• Air tightness tested at 7.2 cu m/hr/sq m for an
Vulcan House, these pages
internal to external pressure difference of 50 Pascals –
and overleaf, was created as
a BREEAM Excellent-rated
that is, a 28 per cent reduction on Part L;
replacement for five sites.
• Designed U values with 15 per cent improvement on
Part L2A 2006; and
• Designed energy consumption at 180 kWhrs/sq m/yr
using Econ 19 theoretical assumptions for the building’s
operating hours (see ‘Energy Use’ box, next page).
Building performance
The University of Sheffield and sustainability
consultants Mott MacDonald are working with UK
Border Agency staff in a post-occupancy study to
determine the socio-economic benefits of Vulcan
House as a sustainable BREEAM Excellent building.
The three-year study will not only monitor energy,
water, waste and running costs but will also monitor
on its north and east sides where solar gain is minimal – user reaction to the new building.
thereby reducing the energy needed for office cooling. It Initial findings on occupancy satisfaction indicate
also resulted in the decision to place fresh-air intakes and that the majority of staff are satisfied with the new
discharges along each floor façade to reduce the energy building, particularly when viewed in relation to
traditionally consumed in distributing air from rooftop their former accommodation, although temperature
plant-rooms and through long ductwork to each floor. stability remains an issue (see ‘User satisfaction’ box on
Client view
Thermal modelling allowed the designers to see the effect next page). But overall, the occupants reported that the
Key lessons
on balanced energy flows into and out of the building by, new building is light, bright, airy, and a significant
learned
for example, recovering heat energy during winter months. improvement on the previous accommodation.
from Vulcan
This means heat from air extracted out of office floors is
development
captured and recycled, warming up incoming fresh air. Energy use
Actual measured energy use to date for Steel indicates Ensure formal
significant progress in reducing relative (per square
business ownership of
sustainability issues by
On the face of it nothing
metre) energy use and resulting CO2 emissions
an approved team before
immediately manifests Vulcan
(see ‘User satisfaction’ box on next page). the building is occupied
Data given for previous buildings relate only to three
Ensure that
House’s sustainability credentials: out of the five offices formerly occupied by UKBA. The comprehensive
no biomass boilers, no solar panels
lack of data relating to the remaining former buildings
recycling policies and
processes are built
and no ground source heat pumps
is due to the way payment arrangements had been
into FM arrangements
made between the UKBA and its landlords. from early involvement
delivering renewable sources The anticipated Display Energy Certificate (DEC)for
with providers and that
staff are fully aware of
of energy
the building’s in-use operational rating, based on the
recycling practices
above provisional findings for Steel, would be on the
Establish accurate
Vulcan House is fully air conditioned, to provide border of Bands E and F, which is better than for a
building operating
a fresh air standard of 12 l/s/person and to maintain typical air-conditioned office building. The benchmarks times early on and
a standard ambient temperature of 22C, plus 2 and don’t distinguish between air-conditioned and naturally
base predicted utilities
consumption on these
minus 2. Its target energy benchmark at design was ventilated buildings. For this exemplar, among air-
times
lower than ‘good practice’ levels for UK air- conditioned conditioned buildings the DEC algorithm is highly
Commence preparation
offices and even lower than typical levels for naturally reductive, revealing less than the sum of its parts.
of sustainable travel
ventilated offices (see Energy Consumption Guide 19: arrangements for staff
Energy use in offices, DETR). Water use
well in advance of
occupation, ensuring that
By investigating 11 design parameters that included Adoption of recycled ‘grey’ water plus rainwater
organisational structures
different window sizes, glass types, curtain walling harvesting at Vulcan House (for example, to flush and processes support
types, insulation thickness, air conditioning plant and toilets) has resulted in a dramatic measured reduction
these arrangements
room layouts, the design team was able to reduce energy in water consumption compared with previous years.
Establish and agree
by 23 per cent over the extant Building Regulation It has also exceeded the UK government’s sustainable
clear sustainability
commitments at
requirements (Part L). Although undertaken prior to operations on the government estate (SOGE) target
business case stage, with
the introduction of Part L 2006, the building design in this respect, as shown in these figures for water
input from UK Border
anticipated the new requirements through: consumption in litres per employee: >
Agency stakeholders
and approval bodies.
• An energy strategy that integrates aspects of passive
UKBA Vulcan House SOGE
This would have helped
design through building orientation, solar shading and
ensure appropriate
2003-04 2008-09 target
thermal modelling with mechanical ventilation and air
funding over the life of
conditioning;
12,400 2,400 3,000
the project
www.cibsejournal.com January 2010 CIBSE Journal 33
CIBSEjan10 pp32-36_Vulcan.indd 33 18/12/09 12:40:12
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