The University of Cambridge is dedicated to reducing its environmental impact and is equally committed to leading by example. Subsequently, the University’s brief stipulated that the building and its environment would be designed with renewable and sustainable principles being of key priority – “under no circumstances will the use of artificial cooling be permitted.” In this respect, David Bedwell & Partners worked closely with Monodraught to engineer a scheme which not only met the University’s performance criteria and strong sustainability ethos, but also the thermal comfort levels expected by the building’s occupants including in-house Architects and Engineers.

Cool-Phase is a low energy cooling, heat-recovery and ventilation system that creates a comfortable, natural and healthy indoor environment whilst significantly reducing running costs (in this particular instance by approximately 90% when compared to a conventional cooling system.) The system works on the principles of adaptive thermal comfort, controlling temperatures within a “thermally comfortable” bandwidth and gives end-users more flexibility in controlling their environment.

Cool-Phase uses a thermal energy store utilising a Phase Change Material (PCM) in conjunction with intelligently controlled air handling units to actively ventilate and cool the building. The BEMS constantly records data from 30No data loggers enabling close control of the building’s environment with such data utilised to provide an audit of performance as part of the post-occupancy analysis.

Extent of Mechanical Services:

• Incoming utilities – gas and water
• LPHW heating – gas fired condensing boilers
• Monodraught “Cool-Phase” materials – providing comfort cooling / heat-recovery.
• Monodraught “Wind-Catcher” natural ventilation
• Domestic H&C water services – including HWS solar panels
• Automatic Control Systems – associated BEMS

Extent of Electrical Services:

• Incoming utilities - electrical power / site transformer
• High efficiency lighting and emergency lighting
• Electrical small power
• Fire alarm installation
• Door entry, CCTV and security systems
• Photo-voltaic solar panels mounted at roof level
• Landscape lighting