Gale & Snowden Architects Ltd
RIBA Awards 2012
1.1 Introduction The project is a new state of the art extra care facility for the elderly, with a dementia unit, in Exeter, Devon, for Exeter City Council (ECC). The research work involved designing for climate change adaptation (CCA) and was funded by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and ECC. The research work was completed in December 2011. The research work involved building professionals, academic institutes and a public sector client led by Gale & Snowden Architects.
Figure 1 St Loyes Extra Care Facility
Page 1 of 3
It involved an integrated unique CCA design approach involving a range of experts in their respective field. To date 14 scientific papers have been produced that have influenced the building design as well as a range of architectural adaptation design details. They have wider implications for other similar building types and user groups. 1.3 Research Aims and Objectives The research seeks to achieve the following new knowledge and understanding: An understanding of the following effects of climate change on the building and its occupants: internal and external temperatures unstable and fluctuating temperatures heat stress in individuals increased weather severity – higher driving wind and rain increased air pollution increased UV and fabric damage increased incidents of flooding and droughts – wetter winters / drier summers
1.2 Research Questions What is the level of risk to occupants and the building in future weather scenarios? Can care homes be designed passively taking into account climate change? Is Passivhaus design a suitable strategy? – 2 super insulation and designing to 15 kWh/m /yr heat loss What are the most cost effective and practical CCA strategies for the building and when should they be implemented? What issues other than overheating might affect comfort and health – pollution, pollen etc? What role can plants, landscape and permaculture play in changing climates? Building CCA issues – water, flooding, UV damage, wind, driving rain These questions are original because: This work has not been undertaken before in the UK for a care facility for elderly vulnerable people.
Develop CCA strategies for care facilities and their occupants to cost effectively respond to predicted future weather scenarios which: maintain internal and external thermal comfort ensure a robust construction methodology ensure a robust water management strategy
th
Figure 2 Exeter Temperatures 2080 50 percentile
Temperature (°C)
This work builds on the report undertaken by Bill Gething for the TSB entitled ‘Design for Future Climate Change’.
36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Date: Sat 01/May to Sat 30/Oct Dry-bulb temperature: (WG_2080_2950095_a1fi_50_percentile_DSY.epw)
RIBA Awards 2012
1.4 Research Context Following analysis of the future weather data from the Exeter University ‘Prometheus project’ and climate change risk assessments, it was decided that a key emphasis of this research work was to address the issue of overheating for this vulnerable user group. The European heat wave of 2003 which claimed over 40,000 lives, 17,000 of these in the UK, highlighted the vulnerability of this group of people to the effects of warming climates. Particularly in Paris most deaths were associated with heat stress caused by overheating in buildings and the majority were elderly people.
Figure 3: CCA passive measures for St Loyes
Our research focused on designing the building passively and to be adaptable to climate change without the need to rely on energy intensive air conditioning systems. A range of future CCA strategies were researched. Thermal comfort strategies fell into three main camps: Passive – that could be incorporated during construction (cross ventilation, mass, night cooling, landscape and plants) or programmed in the future (shading, intelligent control). People centred – to help equip carers and residents with a better understanding of heat stress and how to mitigate it. Active strategies – these could employ low energy systems to actively compliment the above
Page 2 of 3 0
Figure 4: % of hrs internal temperatures > 25 C in 2050.
4.0% 3.5%
% hrs > 25 degC
Gale & Snowden Architects Ltd
S1 5% open S2 10% open
3.0% 2.5%
S3 5% vent cont
2.0%
S4 10% vent cont
1.5%
S5 5% shading
1.0%
S6 10% shading
0.5% 0.0%
S7 5% both S8 10% both
Figure 5: CCA active measures for St Loyes
Figure 6: Construction & Water Strategies
Gale & Snowden Architects Ltd
RIBA Awards 2012
1.5 Research Methods and Processes Adopted: Detailed climate change risk assessments at early concept stages. Dedicated CCA design workshops throughout RIBA stages. An innovative approach to the design process as it enabled the team to focus entirely on the CCA design Research into actual case study buildings in warmer climates followed by design team study tours. A balanced view was obtained on the practical lessons learnt abroad in addition to theoretical calculations. Research Passivhaus standard as a strategy to limit overheating
Page 3 of 3
Research into the role that plants, landscape and Permaculture can play. Assessing available weather data for increased weather severity – rain, wind, UV and flooding Lifecycle costing analysis for a range of CCA strategies Figure 9: CCA vs Standard Care Home - Cumulative Discounted Cash Flows
Figure 7: CFD Modelling of Courtyard & Plants Figure 10: Permaculture & Landscape Design
Thermally modelling a range of CCA (passive and active) strategies against high emission scenarios in 2030, 2050, 2080. A greater understanding was obtained on the effectiveness of different passive strategies in context with each other. Detailed Investigations into suitable overheating criteria for vulnerable user groups as this is lacking in UK guidelines. Figure 8: Thermal Modelling
1.6 Dissemination An extensive dissemination programme included: CIBSE Guide Supplement to TM36 Climate Change and the Indoor Environment: Impacts and Adaptation 2005 Inclusion in academic papers and CPD events via Exeter University Presentations at industry conferences e.g.: TSB conferences Presentations to public, client bodies and construction industry and local authorities Internet presence via web site and blog The feedback from local councils, care home providers and other industry professionals has been very positive. This research has already led to Devon County Council commissioning G&S to rewrite their care home design brief. It will eventually lead to a review of how care homes are designed. The project was completed in December 2011 and has recently been reviewed by the TSB. To date it has received no awards and hopefully this will be the first amongst many to come. The research work was featured at a TSB event at Ecobuild London in March 2012.