Zehnder contributes to green at botanical gardens
As part of the energy-efficient building-services system of the John Hope Gateway Visitor Centre at Edinburgh’s Royal Botanical Gardens, Zehnder Flatline radiant panels have been installed to provide heating and cooling. The services system for this £15.7 million project was designed by consulting engineers Max Fordham and installed by mechanical contractor Emtec.
These smooth, lightweight panels are suspended from the ceiling throughout the centre. They work on the principle of thermal radiation and only heat objects in the room, not the air. Up to 40% energy savings can be achieved compared to conventionally heated rooms as the internal air temperature can be 2 to 3 K lower for the same resultant temperature.
Scott Stevenson of Emtec Group explains, ‘As a flagship building for the gardens, it was very important to meet the customer’s requirements, and the Zehnder Flatline was specifically sought out for the project. The perforated panel ensures the absorption of sound, and by integrating the panels with the track lighting system, we were able to provide spot lighting to exhibits below. Even with the inconvenience of this non-standard installation, the benefits of the panels far outweighed the complexities.’
