Passivent Ltd - Help win sustainability awards
A major school redevelopment scheme has been recognised for its
use of sustainable strategies, winning two construction awards, in
part helped by Passivent Ltd.
The £10m+ refurbishment and development of Castle Rock High School
in Leicestershire won the PROCON* Large Scheme of the Year and
Sustainable Development of the Year Awards, both of which included
in their criteria sympathetic environmental impact. Central to that
achievement was the inclusion of 8 Passivent Aircool ventilators and
12 Passivent Airscoop ventilators, to ensure pupils and staff enjoy
pleasant ambient conditions in the classrooms, with minimal energy
consumption and without draughts and plant noise.
Passivent worked closely with Leicestershire County Council to
devise a scheme that accommodated the potentially high heat build-up
generated by computers (each monitor alone generates equivalent heat
output to a 60Wlight bulb) and kept the air in the suites fresh and
at a comfortable temperature, whilst minimising energy use. The
solution for the new building of was the incorporation of 8 Aircools
in the classrooms on the lower ground floor and library, and 12
Airscoops in the sports hall and dining room/ assembly hall..
The Passivent Aircool ventilators provide controlled fresh air
intake and extract. Harnessing natural air movement patterns, fresh
air is drawn in through the lower level units and across the room.
The warmer internal air rises and is extracted through higher level
Aircools.
Using just 1watt of electricity to attenuate the ventilation louvres,
the Aircool units can be minutely adjusted to control airflow
requirements taking into account the weather outside- the speed and
direction of wind, rain, temperature, and the location of the units
within the building façade, to ensure a gentle flow of fresh air
into the building without draughts. The units can be controlled
individually, or linked to an overall ventilation control or
building management system.
Thermally broken and insulated, the units are as thermally efficient
when closed as a standard double gazed window, thanks to a
controllable damper that combines a unique profile with highly
reflective strip inserts.
Passivent Airscoop roof mounted ventilators are divided diagonally
into four chambers. Wind from any direction is channelled down
through the windward chambers into the building, which exhausts
warm, "used" air out through the leeward chambers. All Airscoop
units are designed to function regardless of wind direction and
speed to provide a controllable natural ventilation solution that
can be used in most commercial large or deep-plan buildings up to
two storeys high, and for providing secure and weatherproof night
cooling.
Because the Airscoop uses few moving parts and no fans, it operates
quietly and with minimal energy consumption, noise and maintenance
requirement.
The creative natural ventilation strategy helped comply with
criteria in the PROCON Awards of efficient use of natural resources,
creation of a carbon neutral building, and demonstration of a
sustainably-built scheme using tools such as the Green Guide for
Specification. Additionally, it is policy at Leicestershire County
Council to employ green initiatives wherever possible, including, at
Castle Rock, natural ventilation, wind generation and grey water
usage.
Natural ventilation is proven to reduce capital costs by 15%,
operating costs by 40%, and almost eliminate maintenance costs, over
conventional mechanical ventilation. It is also proven to reduce
incidence of "sick building syndrome" and improve the performance
and productivity of the building occupiers.
Passivent is part of the Building Product Design Group and is the
UK's leading designer and supplier of natural ventilation systems
for both domestic and commercial applications. The company is a
founder member of the NatVent EC-EU-funded project co-ordinated by
the Building Research establishment to develop practical natural
ventilation solutions for the commercial sector, and has also
contributed to the BISRIA Guide BG2/2005 Wind Driven Natural
Ventilation Systems, as well as being a member of the DfES steering
committee on natural ventilation guidance for schools, Building
Bulletin 101.
Email:
siobhanm@passivent.com
Arundel Jones Associates Ltd
Hill Farm, Linton Hill, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4AL
Tel : 01622 745333
news@buildingdesign.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales No. 07334149
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