Environmental Considerations
In the winter, underfloor heating will be used to warm the internal spaces. Residents are able to open windows in their rooms to allow for stale air to circulate out.
In the summer, opening the façade will facilitate natural cross ventilation from the prevailing northern wind. Underfloor heating pipes can also be used as part of a cooling system, should they be required.
Mechanical ventilation will be used in the café, owing to the higher volume of people using this space. Extractor fans in the kitchen and bathrooms will ensure good ventilation for these areas.
Draught lobby will ensure that cooled air is not lost to the outside, which would otherwise waste energy.
Solar panels can be used to heat water, which could then be used as part of the underfloor heating system.
Use of a brown sedum roof will offer increased thermal insulation, as well as facilitating rainwater collection.
