Water authority uses chilled water energy efficiently
Energy-efficient air conditioning for the new £60 million operations centre of Severn Trent Water is provided with the help of fan-coil units from Ability Projects. These ECDC Evolution fan-coil units use 75% less electricity than AC equivalents with a similar cooling capacity and provide infinitely variable speed control.
The 15 800 building is served by 2-pipe units with cooling capacities ranging from 1.68 to 6.3 kW and NR35 at 35 Pa. There is a mixture of horizontal ceiling-recessed units and vertical units. The vertical units are fitted with special rectangular spigots, and some have special split access panels for ease of maintenance.
Other technologies in the building include thermal adaptive cooling, biomass boilers, Solar PV panels, underfloor displacement ventilation and rainwater harvesting.
This 38 m-high building is designed to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standards and is thought to have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the UK.
M&E contractor was Balfour Beatty Engineering Services.
