Property & Development Magazine Issue 427 | Page 19

Education: Brunel University

any new building or refurbishment is planned, built and
occupied to ensure the greatest energy and water efficiency and lowest carbon emissions that are reasonable
in the circumstances.
Current initiatives include the replacement of inefficient lighting with low energy sources and the provision of lighting controls, installation of a combined heat
and power unit supplying electricity and hot water to
the Isambard complex, and provision of enhanced thermal insulation to flat roofs during the periodic replacement of roof coverings.
Elsewhere, the Estates Department is working with
others in meeting the University's Carbon Management
Plan. The institution will endeavour to achieve recognition as a University committed to promoting a sustainable future by example, leadership and good practice
through measures such as reducing energy use and carbon emissions by investing in cost effective efficiency
measures. It will also ensure operational staff are suitably trained and are updated as necessary to achieve the
best possible return on investment in energy efficiency
measures, while exploring the opportunities for exploiting alternative fuels and new technologies.
The university has set itself the ambition to achieve
BREEAM “excellent” or “very good” ratings for all its
new buildings while incorporating energy efficiency
measures into annual building maintenance and refurbishment programmes where practical. Measures
include recycling materials from demolished buildings
to minimise landfill, specification of recycled aggregate
for new concrete structures, and installation of water
efficient devices to make use of technology such as
waterless urinals and spray taps. Rainwater will also be
harvested for toilet flushing.
These measures are complemented by the use of
materials with low embodied energy and glazing with
low E coating materials in addition to prefabricated elements to cut down on wastage. In design, the use of natural ventilation will also help building cooling with orientation based on minimising solar gain. Moreover,
buildings are designed to meet and go beyond the new
Part L regulations to enhance energy efficiency. n
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