CASE STUDY
environmental engineers on their fl agship the use of a mixture of renewable technologies
project, B&Q Extra in New Malden which to co-exist together that collectively can deliver
has just opened its doors to the public. The low carbon heating and cooling together with
whole development has sustainable and energy electricity.
effi cient systems; from ground source heat However, he believes there is a long way to
pumps coupled to an under-fl oor heating system go before the concept becomes a commercially
to a large wind turbine.” viable reality in many parts of the country.
The director pauses before adding that B&Q “A community could invest in a shared
went the extra mile on this project. energy source with an independent company
“Planning-wise they were not obliged to go that, of course, will need to be regulated so
as far as they did, but they had the necessary that tariffs can be controlled. Would you
resources and commitment to develop a want to move into a building where you
sustainable project which they did by using a were told you could only source your green
variety of technologies. energy from one source? The mechanism to
“With all our clients who are considering ensure it works competitively would need to
going down the route of opting for an be carefully worked out,” opines the director
environmentally sustainable solution, we would who is currently working on a large mixed use
always advise them to focus on one or two development in a London Borough where one
technologies and implement them fully, rather of the Greater London Authority's requirements
than try to incorporate different technologies in for the project is to include an energy centre to
order to make a corporate statement and appease serve the development.
the planners. The latter will not deliver any real The energy centre includes a CHP plant that
energy savings.” will be fuelled by gas, but which will have the
potential to convert to bio-diesel at a later date.
Trends that won't last
“They haven’t yet defi ned the exact
When it comes to trends in sustainable energy renewable technologies mix,” says Coumidis,
solutions, Coumidis is dismissive about current before adding that it is: “Far better to source
fads, e.g. biomass boilers that use woodchip green energy remotely and off site rather than
as fuel. installing expensive micro generation products
“I don’t think that biomass boilers are going in an urban environment which don’t serve a
to last. Biomass may be okay for residential useful purpose.”
Gloucestershire Police chose geothermal energy.
properties outside built-up areas, but is not
suitable for commercial and industrial buildings.
How Boris has helped
Basically, developers go for it as it is the He also gives credit to Boris Johnson.
cheapest solution. But you have to bear in mind “Since the GLA has their new mayor, it is
that we are not allowed to burn any old wood more fl exible. Before, they wanted nothing but
and then you have problems of storage and CHP and were very prescriptive in what systems
wider issues such as the Clean Air Act consultants had to use. Now they are more
to consider.” open to suggestions of solutions that deliver the
Neither is the director an enthusiast of mini correct amount of carbon savings.”
wind turbines in built-up areas. But it’s not all plain sailing as far as dealing
“A wind turbine on a building is ridiculous with planning authorities is concerned.
and as for grey water recycling on a tower “Many planning authorities are confused,”
block, that is simply absurd. There is no benefi t states Coumidis. “There is no consistency
to be gained from trying to collect rainwater in approach”
from such a small roof area relative to the large So what does the immediate future hold?
number of people occupying the building. The “We need to look at the bigger energy
tank will be constantly fi lling up from the mains. picture,” cautions the director. “Where instead
It makes more sense to install a grey water of providing token solutions to meet planning
system on a building like B&Q where there is a requirements, developers are allowed to
large expanse of roof to collect rainwater which contribute to an infrastructure project that
can then be used for things like watering the includes remote energy centres, wind farms
plants in the garden centre.” etc. Residential developments in the present
So what is the way forward? economic climate are very diffi cult to get off the
Coumidis sees centralised local commercial ground so, if local authorities insist on a large
energy centres as being one of the ways forward. percentage of affordable housing and meeting
’
This is where communities buy green renewable targets, I think, sadly, it’s going to be
energy from an independent company, rather the renewable energy systems that will have to
B&Q Extra includes ground source heat pumps.
than from a national grid. This approach enables be sacrifi ced.”
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS April 2009 53
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