Experience at the University of East Anglia

1
Low Energy Buildings and Low Carbon Strategies
?????? Chongqing - 23rd September 2005
2005?9?23?

Experience at the University of East Anglia
Keith Tovey (???) M.A., PhD, CEng, MICE HSBC
Director of Low Carbon Innovation and
Charlotte Turner School of Environmental
Sciences
CRed
2
Low Energy and Low Carbon Strategies at UEA

• Construction of Low Energy Buildings
• Careful Monitoring of performance and adaptation
  where relevant
• Fuel efficient and alternative methods to provide
  energy
• Promoting awareness among occupants
• Tackling issues for reducing energy in existing
  buildings which are Grade 2 listed and of
  historic interest.

3
Low Energy Building Projects at UEA

• Low Energy Student Residences

e.g. Constable Terrace

• Low Energy Educational Buildings
• using TermoDeck construction

• Elizabeth Fry Building

• ZICER Building

In all cases Capital Cost was an issue The
Termodeck buildings cost just 5 more yet consume
only one quarter of energy
4
Constable Terrace - 1993
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Low Energy Building Projects at UEA
Student Residence Constable Terrace 1993
Over 50 of ventilation heat is recovered
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Constable Terrace - 1993
The building has a low energy consumption.
It shows a significant saving on carbon dioxide
emissions.
7
The Elizabeth Fry Building
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Principle of TermoDeck Operation
Filter
Supply duct to hollow core slabs
Incoming Air
Heater
Exhaust Air
Two channel regenerative heat exchanger
Exhaust Air from rooms
Diffuser
Floor Slabs

• Air is circulated through whole fabric of
  building

• Uses regenerative Heat Exchangers 85
  efficient

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Principle of Operation
Key Facts

• Heated using a single domestic heating boiler (24
  kW)
• No heating needed at temperatures as cool as 6 -
  7oC
• 87 of ventilation heat recovered
• In summer building is pre-cooled overnight

Quadruple Glazing
Thick Insulation
Air circulates through whole fabric of building
Mean Surface Temperature close to Air Temperature
10
Performance of Elizabeth Fry Building
Carbon Dioxide Emissions for Space and Water
Heating
User Satisfaction
thermal comfort 28
air quality 36
lighting 25
noise 26
A Low Energy Building is also a better place to
work in
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Performance of Elizabeth Fry Building
Careful Monitoring and Analysis can reduce energy
consumption
12
The ZICER Building
Zuckerman Institute for Connective Environmental
Research

• 34 kW Photo Voltaic Array

• Termodeck construction

13
ZICER Construction
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Performance of ZICER Building

• Initially performance was poor

• Performance improved with new Management
  Strategy

15
Performance of ZICER Building
Temperature of air and fabric in building varies
little even on a day in summer (June 21st 22nd
2005)
16
Low Energy and Low Carbon Strategies at UEA

• Construction of Low Energy Buildings
• Careful Monitoring of performance and adaptation
  where relevant
• Fuel efficient and alternative methods to provide
  energy
• Promoting awareness among occupants
• Tackling issues for reducing energy in existing
  buildings which are Grade 2 listed and of
  historic interest.

17
Generation of Electricity with a Gas Engine
36 efficient
18
Combined Heat and Power at UEA
Localised generation can make use of waste
heat. Reduces conversion losses significantly
81 efficient
Engine heat Exchanger
19
Performance of CHP units
Before installation
After installation
This represents a 33 saving in carbon dioxide
20
Load Factor of CHP Plant at UEA
Demand for Heat is low in summer plant cannot
be used effectively
More electricity could be generated in summer
21
Normal Air-conditioning
Adsorption Air-Conditioning

• Adsorption Heat pump uses Waste Heat from CHP
• Will provide most of chilling requirements in
  summer
• Will reduce electricity demand in summer
• Will increase electricity generated locally

22
Legislation can help and hinder effective use of
energy
The method by which electricity is traded in the
UK ( The BETTA System) has adversely affected
viability of CHP in the UK.
The European Union Emission Trading System has
anomalies which hinder effective developments
such as Adsorption Chilling.
Building Regulations can hinder the building of
most energy efficient buildings
23
Performance of Photo Voltaic Array
Peak output is 34 kW
Sometimes electricity is exported
Inverters are only 91 efficient
Most use is for computers
DC power packs are inefficient typically less
than 60 efficient
Need an integrated approach
24
Low Energy and Low Carbon Strategies at UEA

• Construction of Low Energy Buildings
• Careful Monitoring of performance and adaptation
  where relevant
• Fuel efficient and alternative methods to provide
  energy
• Promoting awareness among occupants
• Tackling issues for reducing energy in existing
  buildings which are Grade 2 listed and of
  historic interest.

25
Raising Awareness
Each person in UK causes the emission of 9 tonnes
of CO2 each year.
What do 9 tonnes of CO2 look like?
5 hot air balloons
China 2.5 tonnes or 1.4 balloons
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Raising Awareness
Comparison of emissions of different countries
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Raising Awareness

• Computers do NOT switch off when using the soft
  SHUT DOWN. Typically they will waste 60 kg CO2
  a year.

• 10 gms of carbon dioxide has an equivalent volume
  of 1 party balloon.

• A Mobile Phone charger gt 20 kWh per year
• 1000 balloons each year.

• Standby on electrical appliances
• 80 kWh a year - 4000 balloons.

• A Toyota Corolla (1400cc) 1 party balloon every
  60m.

28
Results of the Big Switch-Off
With a concerted effort savings of 25 or more
are possible
How can these be translated into long term
savings?
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Conclusions - 1

• An integrated approach to Energy Efficiency is
  needed.
• Technical initial good design
• Effective management up to 50 can be
  saved.
• Awareness on the part of the user. Up to
  25 can be saved.

Effective design of low energy buildings will
cost little more than conventional buildings.
Ventilation heating requirements are becoming a
dominant issue in low energy buildings
To achieve full potential of low energy buildings
effective record keeping, analysis, and
management is essential.
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Conclusions - 2
Combined Heat and Power can be effective in
reducing carbon emissions when GAS is available.
Tri-generation should always be considered when
there are significant summer or year long
chilling requirements.
Incorporation of renewable energy systems into
buildings is attractive. However an integrated
approach to generation and use in needed.
Promoting effective awareness can reduce energy
consumption in low energy buildings dramatically.
Ways to prevent back-sliding must be researched
Some Regional, National, and International
legislation is not conducive to promoting the
most energy efficient strategies in communities.
31
Low Energy Buildings and Low Carbon Strategies
?????? Chongqing - 23rd September
2005 2005?9?23?

Experience at the University of East Anglia
Keith Tovey (???) M.A., PhD, CEng, MICE HSBC
Director of Low Carbon Innovation and
Charlotte Turner School of Environmental
Sciences
CRed