Centre for Disability Studies
Essex, East of England
PROJECT TEAM & PARTNERS
- Simmonds Mills Architects - Andy Simmonds, Tim Crosskey, Adele Mills
- Energy Advisory Associates - David Olivier
- Mechanical and Services Engineer - Alan Clarke
- Bowen Consultants, Quantity Surveyor - Stephen Bowen
- John James Associates, Chartered Architect, John James
- Bright Green [East of England], Sustainability Consultant - Maxine Narburgh
- All small pioneering businesses at the cutting edge of sustainable design and construction
CONTRACT VALUE
£2,039,795
FUNDING
- ERDF £815,918
- EEDA Building Communities Fund £750,000
- Disability Essex £405,447 Essex County Council £50,000
- Private sector £18,430
TIMESCALE
1 Year
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
The Centre for Disability Studies offers an innovative ecological design to Passivhaus standards as well as a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating. Passivhaus is the leading standard for energy efficient construction in Europe and this Centre will be the first UK office building to meet this stringent standard, demonstrating a new and economically significant response to the development of low carbon economic growth.
The building will integrate the aspirations of Disability Essex
with rigorous sustainable design and construction practices,
leading to a robust, practical, cost-effective, replicable and
demonstrably sustainable solution. The building itself will
provide a valuable lesson in integrated, cost effective and
resource-efficient sustainable design for low CO2 emissions whilst
at the same time also demonstrating a number of methods of meeting
this challenge using a variety of construction materials and
technologies. This has 4 benefits:
1.Minimising the carbon footprint of Disability Essex on the
environment
2.Providing an environmental demonstrator building in its own
right; encouraging other businesses and organisations to adopt a
low carbon approach
3.Minimising the charity's on-going fixed premises and related
running costs.
4.Demonstrating that fully accessible design, for physical sensory
and cognitive impairments, with cellular heating, can be achieved
without compromise to design merit.
The Centre will establish and implement best practice, providing a national and regional case study for the Passivhaus approach to low-carbon construction and be within the top international bracket of proven low carbon buildings. The design is based on AECB CarbonLite project (http://www.carbonlite.net); currently meeting CarbonLite Step 2, the confirmation of funding for Photovoltaics will enable an upgrade to CarbonLite Step 3.
Businesses and organisations in the region will benefit through
the knowledge transfer opportunities created by this project. The
Centre will act as a catalyst for new low-carbon market development
for UK &j EU Small to Medium Enterprises developing new
products for use in Passivhaus buildings.
AECB is - "the sustainable building association" see
www.aecb.net
PROJECT TARGETS
- Low carbon construction to Passivhaus standards and BREEAM 'Excellent' rated
- 594m2 of which 288m2 is lettable space.
- An energy efficiency demonstrator resulting in an 85% reduction in CO2 emissions.
- A 14kW(p) Photovoltaic array with an electrical output of 11,000 kWh/yr & solar thermal energy 1,700kWh/yr (50% hot water demand).
- Improved energy efficiency, energy demand reduced from current building standards 55kW/m2/yr to less than 15kW/m2/yr - saving 89,000kWh/year.
- Improved water consumption from 930 litres/day (current building standards) to 502 litres/day a reduction of over 46% compared to standard practice.
- Post project intervention 35 jobs will be created (2011).
- 5 tonnes of CO2 saved per annum via Photovoltaics - cost £980/tonne carbon saved.
- 0.3 tonnes of CO2 saved per annum via solar thermal - cost £542/tonne carbon saved.
- 21 tonnes of CO2 saved per annum via energy efficiency and conservation - cost £168/tonne carbon saved.
INNOVATIVE PRACTICE
The majority of necessary building components for the Passivhaus design are available in the UK. Methods of construction that are new to the UK include\; Passivhaus levels of insulation, single skin external walls with external insulation (exceeds Code 6 for Sustainable Homes), designing out of thermal bridges and a level of airtightness that is 10 times greater than UK Building Regulations. Novel methods of construction are required to integrate the design and construction processes, the thermal quality of the works will be monitored during construction.
Climate adaptation measures have been considered - specifically the use of high levels of thermal mass and integrated with this a range of novel but simple and effective overheating controls systems and technologies. Research for the project has been drawn from best practice in North America, Canada, Germany, Austria etc.
The development of the Centre for Disability Studies will support new and emerging markets and the low carbon supply chain. This includes locally sourced sustainable materials as well as increasing the demand for UK produced highly energy efficient products (such as timber framed windows) that meet the high specifications of Passivhaus.
The AECB CarbonLite Step 2 incorporates the German Passivhaus energy standard but in a modified form for a UK context: it has a tighter target on primary energy and CO2 emissions than the standard usually uses on mainland Europe, which takes account of the carbon mix of UK energy supply industry and also recognises the need for a CO2 emissions limit.
PROBLEMS FACED
This project has been in development since the Board undertook a strategic review in 2003 that identified the need for new premises. Disability Essex sold their building and moved into temporary accommodation whilst plans were developed and another site purchased. This design and development work was funded solely by Disability Essex with a small grant from EEDA in 2007/08.
Land acquisition was a barrier and the identification of available sites that met the criteria for Disability Essex was very difficult. The Rochford site that was purchased in 2008 was the only suitable site for consideration, this site was acquired from Essex County Council.
Funding and finance has been an ongoing challenge with particular regard to the uncertainty of regional voluntary sector capital funding streams that would contribute towards the match funding requirements of the ERDF programme. High level political and organisational support has assisted Disability Essex here.
The design work to Passivhaus specification did not present any specific challenges or barriers. However, there was a distinct lack of knowledge and understanding of this energy efficiency standard and potential impact of this approach above others in cost effective reduction of CO2 from the built environment. Disability Essex are still required to go through the BREEAM process to certify their environmental credentials - at a considerable expense.
LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS
There were no legislative impacts on the project. The Centre for
Disability Studies has exceeded all legislative standards.
Disability Essex promotes the Social Model of Disability & the
Principles of Inclusive Design as defined by the Disability Rights
Commission.
The following design standards have been approved:
- Approved Document M (2004)
- BS 8300
- BS 5588
- Building Sight Sign Design Guide
- Good Loo Guide
The Centre is rated BREEAM 'Excellent' & Passivhaus Standard
LESSONS LEARNT & APPLICABILITY IN OTHER SITUATIONS
The project will be monitored and evaluated throughout the build phase as part of the EU funding. This is in relation to lessons learnt with regard to the build, fit out and operation of the building; in particular, the requisite for high quality and new methods of construction that are new to the UK. Disability Essex are funding the recording of the construction, fitting webcams and providing a web-based construction diary for public access throughout the build period. It is anticipated that this data will be processed to provide a teaching tool for new training courses in the eco-agenda.
A programme for site open days will be released in April for interested parties. The open days will be led by the design team and will be available during and post construction.
CONTACT
Maxine Narburgh or Richard Boyd