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Controls & smart buildings


employed within the building sector. Cost remains a leading priority, with 39% of respondents identifying it as the most important factor, which is understandable due to current economic uncertainty and instability. When exploring the design priorities during the next decade, sustainability (34%) remains imperative, only superseded by the factor of safety (42%). As a result, the need for smart controls within schools, in order to increase long-term effi ciency, will only continue to grow.


Sustainable solutions


Innovating education with sustainable smart controls


Franz Huelle, head of technical at REHAU, discusses the challenges and opportunities to increasing sustainable operations within schools through the utilisation of smart controls


T


he task of improving energy effi ciency within schools is one accompanied by a range of challenges within the built environment.


While commitments from both the Government and external initiatives indicate a willingness to reduce energy consumption, the role of technological innovations to achieve such aims must be acknowledged. With this in mind, the combination of modern underfl oor heating and cooling systems to provide sustainable and cost-eff ective comfort in educational buildings, represents an emerging opportunity for HVAC professionals. Demand for low-carbon buildings The UK’s consistently increasing student population has facilitated a rise in demand for more educational facilities to be built throughout the country. With National Audit Offi ce statistics illustrating that over 60% of current educational building stock was built before 1976, when environmental effi ciency was less of a priority, the necessity of more sustainable low-carbon buildings should not come as a surprise. This requirement is accompanied by several government commitments to improving sustainability within both existing and future builds. The intention to install 600,000


REHAU’s NEA SMART 2.0 system is one such device with the potential to produce long-term effi ciency within educational buildings. When installed, it is predicted that users can typically save 15-20% in fuel costs as opposed to using traditional radiators. Moreover it is designed to work in combination with ground, water or air source heat pumps. While acknowledging the value of long-term sustainability, in addition the importance of individual welfare should be recognised. Making use of smart controls relays an even spread of heat, therefore ensures optimal comfort for both staff and students, wherein the system automatically adapts to the suitable temperature according to the heating and usage behaviour within the building. In turn, this ensures optimal comfort for both staff and students. The system’s algorithms adaptations are further supported by an optimised start function, co- ordinating heating and cooling provision from a singular source. Ease-of-use is further signifi ed by the fact that servicing is only required on boilers and pumps, reducing the occurrence of onsite maintenance, which is often expensive and time- consuming.


Accompanied innovations


heat pumps each year until 2028 contributes to the general ‘Net Zero by 2050’ agenda and is partially driven by £560m of government funding into improving educational buildings throughout the UK.


Understanding priorities


Findings from REHAU’s Designing Healthy Schools and Universities education guide promote both sustainability (37%) and effi ciency (38%) among the top priorities when specifying building materials, following a survey of over 500 participants


The predicted rise in demand for district heating schemes across the next fi ve years is understandable when considering the accompanied demand for sustainable building innovations, and this system enables a seamless integration with such heating systems. There are a number of barriers, however, that have the potential to disrupt the supply of district heating systems. According to REHAU’s research, survey participants outline a lack of government support, increasing costs and traditional methods of supply as barriers to increasing the relevant demand. With only 10% citing the former, however, it is clear that current initiatives like the Heat Networks Delivery Unit and Heat Networks Investment Project are viewed in a positive light within the sector, further illustrating the signifi cance of the Government’s role in providing a sustainable future within the built environment.


The use of smart controls within educational buildings will continue to grow. Considering the aforementioned benefi ts, the advantage of reducing long-term energy consumption will consequently yield cost-savings to innovative organisations harnessing these modern technologies.


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