www.heatingandventilating.net Rising to the challenge
The fun for building services designers and contractors is to devise solutions that deliver the required levels of air quality whilst reducing carbon footprint. It throws a challenge particularly with regard to addressing the embodied carbon issue: how many of your ventilation components are manufactured in the UK, so have little distance to be transported? A sustainable building uses “local” contractors and suppliers. Should we ask more often where was it produced, and use local manufacturers too? This may soon be imposed, with so many zero carbon and Net Zero carbon calculators available, and increased demand for carbon footprint reduction requiring proof of embodied carbon.
It almost goes without saying that natural
ventilation is of course the most low carbon route. To work effectively, it is better to be designed in at the outset, to deliver correct flow of supply and exhaust air. The major issue for us all involved in building services is to devise systems for refurbishment/retrofit, that are sympathetic to the building fabric and aesthetics yet still contribute towards the carbon zero goal of 2050.
What are the options?
One option is stand-alone, through façade solutions, typically hybrids that utilise supplementary power when required via a low energy fan. These not
only cost literally a couple of pence per day to run but satisfy the expected revisions to Document F in terms of ductwork reduction/elimination and purge capability. As they are stand-alone, there is no risk of cross-contamination to other zones. They can also be retrofitted as there is no ductwork to connect. Some already deliver the current, COVID- compliant IAQ in terms of air changes and CO2; they can be further accessorised with filter boxes to further mitiate ingress of potentially harmful particulates and interface with heat pumps for extending comfort conditions through all seasons.
“A sustainable building uses ‘local’ contractors and suppliers. Should we ask where was (a solution) produced, and use local manufacturers too? This may soon be imposed, with so many zero carbon and Net Zero carbon calculators available, and increased demand for carbon footprint reduction requiring proof of embodied carbon.”
Indoor air quality
One thing is for sure: the next decade will see intense activity as we endeavour to rise to the challenge of carbon zero. I hope it will also lead to even greater collaboration between all involved in the process, so that we can, within our shores, design, develop, manufacture, supply, install and operate efficient ventilation.
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February 2022
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