Butterfield Business Village progresses towards environmentally responsible services

The first earth ducts to provide ventilation that will reduce energy consumption by up to 75% are laid at the Butterfield business and technology park in Luton. The system is designed to regulate internal air temperatures and deliver excellent air quality. Fresh air will be drawn though the earth ducts to use the ground as a source of heat in winter and cooling in summer. The air will be supplied into the buildings via pressurised floor plena to provide a comfortable environment without air conditioning. Each earth duct is at least 85 m long with a diameter of 900 mm. They are a metre below the ground surface, where the temperature remains fairly constant. In all, 13 earth ducts will feed into the five buildings that comprise the first phase of construction at the business village. The business village will provide high-quality offices from 150 to 435 m2 with a central facilities building providing on-site management services. Easter is working towards a BREEAM excellent standard for buildings in this business village and an A rating under the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.