Resourceful Energy

An array of energy conservation strategies were employed along with alternative energy systems to reduce grid supplied energy demand.

Energy conservation strategies include:

• Building orientation and massing: The position and perforated form of the internal courtyard in the building promotes air movement through and around the courtyard.
• Natural earth as insulation: A substantial portion of the building is subterranean, lowering the difference between external and internal temperatures
• Material selection and colour: The building envelope is highly insulated and clad with efficient glazing and stone with high solar reflective index which coupled with the mass of the concrete structure is designed to minimize thermal loss / gain to yield energy efficient cool building.
• Day lighting: The building is oriented to maximize daylight inside the building. Recessed openingsand indirect skylights provide high quality natural light while avoiding excessive solar heat gain. Small aperture windows allow natural light while limiting heat transmission
• Landscape: The area surrounding the building will be vegetated with native species to protect and maintain the natural habitat of the bird species.
• Shading: Large cantilevered overhangprovide shade over the main entrance of the building. Retractable fabric shading devices will be used to cover the outdoor spaces and courtyard during summer.
• Cool-pipe technology: Earth integrated cool-pipe technology is used to take advantage of the temperature difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature deep below the ground surface to pre-coo the supply air before it is fed into the air conditioning system
• Active consideration of passive elements: Suspended concrete floors have embedded chilled water pipes (concrete core activation) to keep the heavy concrete mass cool reduce energy use by approximately 15%
• Enthalpy heat recovery wheel: Significantly reduces active cooling energy requirements Renewable energy strategies include:
• Solar cooling: Absorption chillers driven by solar thermal energy which provide significant portion of cooling
• Solar thermal: Domestic water heated by solar thermal collectors
• Photovoltaic power: Photovoltaic collectors covering the roof of the building will provide renewable source of green, emission free, electric power