In developing a world-class teaching environment, Desertcreat Joint Public Services College has high environmental aspirations with intent to achieve carbon neutrality. The project is targeted to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and seeks to ensure that 30% of energy use is supplied from renewable sources.
Desertcreat Joint Public Services College is a new shared training facility on a site covering 210 acres that includes classrooms and specialist training centres. Our analysis of renewable energy indicates that the 30% renewable energy target can be met through on site biomass heating. This can be supplemented through the use of wind turbines and off site biomass fuel production to achieve overall carbon neutrality for the site. It is anticipated that this will be further supplemented through the use of ground source heat pumps, ground water cooling and remote coupled thermal mass such as labyrinths and earth ducts.
As part of the sustainable development of the energy and utility consumption, the principle of passive survivability will be applied. Sustainability inherently supports the principle of survivability by ensuring the development minimises its reliance on resources external to the site. By harnessing and maximising the use of on site resources there is therefore an inherent survivability built into the site.
