 40° they aremost suitableforunder-floorheatingsystemsorlow-temperature radiators, which require temperaturesofbetween30°and35°.Higher outputs, such as toconventional radiators requiring higher temperaturesofaround60°to80°canbeobtainedthroughuseoftheGSHPin combination with a conventional boiler or immersion heater.

Water HeatingThe GSHP system is inadequate initself for directly heating hot water output.Hotwaterfortapsneedstobestored at 60° whereas for domesticGSHPs the maximum water storagetemperatureobtainableis50°.Awaterheating strategy can be designed where the incoming water supply is preheated by the GSHP beforereaching an ancillary heating source. However, itmight be determined thatan immersion heater working off off-peak electricity is more economical.

Pros:• Highly efficient renewable

heating and cooling system• Carbon savings of 30-35%

(more if the pump is poweredbyrenewableelectricity)

• Lifeexpectancyof40+years.

A GSHP can be a highly efficientform of space heater, particularly where deployed in conjunction with a low energy heating system such as underfloor heating. For each kW ofelectricity used to run the heat pump some 3-4 kW of heat are typicallyproduced.

54HeatRecoverySystems

Heat Recovery Systems

AHeatRecoverySystem(alsoknownas a heat exchanger, air exchanger or air-to-air exchanger) is a ventilationsystem that employs a counter-flowheat exchanger between the inbound and outbound air flow.HRS providesfresh air and improved climate control, while also saving energy by reducing theheating(orcooling)requirementsbyexchanging the heat from the outgoing exhaustairflowtotheincomingintakeair stream.

Heat Recovery Systems (HRS’s), asthe name implies, recover the heat energy in the exhaust air, and transfer it to fresh air as it enters the building. HRS’s can be stand-alone devicesthat operate independently, or they can be built-in, or added to existingHVACsystems. For efficiency,HRS’saredesignedtomaximizethesurfacearea of the wall between the two air flows, while minimizing resistance totheflowsthroughtheunit.TheHRS’sperformance can also be affected by the addition of fins or corrugations inone or both directions, which increase surface area but they may channel the airflowsorinduceturbulenceintothem(whichmayhavenegativeeffects).

Recovery Units for example have a HeatRecoveryEfficiency(HRE)ofupto95%.

55HeatingZoning

Heating Zoning

This is a feature of modern central heating systems. From a central control system, it is capable of specify the heating condition in different rooms or area of the building.

This is a common feature in many modern heating systems. Different areas of the building are set out because of the similar heating requirements. This allows for specifictemperatures and on/off times tobe applied to an individual rooms and zone. For example the heatingconditions a hallway are very different to that in a classroom.

The benefits of heating zoning, alsoallow for the heating in different areas of the building to be turn on and off at separate time than the rest of the structure. For example, a sport hall will have to have its heaters turned on long before that in the changing rooms.

Unfortunately of such intelligent heating system may not be feasible in older structure and heating systems.

It is advisable to consider such a system, when installing a new heating system in any building.

56

57Appendix

Technology

58RainwaterHarvesting

Rainwater Harvesting

IntroductionRainwaterHarvestingissystemswhichcollect run-off water from rooftops,(althoughinsidehalfsystemsarealsoavailable).Thisrun-offwaterisfiltered,and then use again in appliances that don’t need purified water i.e., toilets,irrigation also baths and showers if the water is treated.

How It WorksRainwater is collected from a roof drainage system, and then passed through underground filters beforeheading to water storage tank.

The filters remove debris from thewater and will divert about 90% of itinto the storage tank. The remaining watergoestosoak-awaypitsorstormdrains in the usual manner as those to exercise alone from storage tank.

This water is then supplied on demand by pumps, through specific outlets,usually to WCs or washing plants. These pumps are controlled by dedicated control units, which turned pumps on and off as required, thus reducing their energy consumption.

These systems are automatically topped up by mains water to prevent damage in times of drought.

Such a system could provide an estimated30%reductioninwaterusefor the average household.

Payback and MaintenancePayback depends on how mucha building pays in water charges; however it does count towards lowering buildings BER rating. The maintenance of this is some not is above that of maintaining a septic tank or existing roof drainage systems (down waterpipes,gutters).

59GreywaterRecycling

Greywater Recycling

IntroductionGreywater accounts for 50-80% ofall residential wastewater. Greywatercomprises of wastewater generated from all of the house’s sanitation equipment except for the septic tank (water from toilets is blackwater, orsewage).This system requires two separate plumbing systems. The first being agreywater plumbing system, which collects wastewater from a buildings sinks, baths and laundry areas. The second collects all waste from the building’s toilets and delivers it to the septic tank or search mains.

How It WorksGreywater recycling systems operateon the same principles as rainwater harvesting. The only significantdifference between the two is that the water harvested no longer comes from the roof but is instead harvested from an internal wastewater system which is separate from the sewage plumbing.

This system could provide similar resultsasRainwaterHarvesting,at30%reduction in water usage. However,greywater systems have a higher potential risk of their water supply being contaminated by biological agents, i.e. washing detergents, soap and order chemical agents. Grey water systems, usually containtreatment plans to remove these contaminants. There are a number of

methods to do this, namely, chemical methodsorusingaUVlighttodestroycontaminants.

Payback and MaintenancePaybackandmaintenanceisthesameas‘RainwaterHarvesting’.

60HydroPowerGenerator

Hydro Power Generator

IntroductionHydropowerhasproducedmechanicalenergy for hundreds of years but was first used toproduceelectricity in the1870’s.MostIrishinstallationsarerunof river installations. As such, hydro installations in this country are generally dependent upon precipitation and have little impact on their surrounding environment.

Hydro electricity has the greatestenergy yield factor of the renewable technologies meaning the energy it produces in its lifetime greatly exceeds the amount of energy used in its manufacture, operation and eventual disposal. This is due to the reliability and long lifespan of a hydro system. Forexample,amodest20kWschemewould save 70 tonnes of CO2 beingreleased into the atmosphere each year from fossil fuelled power stations.

How it WorksThe power generation from a hydro scheme is dependent upon two variables, the height the water falls, (head) and the volume of wateravailable, (flow). Water is divertedfrom a given point on a river, ideally near a weir and piped through to a turbine house downstream, where the water falls through a turbine and drives a generator. The water passes through the turbine and returns to the riverunpolluted.Variousmeasuresaretaken to ensure fish are not directed

into the channel, which feeds the turbine. These can include mesh screening and electric currents in the water to deter fish fromentering. If ahydro scheme is proposed on a fishmigratory route, a ‘fish pass’ is builtwhich is designed to guide fishawayfrom the turbine house and up a series ofbasin-likesteps.

InstallationThe feasibility of a hydro scheme will depend very much upon the proposed site, as much capital is often spent on civil engineering work such as the weir, water channel and fish pass. A sitesuch as a disused millrace may have an existing weir or water channel and this will reduce the capital per kilowatt outlay.

Communication with downstream water users is essential to unite support. Fisheries and anglers who use the river can be strong opponents and will seek assurances that their livelihoods or leisure activities will not be harmed.

Your local planning authority should be consulted at an early stage and planning permission must be sought for any hydro installation.

61Wind Turbines

Wind Turbines

IntroductionWind is an abundant source of energy, especially in Ireland. Large-scale wind turbines are now installed around the country and off shore to provide for Ireland’s electricity needs and supplying ‘green’ electricity to consumers from the utility grid.

How it WorksFor residential sites that have connection to the electricity grid, the cost effectiveness of installing a wind turbine should be carefully examined. In this situation, the annual electricity demand, wind resource and daily demandprofilemustbeconsidered.Ifyou wish to purchase electricity from a wind turbine, you may be able to sign up to a ‘green electricity’ supply tariff.

Small-scalewindturbinesrangeinsizefromlessthan1kWto50kW.Theycanbecosteffectiveinoff-gridapplicationsand wind power can be more economic than other renewable options.

Energy storage in batteries is necessary in off-grid applications. Large-scaleturbines up to 3MW in size, usuallyinstalled on wind farms, are generally connected to the grid.

InstallationWind speed and direction will determine the most suitable position for a wind turbine. Wind speed increases with height, so turbines will give a greater

output if placed at a higher level.

Payback and MaintenanceWind turbines have a number of moving parts so annual maintenance is required and your installer can provide this. The payback period of a wind turbine is dependent on utilisation of the electricity generated, which should be off set against that taken from the grid. Payback is thereforehighly variable, but could be as short as15years.

62

Photovoltaic Panels

IntroductionPhotovoltaic (PV), which also collectsunlight, are a very different technology to solar water heating, as they use the light to generate electricity. Today, the industry’s production of photovoltaic (PV)modules is growingat approximately 25% annually, andmajor programs in the U.S.A., Japan and Europe are rapidly accelerating the implementationofPVsystemsonbuildings and connection to electricity grid networks.

Stand-Alone SystemsStand-alone systems produce powerindependently of the electricity grid network.

In some off-the-grid locations, stand-alone photovoltaic systems can be more cost- effective than extendingexisting power lines. Direct-coupledsystems need no electrical storage because they operate only during daylight hours, but most systems rely on battery storage so that energy produced during the day can be used at night. Some systems, called hybrid systems, combine solar power with additional power sources such as wind or diesel generators. As well as domestic applications, stand-alonesystemscanbeused topower trafficwarnings, parking meters, emergency telephones and buildings in remote locations.

Grid-Connected SystemsGrid-connected photovoltaic systems,supply surplus power back onto the grid and electricity is drawn from the grid at periods when demand in the home exceedsthePVoutput.Grid-connectedsystems are generally integrated into the structure of buildings, but can also be ground mounted. These systems remove the need for battery storage. In some cases, utility companies allow additional metering*, which allows the owner to sell excess power back to the utility company.

PhotovoltaicPanels

63SolarThermalHeating

Solar Thermal Heating

IntroductionActive solar energy systems generally incorporate a roof mounted solar collector, which receives direct and indirect sunlight and changes it into heat. This heat may be used to provide for hot water, or in a combined system, for space and hot water needs. At the endof2003,approx.12millionm2ofsolar thermal collectors were installed in the EU. There is great potential to increase this further.

How it WorksSolarcollectorscanprovide50%oftheannual hot water demand of a typical home, depending on the orientation, size, mounted angle and efficiencyof the collector. The most common application is for water heating, and 4m2ofsolarcollectorcanprovideabout80%ofhotwaterneedsinsummerand20%inwinter(whenthereislesssolarheatavailable)foratypicalfamily.Thesolar water system needs to be backed up with a conventional heat source to provide the remainder of the hot water needs such as an electric immersion in the storage cylinder.

Payback and MaintenanceThe payback period of a solar water heating system will vary depending on the cost of the fuel you are replacing and the amount of hot water you consume. A typical correctly installed system has a payback period of between 7and15yearsandlittlemaintenanceis

necessary.Mostsystemsarerunbyanelectricity-powered pump, which willcost a small amount to run per year. Generallysystemscomewitha10yearwarrantyandtheirlifetimeisabout25years. For a list of suppliers, contact us (seebackofbookletfordetails).

64Biomass

Biomass

IntroductionThe main types of Biomass are chips and pellets. Wood chips are a bulk fuel and, as such, are generally unsuitable fordomesticproperties.However,theyare usually a cheaper fuel than pellets and are appropriate for larger buildings suchasoffices,publicbuildingsor toheat clusters of domestic properties through a district heating system. Wood pellets are compressed wood, usually sawdust or wood shavings. Theyaretypically6-12mmindiameterand6-20mminlength.Pelletshavetheadvantage of uniformity in shape and composition, are easy to ignite, and are dry, create little ash andwill flowfreely through feeding mechanisms such as hoppers and augers. These properties make pellets ideal for automatic appliances.

Wood fuel can be used to create both electricity and heat and is a well established renewable energy source in many countries, including the USA, Sweden, Austria and Denmark. It has a great potential for use in the country, particularly for heating.

How it WorksPellets are highly suitable for housesand can be burned in either a boiler or a stove. Pellet boilers provide fullcentral heating and hot water, with a convenience normally associated with oil or gas. Stoves provide heating for a single room. Stoves are available in a

rangeofstyles,fromtraditional-lookingwood-burning stoves to modern,minimalist designs. Good qualityappliances use modern controls to ensureanefficient,cleanburningfire.Because they use thermostatic controls and fans to distribute warm air around the room they are safer than traditional stoves, which rely on radiated heat to warm the room, making the room’s temperature uneven and the body of the stove dangerously hot.

Payback and MaintenanceMaintenance is similar to that ofconventional stoves and boilers. The ash pans of both stoves and boilers will require emptying, typically once per month for stoves and once every three months for boilers.

Unlike many renewable energy technologies, with biomass you still need to buy fuel. Wood chip boilers are usually cheaper to run than oil or mainsgas.Pelletpricesvary,butaregenerally comparable with oil and mainsgas.Pelletsareusuallyavailablein bags or are delivered loose in bulk.

65GroundSourceHeatPump

Ground Source Heat Pump

IntroductionGround source heat pumps, alsoknown as geothermal heat pumps, are used for space heating and cooling, as well as water heating. They operate on the fact that the earth beneath the surface remains at a constant temperature throughout the year, and that the ground acts as a heat source in winter and a heat sink in summer.

How it WorksThe earth’s surface acts as a huge solar collector, absorbing radiation from the sun.

In this country the ground maintains a constant temperature between 11°Cand 13°C, several metres below thesurface. Ground source heat pumpstake advantage of this by transferring the heat stored in the earth or in ground water to buildings in winter and the opposite in summer for cooling. Through compression, heat pumps can ‘pump up’ heat at low temperature and release it at a higher temperature so that it may be used again. A heat pump looks similar and can perform the same functions as a conventional gas or oil boiler, i.e. space heating and sanitary hot water production. For every unit of electricity used to operate the heat pump, up to four units of heat are generated. Therefore for every unit of electricity used to pump the heat, 3-4unitsofheatareproduced.

Payback and MaintenanceThe initial capital costs of installing a ground source heat pump system is usually higher than other conventional central heating systems. A large proportion of the outlay will be for the purchase and installation of the groundcollector.However,thesystemis among the most energy efficientand cost effective heating and cooling systems available. Typically, four units of heat are generated for every unit of electricity used by the heat pump to deliver it, and the payback is typically about 8-10 years.The lifeexpectancy of the system is around 20years.Onceinstalledaheatpumprequires very little maintenance and anyone installing a heat pump should speak with their installer regarding a maintenance agreement.

66References

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