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Deep Energy Retrofit of the Enterprise Building

1 Jun 2023

Deep Energy Retrofit plan for the Enterprise Building

Over the summer of 2023 and 2024 the Enterprise building in our North Mall campus will undergo a deep energy retrofit that will reduce the building's energy use by 60% while also providing a more comfortable environment for our students and staff.

Under the HEA pathfinder program UCC applied for and secured 75% of the funding required to undertake the deep energy retrofit of the Enterprise building and install a ground source heating system. The HEA Pathfinder funding program seeks to test a range of building retrofit approaches to build evidence and capability in the sector, and to inform decisions as larger scale decarbonisation programmes are rolled out in the future.

Design Goals:

A design team, led by Butler Cammoranesi Architects, were appointed in late 2021 and following the criteria set by the pathfinder program, the team submitted a detailed design scheme to UCC and HEA which would bring the building from a D2 to B1 energy rating.

Following further consultation with the HEA the final design for this pathway project will involve:

  • Wrapping the building in external insulation.
  • Installation of new double glazed windows.
  • Improve the air tightness levels within the building.
  • Installation of mechanical and passive ventilation systems.
  • Installation of ground source heat pump to meet 100% of the buildings heating needs.

Once completed the buildings energy consumption should reduce by 60% while the carbon emissions will reduce by 68%. With the installation of heat pumps to deliver 100% of the heating load, the Enterprise will become our first large building to be taken off the gas network.

 

Image shows the Hydrological conditions for deployment of ground source heat pump at the enterprise

During the detailed design and energy challenge phase other options were considered such as the installation of roof top PV arrays and smart sensing. To facilitate the installation of a roof mounted PV array it was determined the roof would require a complete replacement to match the lifespan of the PV array. While a PV system could generate over 85,000 kWh per year, the decision was made to postpone the investment until the existing roof requires complete refurbishment in the coming decade.

 

 

 

 

Impact of the interventions required to achieve the BER B rating

Construction Timelines:

Following a competitive tender process Conack construction were awarded the contract and in May the team mobilised to site. Given the extent of works to be completed the project will be phased over two summers and should be finished by September 2024.

Congratulations to the Building & Estates office, the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Applied Psychology for securing funding to complete the project, which is supported by the HEA and the Project Ireland 2040 program.

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