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University building embraces sustainability |
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24 Oct 2012, 11:40 AM
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A new green university building is helping the planet by cutting carbon emissions as well as its use of recycled materials. The Palatine Centre at Durham University has been designed to be as energy efficient and environmentally friendly as possible using solar thermal collectors, photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting and sedum roofing.
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The integration of these elements has already been recognised with an Excellent rating by the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM).
The building, which provides a single location for student-facing services and office accommodation, also features environmentally-friendly materials throughout.
Durham University Sustainability Manager, Tara Duncan, said: “The Palatine Centre is the University’s ‘greenest’ building and it is rich in environmentally-friendly features. Recycled materials have been used throughout and 90 per cent of construction waste was reused or recycled.”
The University is committed to saving energy and cutting carbon emissions both by encouraging and supporting behavioural change through policy action, information and education campaigns; and by carrying out physical modifications to University buildings and their systems.
At the Palatine Centre, 160 photovoltaic panels have been installed to generate electricity and 65m2 of solar thermal panels help to provide hot water throughout the building.
Tim Burt, Dean for Environmental Sustainability, Durham University, said: “The Palatine Centre is an amazing space for students and staff providing offices and student services under one ‘green’ roof.
“We’ve put environmentally-friendly features and social well-being at the very heart of the centre’s design and build. It’s a low carbon emissions building that is people and environmentally-friendly and which encourages people to think and act ‘green’. The University takes sustainability very seriously and we have nearly one hundred environmental champions helping to raise awareness of environmental policies and practical actions that can help us to cut our energy use and carbon emissions.”
Office spaces have been designed to save energy and include motion-activated lights to save energy, integral recycling with dedicated waste areas, and the use of natural light. Ensuring that kitchen areas have boilers heating water in kitchens supported by renewable sources is another practical step to reduce the University’s carbon footprint.
The sustainability theme extends to the University’s buying polices. The Palatine Centre’s Café promotes freshly cooked food and embraces the “Love food – hate waste” campaign that the University has promoted.
Tara Duncan said: “Some of these steps may seem small, like sensible food portions and being able to use your own cup for a coffee for 10p less, but it reduces waste and saves resources, and shows how we can all help to make the planet a greener, better place.”
To meet Government targets for universities, Durham has set itself an ambitious target of a 30 per cent carbon reduction by 2013/2014 across a growing University estate featuring world-class research facilities, residential colleges and the management of a World Heritage site.
Professor Burt added: “To achieve our carbon reduction target we need the participation of all of our staff and students to make this happen, as well as the active support of local organisations and suppliers.
“Our Carbon Management Plan is not about restricting or limiting the activities of the University but instead is about making the University more efficient, eliminating waste and saving money that can support the academic activities.”
Durham University was awarded the Carbon Trust Standard in March 2011.
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