Date issued: 24 March 2022
Plans to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of Colchester Borough Council’s head office have moved a step closer, with the appointment of M3 Design Development Ltd to deliver Phase 1 of a major refurbishment project.
The firm, which was chosen following an open procurement process, is set to begin work that will transform Rowan House and equip the building with state-of-the-art green technology to help achieve a net zero carbon footprint for council services by 2030.
Some £527K of funding secured from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme last year will be used to install a state-of-the-art heating system and new LED lighting.
The Phase 1 works, which are expected to last six months, will also include plumbing repairs, water supply upgrades, door access control, and ICT cabling.
Central to the project is an energy-efficient heat exchange system* powered by electricity, which will replace the current boiler and has a much lower carbon footprint than gas. This will be combined with a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system that uses warm air from inside the building to pre-heat cooler air entering from the outside, thus preventing heat loss from having to open windows to provide ventilation.
Energy-efficient LEDs will help reduce electricity consumption associated with lighting and extra roof insulation will also be installed to reduce heat loss, while a new building management system will provide a constant temperature and help ensure the air source heat pump is used efficiently.
The new heating system is expected to save an estimated 108.7 tonnes of CO2e and the LED lighting 30.9 tonnes of CO2e, per annum, contributing significantly towards the council’s climate emergency pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
The project will make significant contributions to several other key elements of the council’s Strategic Vision, including leading on sustainability, improving air quality, encouraging green technologies and innovative solutions to the climate emergency, and ensuring the council’s assets continue to contribute to economic growth and opportunity.
Cllr Sue Lissimore, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Deputy Leader of Colchester Borough Council, said: “I’m delighted that with the appointment of M3 Design Development Ltd, work to decarbonise and transform Rowan House can now begin in earnest. This major refurbishment will bring a significant reduction in our CO2 emissions and represents another significant step towards the council becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
“Our Climate Emergency pledge commits us do all we can and to lead the way with investments that will help us reduce our carbon footprint. As a council we are fully committed to meeting, and where possible exceeding, our environmental obligations and have already embraced progressive, award-winning policies to help minimise our impact on climate change and the wider environment.
“Once completed, this ambitious project will make Rowan House much greener and more suited to new ways of working in a post-Covid world.”
Plans to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of Colchester Borough Council’s head office have moved a step closer, with the appointment of M3 Design Development Ltd to deliver Phase 1 of a major refurbishment project.
The firm, which was chosen following an open procurement process, is set to begin work that will transform Rowan House and equip the building with state-of-the-art green technology to help achieve a net zero carbon footprint for council services by 2030.
Some £527K of funding secured from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme last year will be used to install a state-of-the-art heating system and new LED lighting.
The Phase 1 works, which are expected to last six months, will also include plumbing repairs, water supply upgrades, door access control, and ICT cabling.
Central to the project is an energy-efficient heat exchange system* powered by electricity, which will replace the current boiler and has a much lower carbon footprint than gas. This will be combined with a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system that uses warm air from inside the building to pre-heat cooler air entering from the outside, thus preventing heat loss from having to open windows to provide ventilation.
Energy-efficient LEDs will help reduce electricity consumption associated with lighting and extra roof insulation will also be installed to reduce heat loss, while a new building management system will provide a constant temperature and help ensure the air source heat pump is used efficiently.
The new heating system is expected to save an estimated 108.7 tonnes of CO2e and the LED lighting 30.9 tonnes of CO2e, per annum, contributing significantly towards the council’s climate emergency pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
The project will make significant contributions to several other key elements of the council’s Strategic Vision, including leading on sustainability, improving air quality, encouraging green technologies and innovative solutions to the climate emergency, and ensuring the council’s assets continue to contribute to economic growth and opportunity.
Cllr Sue Lissimore, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Deputy Leader of Colchester Borough Council, said: “I’m delighted that with the appointment of M3 Design Development Ltd, work to decarbonise and transform Rowan House can now begin in earnest. This major refurbishment will bring a significant reduction in our CO2 emissions and represents another significant step towards the council becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
“Our Climate Emergency pledge commits us do all we can and to lead the way with investments that will help us reduce our carbon footprint. As a council we are fully committed to meeting, and where possible exceeding, our environmental obligations and have already embraced progressive, award-winning policies to help minimise our impact on climate change and the wider environment.
“Once completed, this ambitious project will make Rowan House much greener and more suited to new ways of working in a post-Covid world.”
* Mitsubishi Hybrid VRF System
Page last reviewed: 24 March 2022