Sustainability Unit

Desert People Centre

Sustainability Unit has been involved with the Desert Peoples Centre from the beginning of the concept design incorporating energy efficiency and ecological sustainable development principles into the design process.

Working on this project highlighted that to achieve the best possible outcomes it is of paramount importance that environmental design opportunities are identified and analysed as early as possible in the design process.

Dynamic energy modelling was used to test available options against ideal energy targets throughout the concept design process. Modelling of a typical teaching building found that a reduction in energy consumption of approximately 50%, compared with a ‘Business As usual’ design, was possible, and justifiable for some teaching buildings on a least life cycle cost basis.

Some of the energy use reduction strategies recommended were:

• Fully automated natural ventilation when conditions allow (30% of the year during office hours)
• Night purge ventilation in summer
• Widening temperature control band of 21-25 degrees Celsius (whilst maintaining high levels of comfort using cool surface temperatures)
• Reverse cycle ground source heat pump (geothermal air onditioning)
• Variable air volume control and terminal boxes
• Pre-cooling of air through:
  • A thermal labyrinth(draw air in under slabs to be raised above flood levels)
• Indirect evaporative pre-conditioner utilising exhaust air (heat recovery) from the building – water use needs careful consideration however