CIBSE national conference
Natural ventilation row prompts
CHP energy
saving benefits
call from delegates for resolution
‘are over-hyped’
The ability of tri- and co-generation
n
The question of which systems to save energy has been
ventilation strategy to use in over-hyped, suggested Dr James
new school buildings – in particular, Thonger, an associate director of
natural or mechanical – dominated a Arup.
number of speaker sessions. Some uses of these systems, such
Terry Wyatt, a consultant to Hoare as combined heat and power (CHP)
Lea, insisted that schools should fuelled by natural gas, could be less
have demand and control systems efficient than fossil fuel-powered
to ensure they are used efficiently: boilers, he argued.
“If left to the teacher, faced with one Pointing to figures from Dukes
switch, she’ll turn it on and leave it 2008 showing that 71 per cent of
on. Anything set by hand must have CHPs are powered by natural gas,
a default control.” Wyatt also pointed he queried why this should be so,
to a lack of use of variable speed and suggested that energy savings
drives on motors: “We are designing from such systems had been
systems for maximum capability, School debate: Martin Liddament, left, with John Palmer overestimated.
which is rarely used – using variable Thonger argued that various
speed means saving energy.” Martin Liddament, of VEETECH as “real fairy land”, adding: “How “tricks” had been used to elevate
John Palmer, a regional director Ltd, said that, according to the many schools are built in beautiful energy savings from CHPs. For
at AECOM, argued that natural Carbon Trust, mechanical ventilation settings? How can you switch off example, while CHP could be shown
ventilation should be considered systems and air conditioning require acoustic noise [from outside the to be 18 per cent more efficient than
as a first design option in schools, continuing maintenance to ensure school]? New schools are nowhere conventional heating, this saving is
believing that pupils and teachers safety and correct performance. near the performance that you are halved to nine per cent if heat loss
could be relied upon to open Edward Murphy, technical director referring to.” One young delegate said is included in the calculation. In
windows and turn off switches: “We of Mott MacDonald, presented he was “staggered by the amount of analysing whether a co-generation
have to think about the knock-on a study of his consultancy work conflict”, adding that CIBSE should system is more energy-efficient than
effects of mechanical ventilation... It on naturally ventilated schools in help to resolve such issues, “so we a conventional one using the same
means lots of kit, and where are the Sheffield, UK. But, in a Q&A session, can go forward”. Another delegate fuel supply, the industry should use
POEs [post occupancy evaluations] of Terry Wyatt described the picture said: “We have been discussing this the government’s CHPQA Standard,
this in schools?” presented by the preceding speakers for 20 years.” Thonger said.
Debate highlights perils for renewables
Relying on renewables alone to delegates at the YEN dinner and economy. They won’t necessarily
slash carbon emissions is not debate. be on-site renewables. An off-site
enough: nuclear needs to be Wheel added: “I don’t believe obligation can cater for that as well.
considered to meet stringent nuclear is sustainable by any “It’s particularly interesting in
government targets, insisted young definition of the word. However, it’s the context of the recession – a
engineer Rick Wheel of Arup during a very, very low-carbon solution. If recession makes things more
the CIBSE Young Engineers debate: climate change is going to be taken efficient, companies have to be
Is the recession killing the market seriously, then nuclear has a very Two of the young-engineer speakers, more streamlined.
for renewable technologies? real place over the next 50 years.” Mary Ann Clarke, left, and Becci Taylor “We shouldn’t be putting
Wheel and three other young Banks stressed his concerns renewables where they don’t work
engineers – Mary Ann Clarke and about unearthing future sources rise as a result. The really worrying anymore.”
Nigel Banks from AECOM, and of oil and gas: “If oil reserves are thing is that the next best available Clarke agreed that the issue
Becci Taylor from Arup – were low and declining I’m sure gas source of oil is the tar sands from now should be to put the right
grilled for more than an hour by prices and electrical prices will Canada and other places, which renewables in the right place and
are horrendously unstable and make sure that the location and
carbon polluting. If you don’t stop building demand actually match the
that, then you’ve got no chance of renewables that engineers propose.
stopping climate change.” She added: “Perhaps we should
The idea of capturing carbon consider, if we can’t put small
from burning fossil fuels isn’t a renewables on buildings, whether
strategy that Taylor advocates we should be looking at having
either: “Investing money in carbon a levy where maybe we actually
capture would be better spent on contribute to having a larger
renewables.” renewable strategy.”
Taylor believes that clients don’t A vote at the end revealed the
have a choice on renewables: majority of delegates disagree
“Legislation requires that those that the recession will kill off the
CIBSE members grilled the young engineers for more than an hour buildings contribute to a low-carbon renewables market.
www.cibsejournal.com June 2009 CIBSE Journal 19
CIBSEjun09 pp18-20 conference.indd 19 29/5/09 12:17:43
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