Leicester Grammar and Leicester Grammar Junior Schools recently relocated to a purpose-built complex in South Leicestershire, which brings the two schools together on one 75 acre site to provide state-of-the-art educational facilities for boys and girls from the age of 3 up to 18.
The modern complex consists of a 13,500m² two-storey building, containing a reception, hall and refectory in addition to teaching accommodation. The main teaching block has a large, double-height library at the centre with 14 dedicated science laboratories, a lecture theatre, music school, a recording and drama studio as well as an assembly hall to seat 900.
The new facility required a reliable and energy-efficient heating and ventilation system to ensure the comfort of students and staff with lowest possible running costs, which has now been supplied by BG Controls in the form of a fully integrated BMS.
The system incorporated a number of sustainable technologies to minimise environmental impact and limit energy usage. It includes natural ventilation, which has been enabled through the integration of BACnet technology to the building’s windows and natural vent systems.
The school windows and natural vents are also connected to an under floor heating system via BACnet and room sensors send signals to the heating controllers to ensure that the heating is not activated in areas where windows or vents are open.
The BMS also enables an energy-efficient Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit. The CHP uses a gas supply to generate electricity to the school. Unlike traditional power generators, the waste heat that is produced by the generator engine is captured and then used to supply heating demand to the school and its Domestic Hot Water System (DHWS).
The controllers that BG fitted to the heating pumps, boilers and air handling units were provided by world leading developer of native BACnet automation systems, Delta Controls Inc of Canada.
A Delta ORCAweb server provides a web-based front end to connect the automated controllers to the Local Area Network (LAN). Facilities staff can connect to these web pages in order to view the current status of the BMS and make modifications when needed.
The Delta Controls equipment will provide considerable energy and cost savings to the school by eliminating the need to power a mechanically operated ventilation system. As a result, the environmental impact is minimal as the new building utilises natural resources through this eco-friendly solution.