PSDS HEAT DECARBONISATION PLANS

HEREFORDSHIRE COUNCIL

BACKGROUND

d3associates was appointed by Herefordshire Council to produce Heat Decarbonisation Plans for 14 council owned buildings suitable for inclusion in an application to the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS). The buildings ranged from Libraries, Crematoriums and Museums to Children’s Centres and the Council’s own offices.

A holistic approach was required including building fabric improvements, energy control systems and the appraisal of potential options for low carbon heat systems. The buildings were to be prioritised with two to be taken forward to RIBA Stage 4 -Technical Design, along with developing planning applications, to provide investment ready projects.

OUTCOME

In order to understand the current building fabric, d3associates reviewed the available information which included insulation levels, energy systems and energy consumption, as well as building usage. The team then identified any information gaps before progressing to an Energy Audit. This would help determine the amount of energy used in a typical year and calculate the associated annual carbon emissions.

Site surveys were undertaken to identify and produce costings for potential energy saving measures to reduce heat loss and electricity use. Options for low carbon heating systems were assessed and budget costings provided while appropriate methods for the generation and storage of electricity were also considered.

Heat Decarbonisation Plans were written for all locations, and a suggested priority programme developed. Two sites were taken forward to detailed design and planning stage, to prepare investment ready solutions for PSDS funding submission.