Sustainability - The business units

Passive solar design

The passive solar design features in the buildings control the sun's effects to ensure comfort and reduce energy demands. The buildings are oriented to regulate how much heat they take in (heat gain) and minimise the cooling needed. Windows are positioned to maximise comfort and daylight. High-performance glazing reduces heat gain while letting in light. Brise soleil (sun shades) to the northern side reduces the impact of the sun. Natural landscaping, including mature trees and hedgerows, contributes to the success of this strategy. All building components collect, store, and distribute heat throughout the year to reduce the demand for space heating and cooling.

High levels of thermal insulation

The thermal insulation of the building has been designed to perform significantly better than current Building Regulations' require (elemental U Value). In some elements of the building, this improvement has been by up to 40%.

Natural ventilation

The depth and sectional height of the office spaces mean that the units are able to have wholly natural ventilation, without the need for powered air cooling systems.

Night time cooling

The soffits of the office areas are made from exposed pre-cast concrete. At night, manually operated high level windows can be opened to allow cool air to pass over the exposed concrete surface, cooling the slab. This cool is stored by the concrete slab and then slowly released over the occupied hours to create appropriate internal daytime temperatures and negating the use of mechanical cooling.

Bio-mass heating

We offer the option of biomass heating, using either wood pellets or wood chips, with a gas boiler as a back up. The central boiler plant provides hot water and heating, while the radiators have variable temperature circuits which respond to the external temperature, maximising efficiency.

Lighting control systems with infra red detectors

The lighting in the open plan office areas is supplied by suspended direct/indirect luminaires using highly efficient T5 linear fluorescent lamps. The uplight component lights the soffits to create a bright environment and minimise the contrast between the ceiling and walls; the downward light component maintains the required lighting for a work environment. The lights are controlled by presence detectors to switch on or off depending on occupancy. Daylighting linking controls will ensure lights are keep off in internal areas until required by falling natural light.

Natural roofs

The office roofs of the business units have brown roofs made of shingle. The roofs will promote biodiversity by providing a habitat for indigenous plants and insects. The mass of this type of roof has a significant impact on modulating temperatures inside the building, contributing to the overall cooling strategy of the building.

Outside refuse/recycling areas