energy
Greener energy control at Bath Spa University
B
ATH Spa University takes the responsibility of protecting the environment very seriously. It has
participated in the People and Planet Green League table since 2009, achieving two top 10 positions in that time. Minimising energy and water waste,
improving efficiency and driving down carbon emissions all make good business sense and go hand in hand with providing a first class working, living and studying environment. The estate is managed to be as clean, efficient and biodiverse as possible, always striving to minimise any negative impacts on the environment. Dr Julian Greaves is the Sustainability
manager at Bath Spa University. His job entails energy management, waste management, environmental legal compliance and helping the university to be a more sustainable organisation through engagement and curriculum development. When the university recently took over
Green Park House in the centre of the city, it became apparent that a control system was needed to ensure efficient use
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of energy for heating. As Dr Greaves explains: “Green Park House is a 460-bed accommodation unit that was built speculatively by developers, and as a result it used electric heating and electric hot water but had no controls whatsoever apart from a boost button. “I was looking for a control package for
electric heating. There are a lot of building energy management systems available, but they are all based on controlling gas- fired equipment, rather than specifically for electricity. I was recommended Prefect Controls by a peer organisation.” In addition to satisfying the criteria from
a performance and energy savings perspective, another deciding factor was the ease of installation. As he explains: “The ability to install the system without disruption to the fabric of the building was definitely an enabler for the project. We really didn’t want to start interfering with walls and ceilings to install data cabling and things like that.” Energy costs were very much a primary
consideration in the choice of control system and with Prefect Control’s calculation predicting up to 40% savings, Irus became a very attractive proposition. Dr Greaves continues, “The software package gives us a lot of other advantages that we wouldn’t otherwise have. It enables us to understand the
occupation of rooms. There is a lot of useful information that it gives us. It provides much more than simple room heating control.” Levels of light and humidity sensors
along with sound level indicators, can be set to alert accommodation managers to under-performing ventilation equipment, failing lights and even anti-social noise. “We are learning how to make the most of the full extent of these features. The ability to increase the temperature in a student’s room, when they ask for it, and then for it to automatically return back to the original settings after a period of time, is very useful. It makes sure that if changes are made to the settings then they are not just left there forever, they always revert back. Irus is so simple to use, we haven’t had any complaints from students on the operation of the system or the comfort levels, so that says something!” The Green Park House installation was
completed in September 2017 and all is going to plan, data is being monitored closely to assess savings, however as Dr Greaves explains, “we need to go through a whole heating season before we can assess the savings, but we are really pleased with the system.”
www.prefectcontrols.com
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