Introduction

The Lighthouse has become Scotland’s Centre for Architecture and Design and accommodates a major retailer, offices and an Architecture and Design Centre.  The Lighthouse hosts the renewable energy advice centre for the promotion of renewable energies.  Natural lighting, active solar systems, photovoltaic, modules and passive ventilation and cooling systems are implemented.

Objectives and target audience

A key objective throughout the scheme was to produce an environmentally sensitive design that achieves the lowest practical energy demand through the utilisation of innovation in the context of an existing building.
As the centrepiece of Glasgow’s response to it’s selection as European City of Architecture and Design in 1999 the building has been used to demonstrate opportunities of urban renewable energy.
The “Viewing Gallery” an integral part of the building’s refurbishment was designed to achieve low energy demand through effective passive solar design, and improved thermal performance standards achieved.
The design team then used energy simulation software to produce a renewable energy solution capable of meeting a significant portion of this reduced demand.
The key benefit to the adoption of this strategy is that power is generated when it is required and can be used directly as oppose to exporting to the grid.
In order to describe the scheme further this report will first consider the methods used to reduce the energy demand and then describe the renewable energy technologies which will meet a significant proportion.

Financial Resources and Partners involved

Funds for this have been provided through the European Commission’s THERMIE programme set up to encourage renewable energy strategies in cities. Glasgow City Council and fellow members of the “REStart” project, including Turin, Barcelona, Lyon and Dublin, are working together on energy measures to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Techno-investment 1.028.101 euro.
Project Team :
Glasgow City Council
Scottish Enterprise Glasgow
Energy & Sustainability consultant ECD Energy & Environment.

Process

The design brief for the Viewing Gallery required the development of a low energy scheme that will not have a negative impact on the aesthetics of the existing
building.  The technologies chosen to meet these
criteria included the following components:-
Low emission argon filled double glazing to reduce winter heat loss and summer solar gain;
Transparent insulation materials with integral shading provided to facades to reduce winter heat loss whilst increasing daylight utilisation and solar heat gain;
Improved insulation standards over and above building regulations were applied where it was practical to do so.
For the building as a whole it was important to minimise the major energy demands as far as practically possible.  The following technologies were used to achieve this:-

• Illuminance responsive lighting control designed to maximise use of natural daylighting & minimise use of artificial lighting;
• Displacement ventilation strategy where the extract air velocity is varied in accordance with the number of people in the space controlled by CO2 sensors located in the extract;
• Underfloor heating system installed to maximise operating efficiency of gas fired condensing boilers;
• Within the “Viewing Gallery” the following renewable energy technologies were used to meet deman:-
• Facade mounted PV (10m2) with integral heat recovery;
• roof mounted ducted wind turbines (DWT) with integral Photovoltaic (PV) cells;
• The Ducted Wind Turbines (DWT) produce electricity predominantly during the winter period where windy conditions occur frequently and the PV facade can contribute little.

In the summer period when winds are lighter the PV facade is predominantly responsible for supplying the power. During the spring and autumn periods when winds are light and the solar contribution reduced both systems contribute.
This combination of the way in which the systems are used gives rise to an embedded renewable energy approach that is ideal for the climate of Glasgow, this could only have been achieved by using the simulation software to direct the design from the outset.

Results

Saving  3.432 kWh/y, Renewable energy 32%.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

Charles Berry, Managing Director of Scottish Power’s Energy Supply business, said Scottish Power was uniquely placed in the energy sector to offer a green energy scheme. The company was an experienced renewable energy generator with a well-established customer service infrastructure, including a new multi-million pound utility billing system.
“We believe that ‘Green Energy’ is an ideal opportunity for customers and other stakeholders who want to encourage renewable energy and we are delighted our first customer, The Lighthouse, shares this aim,” he added

Lighthouse Director Stuart MacDonald said:-
“The building provides an exciting illustration of how sustainable energy features can be incorporated seamlessly in to the overall design, even within the city centre, and Green Energy also fits in well with the concept.
“In his own work Mackintosh demonstrated a respect for nature and awareness of energy conservation and we are sure he would have approved”.