As it’s New Years Day, and therefore a slow news day, the national newspapers pick up on the most unusual stories they can find – today is no exception!
A Thermal Image of London
Apparently an analysis by the Guardian Newspaper of Government figures just released, shows that certain public buildings across the UK are very environmentally unfriendly (helpfully they include a thermal image of London to highlight this). There are a number of hospitals at the top of the list – including our own QMC hospital here in Nottingham. How can this be? It’s relatively modern?
QMC Nottingham
Well, one has to look at how the buildings are assessed to arrive at the “energy efficiency figure” used by the paper. For the purposes of this data the information is from the DEC (Display Energy certificate) that all public buildings are now required to provide. However the fabric of the building does not form a part of this assessment – i.e. how well the walls, windows etc all manage heat gain and loss (the real measure of how efficient the building actually is). The actual energy used is the main item in the DEC calculation – taken from actual fuel usage bills (unlike an EPC which measures the efficiency of the building and not its actual energy usage).
If one looks at the data from the Guardian it is apparent that large public buildings are the worst offenders – hospitals in particular. But this is not a level playing field!
For example a sports centre is a large public building with many similar features to a hospital. But much of the building is not heated (sports halls, squash courts) plus it is not in 24 hour use.
The average school – which the Guardian believes are performing better – is not open for a number of weeks a year. All schools also have very tight budgets to work to. As Chair of Governors at Edwalton Primary I am only too aware that energy use is monitored closely at all schools, but this is partly due to a lack of money! Monitoring is also becoming far more common in schools as the environmental agenda forms a bigger part of the school ethos.
But a hospital is in 24 hour use, it also will be heated to a much higher degree, there will be air movement systems and air conditioning to name a few high energy demands placed upon it.
Consequently to produce a low energy using hospital is very difficult – and even a modern hospital will be high on any list due to its use! Consequently improving the efficiency of public buildings must be a high priority for us. But we need to be aware that certain uses will always use more energy.
More importantly we need to analyse the correct data before making any sweeping statements! The DEC is not the best gauge of a building to do this, a full energy assessment would provide a better indication of the efficiency of the energy used.
Yet another example of great British journalism?
UPDATE – 17th January 2010
Nottingham University Hospital have today launched a program called “Little Changes, Big Impact” in an effort to save energy by introducing energy saving measures by staff to try and reduce QMC’s CO2 emissions.
Tim GARRATT
January 1, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Spud, QMC was built in 1972? Thats a long time ago in building technology terms. Although it has a high thermal mass (concrete city) my recollection is that there is single glazing and a relatively ‘cold’ construction. I agree that this is not a level playing field at all. A bit like comparing a car from 19272 with one from today – and trying to compare their ‘efficiency’. As you say – clearly not much around in the way of news stories…
spuddey
January 1, 2010 at 6:04 pm
I accept the age thing – but to compare building ‘efficiency’ using this data is just wrong! The Guardian have the right motive, they have just approached it at half cock!