velta Helps Create Carbon Neutral Building

18/07/2009

Surface heating and cooling specialist, velta, installed an in-situ solution to help Rotherham’s ground breaking Environmental Energy Technology Centre (EETC) ensure it is a carbon neutral building.

The concrete core activation system, velta Thermo-Active Building Systems (TABS), utilises the excellent thermal properties of structural concrete and was installed as a stand alone heating and cooling system.

TABS is a high comfort, energy efficient heating and cooling system with the added benefits of being invisible and silent. It was deemed the most suitable system to use with renewable energy sources to provide the benefits of reduced carbon emissions and running cost.

Pre-fabricated velta modules were lifted to site and installed prior to the installation of the upper reinforcement mesh. This ensured fast installation on site and caused no delays to the building programme.

Harsh site conditions during the construction can be very demanding for the pipes, requiring top-quality material. The velta PE-Xa pipe made from high pressure cross linked polyethylene according to the Engel process has adequate rupture strength even under high mechanical stress to withstand these site demands.

Located within Rotherham’s Advanced Manufacturing Park, the EETC is carbon neutral due to power generated by a 225 kW wind turbine attached to the largest mini hydrogen grid system in Europe. The building will provide incubation and support for growing technology businesses.

Gerald Kemp, Managing Director of velta commented: “A modular in-situ installation is ideal for projects where time is at a premium. The choice of a TABS system in this instance employs the thermal properties of the concrete specified for construction rather than introducing further conducting materials into the build. This keeps costs and carbon emissions down to a minimum.”