Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum Energy Optimisation
Case Study
Wattcraft supported Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) in optimising the energy consumption of the Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum.
The following services were provided:
Analysis of building management system data
Temperature and humidity monitoring
Heat energy modelling
Review of energy system contract arrangements and recommendations for rectification
Energy savings analysis and recommendations for system optimisation
The new Wilson Gallery, as part of the Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum, was using significantly more heat and cooling than would be expected for a new building subject to current building regulations. Wattcraft implemented a temperature and humidity monitoring programme and analysed data from the building management system to determine the characteristics of the problem.
It is common for energy systems to be designed an implemented with a number of separate contracts with different providers, but for there to be different perspectives on the responsibility for completion of all aspects of the project and effective handover to the client with integrated commissioning and clear instructions for use. Through review of the contract agreements for the new development, Wattcraft gave CBC support in identifying the origins of the problems that had arisen and in establishing a contractual route through to rectification. Through this process, fundamental errors in installation and commissioning were corrected.
When the system was correctly functioning, Wattcraft advised on optimisation of the system to bring about energy savings, working within the constraints of occupant comfort and artefact conservation requirements. The artefacts had required temperature and humidity ranges for conservation and there were also temperature ranges within which it was required to operate for visitors and staff. It was proposed that the temperature settings for artefact conservation should be reduced as far as was possible to reduce energy consumption, whilst staying within the acceptable temperature ranges for artefact conservation and occupant comfort.
The required settings were determined through logging temperature and humidity measurements over a period of time, modelling building fabric and ventilation heat loss and working out the control settings that would optimise energy consumption whilst keeping the temperature profile within acceptable limits. With support in setting up systems for ongoing measurement and optimisation of energy use, Wattcraft’s clients can make significant cost savings. Requirements change with variations in energy prices and building use and any approach should be flexible to accommodate such changes.
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