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Green Credentials

NUI Galway is the only University in Ireland to offer a degree in Energy Systems Engineering, and has a significant focus on research into environmental technologies. The Engineering Building contains a range of such ‘green’ technologies. There is largescale rainwater harvesting, a biomass boiler, low-embodied energy materials such as zinc, novel voided slab systems, grass roofs for water attenuation, heat exchangers and many other cutting-edge technologies.

Ø Materials

Low embodied energy materials (including zinc exterior face)
Novel voided slab systems (the first significant installation of its kind to be used in Ireland – basically plastic bubble filled with air bulk out the concrete so you less is needed)
40% GGBS based concrete (this type of concrete uses a by-product of iron ore manufacturing ‘Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Slag’ greatly reducing the carbon footprint of the concrete)

Ø Heating and Ventilation

500kW thermal, 350 kW electrical natural gas-fired Combined Heat and Power Unit
950 kW pellet biomass boiler
Computer controlled night purging
Three >90% efficient natural gas condensing boilers
District heating system feeding the nearby Sports Centre and swimming pool
Climate wall with top-vented stack control and solar control via blinds
Ground source heat pump in southern parkland
Natural stack ventilation
Darkened glass on east side to reduce solar gain
Chilled beam systems
Black plaster on northern façades as a heat collector
Low-E glazing (to reduce solar gain and heat loss)
Solar hot water heating for domestic hot water supplies
Heat exchangers (using the atrium as a building lung and passive vents in the laboratories)

Ø Water

Rain water harvesting
Large scale water recycling
Low-volume flush toilets
Infra-red sensor low water volume spray taps
Grass roof (on the labs) for water attenuation and insulation
75m³ rain water harvesting tank (re-used for toilets)
Large buried water attenuation tank (to stop major discharge to the city sewers)
Siphonic drainage

Ø Lighting

Low energy lighting with presence and lux level lighting controls including manual switching
LED Exit Signs and emergency lighting
External LED Lighting with time-clock and photocell control
Maximising free cooling by using displacement ventilation in the comfort cooled lecture theatres
Low loss electricity transformer

Ø Management

Building management system controlling all aspects
More than 140 meters on the building services
Lux dipping throughout the day and night (the computer drops the lights if it is bright, and lowers the levels at night)
Green / Amber / Red light signals in large postgraduate areas indicating Naturally ventilated / Fan coil assisted / Fully air conditioned environments (respectively)
Metering of power systems
Metering of heating and cooling systems
Use of an energy centre to reduce construction requirement, prevent overheating of plant areas, reduce noise and provide a teaching tool