Eco-building

[Nemesis]

This time schools, but no doubt the technology will be able to be translated to housing:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7513516.stm

 

[plumbers mate]

"Architects claim a new primary school will be so energy efficient that body heat will keep it warm."

But the 4x4s at the school gate will negate all that.

 

[Nemesis]

The transport from abroad won't help...

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Oh yeahhhhh?

I hope that the teachers will be able have a window open from timeto time--speaking from experience there is nothing worse than 'body heat' in a classroom of 30 pupils.

 

[Nemesis]

Maybe they aren't so smelly in Scotland...

 

[ljn]

The building looks like it's in the middle of the countryside, so everyone will be driving there, Right!

Britain has the pine, but not the technology, so the whole school has top be driven across Europe.

But in the colder months, they could feed beans to the students to pump the temperature up.

I've always found the idea of air-tight, pressure tested buildings unappealing.

 

[Flyfisher]

I've always found the idea of air-tight, pressure tested buildings unappealing.

Hear hear!

I trust these super-insulated buildings have adequate provision for ventilation. It's all very well being 'self-heating' due to the occupants but it would rather taint the eco-credentials if they have to resort to air-conditioning to keep the building habitable on the hotter days - or maybe they don't expect that problem in Scotland?

 

[Lime]

The idea of a totally sealed house/school/building is very unappealing.
However with the addition of suitable heat exchangers outside air can be brought in using the heat of the exhaust.
That is where the technology needs to make strides because heat exchangers are not that good.
Some only take a small proportion of lost heat from the exhaust while other more efficient varieties get dirty quite quickly and become inefficient.
Servicing cost time, money and lots of energy.
Also the idea of windows never being opened is an unpleasant one in situations where open windows bring immediate relief.
A child vomiting in the corridor or pooing pants will permeate everywhere and take time to clear in a sealed building.
Also it only takes one person suffering severe BO problems to clear the building.
When it really comes down to it, unless we (as joe public) are prepared to put up with the worst of our species sat in the same sealed room the whole idea tends to fail.

 

[Moo]

I wonder what was wrong with/what will happen to the old school building visible in the background of the opening shots?

 

[Flyfisher]

We've previously discussed ventilation standards that recommend room air should be changed 4x hourly (7x for areas prone to condensation, e.g. kitchens and bathrooms) so, presumably, the architects have taken this into account. Possibly the heat output from all those bodies is sufficient to provide sufficient heat even with the air being changed every 15 minutes? Indeed, perhaps the air must be changed at such a rate to prevent the temperature from rising too much? nevertheless, I tend to agree with Lime's concerns and would also add the issues of infection spread amongst the little darlings. I find it hard to believe this would not have been addressed; shame there was not a bit more detail about it in the article.

In terms of energy reduction, there does seem to be a conflict between ventilation and insulation. Heat exchangers (despite the reservations described by Lime) might be the answer for new builds but installing such systems in existing buildings seems very disruptive from my understanding of the necessary ducting etc and almost certainly not very sympathetic to period properties. Not an easy issue.

 

[Nemesis]

I do think sustainability issues should consider continuing use of an existing building. However, that's not fashionable at the moment, where schools are concerned. The existing seems to me to fit into the landscape rather better too.

In the village where I live, a new elementary school was built in the 19th century, in stone, courtesy partly of the C of E and Lord of the Manor, on the site of the village tithe barn. That was made redundant by an earlier Act, and the people who lived in my house in fact rented it, and the surrounding land, in the 19th century, from the Lord of the Manor.

A brand spanky new CLASP building, which fitted into the existing landscape not at all, adjacent to the listed church, was built in the late nineteen sixties. The existing was sold off for a house. It still stands, the CLASP building had to be replaced about fifteen years' ago, it was in such a poor state.

I suspect when the latest school is long gone, the existing, slate roof, thick stone walls and all, will still be standing.

 

[worms]

A bit more info at: http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/newsreleases/2008/July/2008-07-17-03.htm
and a background to the community and its aspirations at http://www.sunartoakwoods.org.uk/index.htm

 

[Nemesis]

Thanks for that.

Maybe of course keeping the windows shut will keep the midges out, too.

My first bite arrived yesterday.

 

[worms]

My first bite arrived yesterday.

19th May for me!

 

[Nemesis]

Ours are late this year, I think possibly drowned...