Being in the game of designing offices for startups,.
Air handling systems were designed to use as little energy as possible, whilst ensuring a healthy, fresh indoor environment.So demand control ventilation, activated by CO. 2. sensors, provides an optimal level of fresh air in fitness areas.
And in the same way, an advanced, mixed mode system with Building Management System control, ventilates the sports halls.By using low energy passive ventilation for periods of lower use, but powerful mechanical ventilation at peak times, it minimises energy consumption whilst maximising the comfort of users.Occupant thermal comfort modelling demonstrated that mechanical systems were able to keep people at a comfortable temperature, whatever the weather.
This gained HEA04 BREEAM credits, and contributed to the projects’ BREEAM Very Good rating.. A-rated energy performance.All of these design features helped to achieve exceptionally low carbon emissions, with both centres achieving A rated energy performance certificates.
Barnet Copthall has an Asset Rating of 20 which exceeds the requirements of Part L2a, and delivers CO. 2. emission reductions of over 37% when compared to the target building.
They are good examples of projects that follow the “Be Lean, Be Clean and Be Green” guidelines in the London Plan Energy Hierarchy..Alarmingly, despite having spent decades now talking about action for climate, carbon emissions continue to rise year-on-year.
In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic was almost undetectable in terms of carbon emissions, with the highest ever emissions growth in 2019/2020.Although it felt like the world economy stopped in certain ways, it really didn’t.
Construction and manufacturing continued throughout the pandemic, as did the production of steel and concrete.What this really highlights though, is that while our own personal behaviour does contribute to the climate crisis, it’s actually the much larger macroeconomy that’s driving very large amounts of the emissions..