The aim is to learn more about how energy predictions compare with actual performance.
The funding will come from the Technology Strategy Board as part of its efforts to stimulate technological innovation for low impact buildings.
The building at 2 St Paul’s Place in Sheffield is occupied by government employees working for the Department for Education; the Department for Business, Innovation, & Sciences, and the Schools Food Trust. It also has a rooftop restaurant and basement IT server room.
The evaluation will be led by Mott MacDonald’s technical director Eddie Murphy, who has 20 years’ experience in the design of low energy buildings. Work involves monitoring the in-use performance of the emissions of the occupied building for comparison with benchmark figures calculated in the early stage design thermal model. He will also be making comparisons with later design stages’ carbon emissions compliance calculation and operational cost prediction models.
“We are delighted to be awarded this funding which will enable us to evaluate the real post-occupancy performance of the building as well as develop a detailed operational plan and associated actions to reduce regulated and unregulated emissions,” said Murphy. “There is also the potential to widen the scope of the proposed study to include research into the sociological and behavioural effects of occupants on the carbon emissions from buildings.
“The findings of these studies should help establish greater confidence that design calculations undertaken will lead to predicted outcomes in use. And will help to set up financial and optimal carbon benchmarks for new building and refurbishment government projects."
Assessments of actual performance, particularly of the data centre, restaurant and office technology, will be compared against calculated design predictions. In addition, the effects of planned roll-out of new office technology will be checked.
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