A discussion of the novel energy saving design features of the new learning resources centre at Anglia Polytechnic University.

This paper describes and discusses the energy saving design features of the Learning Resources Centre at Anglia Polytechnic University. As part of the University's policy on environmental conservation, the design brief for this new Queen's Building specified a low energy passive design solution. The building, which has been occupied since September 1994, was awarded a THERMIE grant to demonstrate a 50% reduction in the annual energy related carbon dioxide emissions for a building of this type. Part of this grant supported a monitoring programme to ascertain the effectiveness of the chosen solution. The monitoring contract has been managed by ECD, the architects, and the work carried out by the University's own Building Performance Research Unit. This investigation found that during 1995 the building consumed a total of 124 kWh/m2 of energy which represents 48% of the 260 kWh/m2 regarded by EEO as good practice (5). The top floor of the building is well daylit, the floor directly beneath the atria is also well daylit but this is poorly distributed to the surrounding floor space.