This is the first office building in Ireland to achieve the highest available BREEAM rating, which is the world’s leading standard for best practice in sustainable design and is accepted as the de facto measure used to describe a building’s environmental performance. The headquarters is scheduled to open late 2016.
Mechanical and electrical consultant O’Connor Sutton Cronin and subcontractor Winthrop Engineering have appointed Limerick-based Temp Technology, ENER-G’s Cogen partner in Ireland, to supply a 125kWeCHP unit as part of the building’s green design.
The highly efficient CHP system is projected to achieve carbon dioxide savings of 384 tonnes per year, which is equivalent to the carbon that would be offset by 315 acres of forest, or removing 128 cars from the road.
By generating its own low carbon heat and power supply on-site, the bank will also achieve cost savings of approximately 45,000 Euros per year in comparison to grid supplied energy.
The CHP system will be housed in a low noise enclosure and mounted on the roof of the new building.
The building’s sustainable design includes a high performing thermal envelope, energy efficient mixed mode ventilation strategy, low energy sustainable features and the most up to date information technology.
Declan Ryan, Managing Director of Temp Tech, said: “We are proud to win this prestigious contract to supply the Central Bank of Ireland’s iconic new headquarters. Our exclusive partnership with ENER-G enables us to supply high quality, high efficiency CHP systems that help customers deliver both cost and carbon savings.”
Temp Tech is the largest small scale CHP supplier in Ireland, with a 55% market share. Its diverse customer base includes: Kerry Group, Radisson Hotels, Galway University Hospital, Leinster House (Houses of the Oireachtas), Aura Leisure Centres and the University of Limerick.
CHP – the simultaneous generation of electricity and useful heat – is around twice as efficient as conventional power generation, where the generated heat is wasted and further losses occur in transporting the electricity rather than using it on-site.