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An ‘Outstanding’ building - a BREEAM case study
The University of Exeter’s Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) leads cutting-edge research into solutions
to problems of environmental change; in so doing, we are enhancing people's lives by improving their relationships
with the environment. We engage with hundreds of businesses in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and beyond to
translate research and expertise across the research themes into innovative business practice, products and
services.
Such work requires an exceptional building.
Located at the University’s Penryn Campus near Falmouth (which is
shared and jointly managed with Falmouth University in a pioneering
arrangement) the £30 million ESI features a diverse range of
interdisciplinary research facilities including three laboratories, a
research hall, a workshop, a creative studio and conference and
meeting facilities in a central interactive space. It has been enabled with
a £22.9 million investment from the European Union’s European
Regional Development Fund and £6.6 million from the South West
Regional Development Agency.
BREEAM rating and score
The ESI achieved a design stage (DS) BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating
with a score of 91.57%. It is anticipated that this success will be
exceeded at the post construction stage (PCS) with a final score of
94.33%. The increase is due to the achievement of additional credits for
two approved innovations as well as an improved ‘as built’ energy
performance certificate (EPC) rating.
Key innovative and low-impact design features
Energy consumption and CO2 emissions
Opportunities to reduce regulated and unregulated energy consumption were identified during the design and
construction. The ESI utilises a number of energy saving strategies including:
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ultra high levels of insulation were installed including triple glazing with a U-value of just 0.9W/m /K,
300mm of floor insulation and 250mm of roof insulation with U-values of 0.05 and 0.07 respectively
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an air permeability rating of just 2.72m /hr/m at 50Pa against a Building Regulations requirement of 10 – a
real achievement for the construction
ultra low loss transformer
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water cooled heat rejection from -80 c freezers
heat reclaim from freezer room
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a massive 120m buried water “coolth” tank to allow coolth to be generated overnight (when it is most
efficient to do so as external air temperatures are at their lowest) and stored ready to be used during the
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following day. These initiatives have resulted in energy consumption of just 36.39kWh/m /yr against a
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target of 78.37kWh/m /yr.
In addition, excess waste energy (including heat from fridges and freezers in the laboratories) has been harnessed
to power the Controlled Temperature Rooms. This has resulted in:
a reduction from 132tonnes of CO2/yr (traditional approach) to just 8tonnes of CO 2/yr
reduction in electrical demand from 181,687kWh/yr (traditional approach) to 16,352kWh/yr
utilisation of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) for process cooling (as well as building cooling) via an
absorption chiller, subsequently saving 76,7691kWh/yr.
Low or zero carbon technologies
The ESI features a number of low or zero carbon technologies, including:
a 210kWe thermal-led gas CHP engine coupled with an 8,000ltr buffer vessel ensures that system energy
efficiency is maximised with needless heat rejection eliminated
the CHP engine provides heat for hot water, heating and by utilising an absorption chiller, heat for cooling.
An absorption chiller provides building (laboratory) cooling and a second absorption chiller provides cooling
for process demands
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250m of high output roof-mounted photovoltaics.
This combination of innovative technologies and approaches achieved a 23.34% reduction in CO 2 emissions (in
comparison to conventional technologies) while the CHP engine enabled maximum BREEAM credits for low NOx
emissions of below 40mg/kWh.
Our space
the total area of the ESI building and all landscaping: 1.6216 hectares
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gross floor area: 3,350m
Areas
the Creative Space: 21m2
a conference room (the Trevithick Room): 35m2
a second floor laboratory: 226m2
a first floor laboratory: 460m2
a clean technology laboratory: 35m2
a cold/freezer rooms: 48m2
a microscope/tissue culture facilities: 87m2
the Interactive Space including the Café: 207m2
shared work areas, and offices (including write-up areas and academic workspaces): 826m2
meeting rooms (the Davies Gilbert Room, the Elizabeth Carne Room and the Frederick Davy Room): 53m2
the Research Hall and Workshop: 263m2
area of circulation: 290m2
area of storage: 20m2
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Innovative construction management techniques
A number of innovative construction management techniques, many focused on waste management, were used
during the construction process to reduce environmental impacts, including:
during the construction of the ESI, no non-hazardous waste was sent to landfill
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overall, just 4.16 tonnes per 100m waste was recorded during the build, exceeding the BREEAM resource
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efficiency benchmark of <4.7 tonnes per 100m
the project achieved maximum BREEAM credit for waste management and an additional exemplary credit
the project was the first undertaken by The Leadbitter Group with the aim of no non-hazardous waste to
landfill
the waste management strategy included use of supplier ‘take-back’ schemes (including packaging) and
required that suppliers proved re-use
non-hazardous, non-recyclable waste was sent to a waste-to-energy plant for incineration
during construction, The Leadbitter Group maximised the use of materials containing recycled and waste
by products. This included the use of recycled water and secondary aggregate in all concrete, recycled
content in the steel reinforcement and the use of an innovative Green Guide A+ rated precast plank and
recycled plastic void formers in the floor structures. The materials used in the floors minimised the quantity
of concrete required, whilst also reducing the overall weight of the structure.
In addition, the following initiatives were also undertaken:
sub-bases used locally sourced secondary aggregates from the china-clay industry
an on-site mortar silo ensured that mortar was mixed to meet daily requirements, minimising wastage
responsible sourcing of materials from manufacturers certified to ISO14001, BES6001 or FSC/PEFC
achieved three BREEAM credits. BRE confirms only 8% of schemes had previously gained such credits.
Other key technical and working practice achievements include:
35,000ltr rainwater harvesting tank (twice the normal BREEAM-compliant size) combined with low water
use sanitary ware
comprehensive transport analysis resulted in a new bus interchange for the campus, facilities for cyclists,
and contractors’ park and ride and car sharing schemes
the majority of building elements specified achieved Green Guide A or A+ rating
all insulation products procured achieved A or A+ rating and were sourced from manufacturers with
ISO14001
a Considerate Constructors score of 37.5
key internal finishes and fittings used materials with low volatile organic compound (VOC) levels
high-efficiency lighting switched through presence detectors, daylight dimming sensors and absence
detectors. A significant proportion of the lighting installed in the ESI uses low consumption, light-emitting
diodes (LED).
naturally ventilated building - maximum BREEAM credits achieved for specification of ventilation systems
energy and water metering
ultra low loss transformer
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water-cooled heat rejection from -80 c freezers
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Our achievements in context
Measure Benchmark Achieved Saving/Improvement
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Emissions rate 34.9kgCO2/m /yr 9.4kgCO2/m /yr 73%
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Energy 78.37kWh/m /yr 36.39kWh/m /yr 53%
consumption
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Air permeability 5m /hr/m at 50Pa 2.72m /hr/m at 50Pa 2.28m /hr/m at 50Pa
rating
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Glazing U-value 1.8W/m /K 0.9W/m /K 50%
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Floor insulation 0.22W/m /K 0.05W/m /K 78%
(300mm)
U-value
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Roof insulation 0.18W/m /K 0.07W/m /K 62%
(250mm)
U-value
Controlled 132tonnes of CO2/yr 8tonnes of CO2/yr 94%
temperature rooms Elec. demand for cooling 16,352kWh/yr 91%
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(120m coolth tank 181,687kWh/yr
and absorption
chiller making use
of waste heat)
Our costs and labour
Over half of the products and services, and more than a third of the
labour workforce required in the construction of the ESI, were sourced
from within a 20 mile radius of the Penryn Campus. A breakdown of
the location of spend, and domicile locations of our labour workforce is
shown to the right and below:
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basic building cost: £1,389/m
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services costs: £1,325m
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external works: £99/m
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gross floor area: 3,350m
Our social contribution to the local community
A key facet of the ESI is that our activities should be accessible to and engage the local community. As such, the
Institute regularly organises events and opportunities for members of the public to attend, and participate in
research and activities led by the ESI. The following examples are indicative of the type of public events we have
delivered within the building to date (dates given are press release issue):
21/03/14- Art and science collaboration explores Cornwall’s mining heritage
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Cornwall’s illustrious mining heritage has provided the inspiration for a special collaboration between a local artist
and University of Exeter scientist.
www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/news/title_365003_en.html
05/03/14- Cornish pond owners recruited for study into frog killing diseases
Pond owners across Cornwall are being sought by a student at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus who is
conducting research into whether two deadly frog diseases can be found in the county.
www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/news/title_360461_en.html
13/02/14- Research and creative industries workshop for creative practitioners
Creative practitioners are invited to the University of Exeter’s Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) on
Monday 7 April to learn more about how they can work with universities and academic researchers to support and
develop their creative practice.
www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/news/title_356459_en.html
24/01/2014- Leading university researchers to deliver talks at local aquarium
Falmouth Aquarium, in collaboration with the University of Exeter, is hosting a series of public lectures from
January which will see leading researchers discussing topical issues from climate change and food security to how
we can reduce our own individual energy usage.
www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/news/title_353059_en.html
8/11/2013- Exhibition reveals night-time photography
An exhibition of images made during full moon night walks in the summer by local residents is now on display at
the University of Exeter’s Environment and Sustainability Institute.
www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/news/title_333815_en.html
14/10/2013- Exhibition and ‘swish’ event mark new sustainable fashion collaboration
The University of Exeter’s Environment and Sustainability Institute and Falmouth University have celebrated their
new sustainable fashion collaboration with a ‘stylish’ event.
www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/news/title_325656_en.html
5/08/2013- Public urged to have a say in developing bioenergy policy and priorities
Local people are invited to the University of Exeter’s Environment and Sustainability Institute on Thursday 18 July
to join researchers and the BBSRC (the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) in an interactive
session to help determine the future of bioenergy policy in the UK.
www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/news/title_305376_en.html
31/05/2013- Creative exchange event for local artists
Local artists are invited to the University of Exeter’s Environment and Sustainability Institute on Wednesday 26
June to take part in the second Creative Exchange Programme’s Melting Pot.
www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/news/title_294154_en.html
10/05/2013- Cornwall Campus hosts leading environmentalist
The University of Exeter Cornwall Campus recently welcomed British campaigner, writer, sustainability advisor and
leading environmentalist Tony Juniper as part of the promotional tour for the release of his new book - What has
Nature Ever Done For Us? How Money Does Really Grow on Trees.
www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/news/title_290165_en.html
25/04/2013- Opening of Environment and Sustainability Institute inspires next generation of researchers
The Environment and Sustainability Institute, a £30 million environmental research institute at the University of
Exeter’s Cornwall campuses was formally opened on Tuesday 23 April by more than 120 local school children.
www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/news/title_282567_en.html
20/03/2013- Free communicating green agenda event for local businesses
Local businesses are invited to a day of free talks and workshops showing them how to create and communicate
their environmental messages successfully to customers and the public. The event takes place at the University of
Exeter’s Environment and Sustainability Institute, Cornwall Campus on Friday 19 April.
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www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/news/title_275805_en.html
21/02/2013- Melting Pot event stirs cross-sector inspiration
The University of Exeter’s Environment and Sustainability Institute hosted the inaugural meeting of the Creative
Exchange Programme’s Melting Pot on 30 January 2013. The event brought together local artists and creative
practitioners with academics and professionals from the University of Exeter and Falmouth University.
www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/news/title_260688_en.html
% area of grounds to be used by community - 100% (the Penryn Campus has several public rights of way
across it)
% area of buildings to be used by community – 8%
While the majority of the building is dedicated to research, the ground floor meeting rooms and Interactive Space
are used extensively by visitors to the building including local businesses.
Anticipating our future environmental credentials
Predicted electricity consumption: 52.37kWh/m2
Predicted fossil fuel consumption: 22.76 kWh/m2
Predicted renewable energy generation: 15.36 kWh/m2
Predicted water use: 3.82m3/person/yr
Predicted water use to be provided by rainwater: 13.5%
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The ESI in pictures
Images: Sana Fisher Payne courtesy of BDP, and Tim Pestridge.
The courtyard
The entrance to the ESI
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The north wing
The south wing Detail of the brise soleil (sun-shades)
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View from the second floor balcony View across the atrium from the first floor
The Interactive Space
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The Research Hall
The second floor laboratory
Keep in touch
To find out more about the ESI, our building and research, please visit www.exeter.ac.uk/esi
Download our brief guide ‘An outstanding building and facilities’ at www.exeter.ac.uk/esi/resources
Image galleries, tracking the construction of the building through photos, are available on our Facebook
page at www.facebook.com/exeteruniesi
You can follow our ongoing developments, news, and updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/uniofexeter
