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resourceO5 newsLow carbon buildings and renewable technology showcase
resource05, a three-day conference and exhibition of innovative low carbon and renewable energy technologies for buildings, is being held at BRE in
A similar event last year (resource04) generated great interest, but increasing concern about the momentum of climate change, along with forthcoming changes to the Building Regulations and the EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings, make this year's event more relevant than ever.
resource05 is a showcase for low carbon building technologies of today and tomorrow: everything from energy efficient boilers and air conditioning systems, to controls and photovoltaics, wind turbines, heat pumps, micro CHP and fuel cells, along with the latest in glazing and insulation.
The conference programme features presentations from some of the
As forthcoming legislation will aim to cut energy use in buildings, and encourage sustainable design and the development of low carbon technologies, resource05 will examine the new legislation in detail and highlight the responsibilities and opportunities facing the construction sector.
The conference will also address the need for new ways of working - designing sustainable buildings is likely to require a more integrated process, based on teamwork and involving whole building design. The programme will include ways of designing holistically with charrettes - facilitated creative workshops that enable the design team to share ideas and work together more closely and effectively.
Organised by BRE, resource05 (www.resource05.com) is sponsored by the Energy Saving Trust and supported by The British Wind Energy Association, CIBSE, DTI, The Energy Institute, The National Energy Foundation, RIBA, the Renewable Power Association and Sponge. Around 40 leading organisations are exhibiting at the event including: Dulas, Energy in Buildings and Industry, Imagination Solar, Kair Ventilation, Lankelma, Monodraught, The National Energy Foundation, Proven Energy, The Renewable Power Association, Solar Thermal, Vent-Axia, Windhager, Windsave, Willmott Dixon. Example case studies from three of these follow.
Solar energy - photovoltaics Dulas Ltd has been working in the sustainable energy sector for 23 years and specialises in wind power, hydro power, solar power and biomass wood energy.
The system was designed to match the hospital base load of around 60kW. The project was funded by the Energy Saving Trust and the Mid-Wales Energy Agency, with the overall objectives of:
Bronllys is a working hospital so great care had to be taken to minimise disturbance to staff, patients and the public. The project was installed on three wards, the crèche, two training blocks, and four doctor's residences.
The installation has raised awareness of energy conservation issues among the staff and other hospital users, and will continue to do so. Many other Health Trusts have expressed an interest in the project, and are now considering similar installations.
For more information - Dulas Ltd, www.renewable-resources.com, tel: 01654 705003.
Proven Energy Ltd has been manufacturing small wind turbine systems since 1980, after spending 10 years researching and developing the technology. Proven now actively exports to over 30 countries worldwide and has installed more than 700 systems.
'The market is not only stronger now than ever before,' says Alan Powell of Proven Energy Ltd, 'but also very different - we are now installing this technology into urban environments as well as the rural locations we have traditionally worked in.'
A relatively recent project involved the installation, at
The two turbines have now been running for several months, generating electricity to supplement the University's existing supply without any vibration, noise or visual impact issues being raised by any of the local residents.
Not only are the turbines reducing the University's annual spend on utilities, and helping to protect the environment by cutting CO2 emissions by 5,130kg per annum, they are also being used as educational tools in the curriculum.
For more information - Proven Energy Ltd, www.provenenergy.com, tel: 01560 485570.
SunPipe systems
Among the prominent buildings fitted with the SunPipe system is the new head office of the Ecology Building Society at Silsden in
SunPipes are aluminium mirror finish tubes that twist and turn to carry daylight captured by the patented Diamond domes on the roof to the rooms below. Some pipes come in ten different sizes, to provide natural daylight for a wide range of room sizes, and can be of virtually any length.
Six 300mm diameter SunPipes were fitted to the Ecology Building Society head quarters to maximise natural light along one side of the building - this side is near a busy road so window area has been minimised in order to reduce noise and security risks. There are units in the Chief Executive's and secretary's offices, the archive room, the boiler room and two toilets.
For more information - Monodraught Limited, www.monodraught.com, tel: 01494 897700, Email info@monodraught.com
For information on attending or exhibiting at resource05 - www.resource05.com, tel 01923 664800, Email events@bre.co.uk
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