BFLNov.08 19/11/08 12:08 pm Page 25
environmental performance
Passive and pro-active
routes to sustainability
WITH Studio E as project architect, pools is used as a thermal buffer and
Traditionally, leisure
engineering design by Max Fordham and storage for the energy output of the solar-
centres with pools
Pellikaan as main contractor, the centres thermal arrays in a way that avoids
were shortlisted for the Building 2008 overheating the pools.
demand substantial
Sustainability Awards, which took place A further low-carbon heat source and
amounts of energy for
this month. Woodside is a renovated and sink is provided by ground-coupled heat conditioning. Pools have
extended existing building; Central is pumps with 49no. (Woodside) and 30no.
strict temperature and
newbuild. The design principles are “lean (Central) vertical U-tubes bored 80m into
humidity requirements,
and green”, notes the Awards statement, the chalk aquifer. Again, the pools’
as demand is reduced through passive buffer/storage capacity is exploited by
and air-conditioned fitness
and best-practice measures before energy enabling the heat pump to operate on
suites and showers add to
is provided from low/zero carbon sources. night-rate electricity and warm the pools
the loads. Two Watford
Energy demand for the pools is reduced without overheating.
leisure centres are low-
by a combination of rooflights, high- A water-source variable refrigerant flow
energy exemplars of these
efficiency heat recovery ventilation, system is coupled to the ground loop and
traditionally energy-
optimum relative humidity control and a low-temperature water heating system.
system to transfer heat from backwash Heat is recovered from the VRF system to
intensive facilities.
water to the pool water. The heat transfer the heating system when there is a
system also processes used shower water demand or rejected to the ground when
and significantly reduces hot water not required, with an increase to the
demand, which is a substantial part of coefficient of performance of the system.
energy use in leisure centres. Throughout
the rest of the facility best-practice
Rainwater
measures include demand-led CO2
Gas-fired condensing boilers make up the
ventilation to air-conditioned gyms and
residual heating demands. Running the
passive infrared and photocell lighting.
boilers at lower than normal temperature
gives a 5-10% increase in efficiency.
Heating system Rainwater is recovered from the roofs and
The heart of the low-carbon strategy is a stored for use in WC flushing, which is
heating system designed to operate at a expected to reduce WC water demand by
low temperature (45 deg C). This allows a 60%. Environmental fixtures and fittings
ground-source heat pump, solar-thermal were specified.
array, water-source variable refrigerant flow These combined technologies are
system and condensing gas-fired boilers controlled and optimised by a Building
to be combined into a single system. Management System that also monitors the
The centres have 180sqm (Central) and buildings’ energy use. Monitoring against
140sqm (Woodside) of flat-panel solar expected usage and optimising systems
Top of page and above The new Central Watford
Leisure Centre, managed by SLM, includes a
collectors. Heat collected is used primarily will deliver real savings in CO2 emissions. six-lane swimming pool as well as a
to warm domestic water but also can be Overall the low/zero-carbon
teaching pool, a sports hall, viewing areas,
used for the buildings’ general heating technologies are expected to outperform
fitness area and exercise studio. A climbing
wall covering three storeys is a feature in
networks. The large volume of water of the Building Regulations by at least 35%. the entrance and lobby areas
November 2008 building forleisure 25
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