University of Warwick Phytobiology Research Building

This new build facility houses specialist research into plant science and food security and incorporates greenhouse, laboratories, preparation rooms, office accommodation and storage space.

Numerous sustainable engineering solutions have been integrated into the building which will mitigate energy costs and CO2 emissions including:

• The use of insulating polycarbonate as a building material to reduce the heating demand
•  A heating system that can recover waste heat from the university’s combined heat and power plant
•  Fan coils around the internal perimeter of the structure to help maintain the desired temperatures
• Free cooling through absorption chillers and thermal coolth tank technology
•  A building management system that monitors internal conditions and can automatically regulate conditions if set parameters are exceeded

The building also uses pressure cascade and an osmosis water system to prevent waterborne and airborne contaminants entering the controlled environment.