Sustainable campus and construction

We aim to:

• achieve our own in house specification for sustainable design for new construction and SKA Gold for all refurbishment projects from 2019.
  
• design out waste where possible and target zero waste to landfill for construction projects.
  
• protect and enhance local biodiversity on site.
  
• install where possible renewable technologies, including natural ventilation, solar shading, solar hot water, photovoltaics and rainwater harvesting.
• move towards smart buildings with smart meters and controls on all new builds.
  

Our performance

• The Sustainability Hub (Kirkby Lodge) refurbished in 2019 to SKA Gold standard.
• Wellbeing Centre – opened in 2014, and designed to BREEAM Excellent.
• The House – our new performing arts centre, opened in September 2014 and built to BREEAM Excellent.
• Marine Station – opened in 2014 and designed to BREEAM Excellent.
• Marine Building – opened in 2012, built to BREEAM Excellent.
• Exeter Dental Education Facility – opened in 2017 and built to SKA Silver standard.
• Derriford Research Facility – opened in 2018 and built to BREEAM Excellent.

SKA Gold standards met include:

• 80 square meters of green wall home to over 90 plants per square meter
• FSC certified sustainable timber cladding
• 4 kilowatt of photovoltaics
• Reception digital energy display
• Responsible sourcing for materials with a primary focus on reuse
• Low flush WCs
• Maximises natural light with energy efficient LED lighting
• Naturally ventilated and passive design

The Sustainability Hub is also home to the Sustainable Earth Institute and the Low Carbon Devon projects which provides a space where businesses, social enterprises and community groups can mix with researchers and students around the issue of sustainability.

Discover more about the Sustainability Hub and browse the before, during and after photos of this refurbishment.

The materials used were responsibly sourced and included at least 25 per cent recycled aggregate, whilst 70 per cent of construction waste was diverted from landfill and recycled or reused.

• The occupied spaces make use of natural daylight.
• The electric lighting is controlled by proximity and daylight sensors.
• External lighting is energy efficient and controlled to only come on during night hours.
• The building's occupied spaces are cooled by natural ventilation.
• There's a 20,000 litre rainwater harvesting tank to supply the toilets, whilst sensor-operated taps and low flush toilets reduce water use.
• Voltage optimisation controls the power supply to the building - reducing energy and power demand.

 

Discover more about The House.

The Marine Building is an example of sustainable construction whilst housing cutting-edge facilities for marine research – which in itself will include renewable energy research.

• The building uses the sun's energy to heat hot water via solar thermal hot water technology.
• Harvested rainwater supplies the toilets.
• The building has low energy LED lighting and lighting sensors – reducing energy use from lighting.

The Roland Levinsky Building has a number of sustainable features:

• It incorporates a copper wrap exterior for longevity, as well as recyclable properties and exposed concrete walls to provide thermal mass to maximize temperature control.
• The roof uses roof lights to flood the atrium with natural light, and is home to a 6,000 litre rainwater harvesting tank that supplies the toilets.
• A 2.2kW photovoltaic system powers the lighting in the cafe, which is also surrounded by Pilkington Suncool glass to reduce solar gain.
• The remaining lighting consists of low energy LEDs operated by proximity sensors for lighting control.
• The lecture theatres have separate air handling units to provide air conditioning only when needed.
• The building uses the cross point atrium space to utilise a low energy ventilation system, where fresh air is drawn into the building through below ground level air ducts.

Find out more about the Roland Levinsky Building

The building includes photovoltaics, generating electricity from the sun and has its own Combined Heat and Power (CHP) boiler, providing electricity and hot water for the heating and showering facilities, delivering savings in utility costs for the building.

CHP generates electricity whilst capturing usable heat that is produced during the process, usually a by-product in conventional boilers that is wasted.

Discover more about the Marine Station.