Product category:
Building Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
News Release from: Passivent | Subject: Innovative ventilation strategy
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 04 June 2008
Innovative ventilation strategy for
BREEAM rating
Passivent's mixed mode system focuses on harnessing natural forces to efficiently ventilate buildings, supplemented by air conditioning to give fresh air and total environmental control.
An innovative ventilation strategy is helping a company displaced by 2012 Olympics site beat Government targets for carbon emissions and achieve a 'very good' BREEAM rating Capital Print, one of the UK's leading marketing campaign solutions companies, is one of several organisations that have relocated into custom-built premises at Beckton Waterfront, in London's East End, as a result of the 2012 Olympics zone development
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 12 May 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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The Capital unit is one of four on the new site that features Passivent's award-winning mixed mode system, which focuses on harnessing natural forces to efficiently ventilate the building, supplemented as appropriate by air conditioning to give fresh air and total environmental control.
The Passivent system is the leading element of several sustainable strategies being utilised by Capital, including photovoltaic technology and solar water heating.
Combined, they obtained a BREEAM assessment rating of 'very good', and have reduced Capital's carbon emissions by 12.7% compared to the Government target of 10%.
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At Capital, the Passivent ventilation comprises 16 x Aircool wall ventilators, which draw fresh air into the ground and first floor offices and first floor meeting room, where nine suspended ceiling louvres draw the fresh air across the depth of the room and exhaust 'used' air up concealed ducting to nine Airstract high capacity roof terminals.
The system enables finite occupant control via individual room over-rides, internal temperature sensors and carbon dioxide sensors, linked to an external weather station that monitors the external air temperature, wind speed and direction.
The entire ventilation strategy is controlled by a programmable logic controller, which constantly monitors air temperature and quality within the building and adjusts ventilation levels as required.
Should internal temperatures rise above or below presets, the system triggers the air conditioning and then controls it to ensure it runs only long enough to achieve the pre-determined comfort level.
Passivent natural ventilation systems focus around a combination of cross ventilation, convection (warm air rising) and the venturi (wind passing over the terminals causing suction) effect .
Harnessing these natural forces enables the system to effectively and constantly ventilate a building with little energy consumption.
Because the system operates constantly, it provides 'free' night cooling when the building is unoccupied, removing unwanted heat build up and reducing the need for energy consumption by up to 40% the following day to bring the interior to the required air temperature and quality.
Natural ventilation is also proven to reduce incidence of 'sick building syndrome' and improve staff performance.
Tests by Brunel University showed Passivent's mixed mode system produces energy savings of 41% over a conventional air conditioning and ventilation system.
Natural ventilation systems further yield 75% savings on maintenance costs, and eliminate the need for a separate plant room.
Rav Gill of Capital Print commented, "As a company we have long been committed to choosing the most environmentally-friendly path, so the relocation gave us an opportunity to custom-build and incorporate features designed to conserve power and minimise carbon emissions".
"Passivent's mixed mode system gave us a low carbon solution to ensure all our offices and meeting rooms are well ventilated throughout but always at a comfortable temperature- neither too hot in the heat of summer, or too cold in the depths of winter".
Passivent is part of the Building Product Design Group and is the UK's leading designer and supplier of natural ventilation systems for both domestic and commercial applications.
The company is a founder member of the NatVent EC-EU-funded project co-ordinated by the Building Research establishment to develop practical natural ventilation solutions for the commercial sector, and has also contributed to the BISRIA Guide BG2/2005 Wind Driven Natural Ventilation Systems. Request a free brochure from Passivent ...
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