Water Lane

Water Lane is a proposed new build multi-residential development which consists of 25 storeys of private residential accommodation over two blocks, above a connected ground floor. The apartment types are a mixture of 1, 2, and 3 bed apartments, and the amenity areas are designed to provide the best living and community experience to the prospective tenants.

The total development is intended to comprise approximately 31,433m² Gross Internal Area (GIA) of both residential and amenity spaces. All apartments including the studio rooms have combined living and kitchen spaces. All apartments have at least one bathroom with two bed apartments or more having an additional bathroom.

Envision was appointed by Heim Global Investor to produce a Predicted Operational Energy Assessment for the development; an assessment that was to inform the new development’s cooling and ventilation philosophy, in addition to estimating the running energy costs.

The study has followed the guidance set out within BREEAM GN32 methodology. Workshops and questionnaires with the building operators were carried out to establish zone operating profiles, equipment loads, occupancy patterns and the unregulated energy loads that are usually overlooked in the NCM compliance models.

Several simulation scenarios are modelled to provide a range of potential energy intensity use of the development, in addition to a risk assessment for items that could impact the operational energy consumption of the development.

The development predicted EUI was modelled in the government approved dynamic simulation software, DesignBuilder. The simulated scenarios were modelled in line with the operator’s requirements to predict a realistic energy consumption of the development during the operational stage.

The results were reviewed and communicated with the design team focusing on operational energy costs and future operations risks. The analysed risks included the proposed PV technology, HVAC systems performance, and examining the proposed ventilation philosophy of the building.

The assessment also discussed CRREM stranding risk analysis and the development’s energy use in relation to the relevant CIBSE and UK Net-zero benchmarks and targets. All which have informed the development’s strategic business and design making decisions.