Suffolk CC chooses Interseasonal Heat Transfer™ from ICAX™
Interseasonal Heat Transfer has been chosen as the sustainable heating source for the exciting new 16 to 19 centre of learning being built on the outskirts of Ipswich: Suffolk One.
Bob Dool, the SWISS Partnership Director, says that Suffolk County Council has planned the new £65 million Sixth Form College as a state-of-the-art learning environment which will provide for learners from 14 institutions, including eight high schools.
Alan Whittaker, the newly appointed head said: “I feel proud and privileged to be chosen to lead the new college and become part of this exciting collaborative development.”
Design of Suffolk One Centre, Ipswich
Suffolk One, which opened in September 2010, is a landmark development providing modern and flexible teaching. The 20,200 m² building – funded by the Learning and Skills Council – accommodates 2,200 students from Ipswich and South Suffolk.
The vocational block to the north and teaching clusters to the south surround a central atrium. All teaching areas are flexible work spaces with generous provision of sky-lights to maximise natural daylight.
The ground floor of the central space includes a canteen and informal breakout areas for students to work on wireless-enabled laptops and computers. A double height drama and performance space has also been provided together with a six court sports hall and Multi Use Games Area with access for the local community.
Solar Thermal Collector for Interseasonal Heat Transfer
Space Heating Design
The ICAX design for IHT collects heat from asphalt solar collectors in the bus turning areas in summer, stores the heat in ThermalBanks in the ground, and releases heat to Suffolk One in winter using ground source heat pumps.
The ICAX skid mounted equipment also captures surplus heat from the roof mounted solar thermal collectors, whose primary function is to provide hot water, so that the heat generated from thermal panels in the long summer holidays is not wasted (and the life of the panels will be prolonged). Suffolk One has a gas-free heating system.
Suffolk One is the first Sixth Form College to benefit from Interseasonal Heat Transfer and demonstrates Suffolk County Council's commitment to renewable energy and education for sustainable development.
A wide range of energy efficient mechanical and electrical systems has being installed at Suffolk One with the aim of achieving a targeted BREAM rating of "very good". As well as Interseasonal Heat Transfer, rainwater harvesting, Windcatcher and Sunpipe systems are being employed to provide natural ventilation and light. Suffolk One also includes the first installation of Sanyo's co-generation VRF air conditioning system in the UK. These systems will enable One to make long-term savings and reduce its carbon emissions.
Concrete Solar Thermal Collector for Interseasonal Heat Transfer
collects heat in the summer to charge ThermalBanks
to provide space heating in winter
without burning fossil fuels
Michael Peachey, director of estates and commercial services at Suffolk One, said, "It provides an outstanding place of learning for students and an exceptional environment in which to work. We opened our doors in September 2010 and have therefore not yet completed a full year of operation. The building-services system is designed to optimise efficiency over the course of a year, collecting and storing waste heat in the summer and harnessing it to heat the building in the winter. It is a pioneering approach that could set the direction for sustainable buildings in the future. Students are able to incorporate the design and operation of the systems into the project work to support their curriculum."
Wayne Blunden, who heads the Norland Managed Services facilities-management team at the site, says. "It's a highly creative and sustainable design, not just in the use of low-carbon technologies but in the way they combine and support each another. The key, in terms of both energy efficiency and comfort conditions, is optimal balancing with high-level intelligent control. This is taken care of by the building-management system. The contributing systems will be tuned over the course of time, in line with load conditions generated by use of the building and in relation to changing seasons. As with any new building, this is a learning process and requires ongoing calibration as use of the building evolves."
ICAX projects using road surface solar collectors: Toddington | Howe Dell | Hiroshima | HMP Garth | Suffolk One
ICAX projects using heat from ThermalBanks to maintain road surfaces ice free: Toddington | Hiroshima
