Environment
The Carbon RACE was an 18 month project started in 2012 to reduce energy use in the building and has raised awareness of how to reduce energy use in people’s homes by involving them in insulating the Centre, and by holding public meetings. The practical steps taken, and some possibilities mapped for the future such as the green roof and solar panels, are illustrated here.
To reduce energy and the associated CO2 emissions an energy audit was undertaken, and work with students from the University of Brighton helped us develop an Energy Descent Plan. University funding allowed us to install smart-metering to measure gas, electricity and water use in real time. We can show energy use as a daily readout on the information screen, as well as recording data over time on the impact of insulation and reduced energy use in a real community building – informing teaching and stimulating student research.
The Victorian building is built in the same way as many houses in the local area, with substantial challenges in reducing CO2 and improving the comfort of users. We hope that learning from the Centre will enable you to play your part in reducing energy use and the CO2 emissions that are increasingly impacting on the Hanover community and many other communities around the world.
You can find news about environmental work in Hanover and improvements to the Hanover Centre in the Posts below (sign-up to keep in touch with developments):
