Devils Tower Road

Project description

A mixed-use development in Devil's Tower Road comprising of commercial, storage, car parking, residential accommodation and ancillary uses.

Architect

ARC Designs Ltd

We prepared an Environmental Statement, Sustainability and Energy Savings Report for the development, including a predictive EPC to support ARC Designs Ltd and the developer with the planning permission application. Following close work with the architects and developers, we were able to propose several energy efficient measures for the building to lower its impact on the environment.

The Aim

To comply with the nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) regulations of Gibraltar, i.e., the building must achieve an energy rating of A12 and 50% of its energy must come from a renewable source.

Finding & Solutions

EPC Rating (predictive): A17 with potential to achieve A15

Building Energy Use: 34 KWH/m1/year

Building Emission Rate: 17 kgCO2/m2/year

Passive design measures:

Natural ventilation throughout the building by ensuring openable windows in all habitable rooms.
Plenty of daylight from windows from all faces of the building and internal well.
Low U-values of building elements such as walls and glazing.
Moveable internal and external shading to minimise solar heat gains in summer but maximise in winter.

Active engineering measures:

Heat recovery multi-split, air source heat pumps for heating and cooling with SCOPs of up to 4.3.
Air source heat pumps for hot water production with SCOP of up to 3.35.
LED Lighting throughout with timers, occupancy and daylight sensors.
Electric vehicle charging points.

Renewable technologies:

Solar roof tiles for on-site electricity production - 42.3 kWp system generating approximately 56,534 kWh a year and saving 40 tonnes of CO2e a year.

Water conservation and recycling:

Agreywater recycling system by Hydraloop - to collect water from showers/baths and reuse for rooftop poop top up and cleaning decked area. Saving 2300 litres/day.