Preserving History, Reducing Carbon: How a Grade II Listed Town Hall is Leading the Way

 Duligong Honid

Building Decarbonisation, Energy Efficiency, Historic Buildings

Client: Confidential

 

 

 

 

The Brief

Tomson Consulting Limited (TCL) was asked to identify and estimate the impact of greenhouse gas reduction measures emissions associated with energy and water consumption at a Grade II listed town hall. TCL assessed current energy management and provided opportunities to reduce consumption of energy on site. Simultaneously, we identified greenhouse gas emissions savings associated with making changes to features such as building fabrics, space and hot water heating and lighting A key recommendation highlighted the possibility to substitute most or all of the space and hot water heating with heat supplied from alternative low carbon technologies.

If all of TCL's recommendations are fully implemented, it is estimated that greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs would be reduced by 83% and 48% respectively when compared to the business as usual scenario.

 

 

 

Areas

Building decarbonisation in the UK

Key Stakeholders

Local Council, Construction Sector

 

Opportunites

  • Reduce the quantity, carbon emissions and costs associated with energy and water consumption through improvements in building fabrics, space and hot water heating infrastructure and lighting
  • Substitute the existing natural gas and electric space and hot water heating with electrically powered air-to-water source heat pumps, which were considered the most appropriate commercially available heating technology available for the Town Hall

Challenges

  • Sufficient air exchange is maintained to prevent the accumulation of moisture within the building or within the building elements (wall, floor, roof etc.)
  • Materials and techniques are used which minimise the risk of moisture accumulation within the building fabric
  • The visual impact is minimised from outside and within the building
  • The choice of materials and methods are in keeping with or sympathetic to the existing building fabric and its construction

 

 

Outcomes

 

Identified practical and potentially cost-effective opportunities to reduce carbon emissions associated with electricity and heating fuel consumption at the Town Hall

 

Appraised potential opportunities against site-specific requirements, the listed status and unique appearance of the Town Hall, potential energy and carbon savings and the estimated cost-benefit of improvements

 

Identified at a high level the potential costs, financial and environmental benefits of carbon reduction measures

 

Determined what, if any, measures could be applicable for financial support through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund (PSDCF) or similar

 

 

 

 

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