Past
Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs)
These have been fitted to the majority of radiators in Warmington Tower. The purpose of these is to allow users better control of the temperature in their office.
Insulated Valve JacketsWhile most sections of pipework have insulation covering them, it is not always easy to prevent heat loss from the valves as these can be quite bulky, and not always of a uniform size.
The valve arrangements in the main boiler house serving the Richard Hoggart Building, the pipework underneath the Richard Hoggart Building, Deptford Town Hall Building boiler house, Education Building / Warmington Tower, Raymont Hall and Surrey House.
Ben Pimlott Building – LightingWhen this building was completed, the lighting system that was installed had the back-bone of being highly advanced. However, additional control systems were required.
These have now been purchased, and staff trained in the use of them. There is still more to do, but the building is on the way to being better controlled.
Conversion of Existing Light FittingsAround the university many of the light fittings are using old and out of date technology. It was identified that many of the light fittings could be converted to using lower energy lamps relatively easily.
This work has been done to a large number of fittings in the Richard Hoggart Building.
Present
Ben Pimlott Building – Hot Water
When this building was constructed, it had an all electric hot water system. This is very costly to run, as well as having a damaging impact on the environment due to the associated high Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions.
The current proposal is to replace the existing hot water system with a combined solar and gas option.
This will involve new solar collectors on the roof to pre-heat the water. The pre-heated water will be stored until needed. When needed, the water will be heated to the correct temperature by the new gas-fired boiler.
Ben Pimlott Building – LightingTo further the control of the lighting system to make it low energy, additional combined movement and daylight sensors will be installed. This will remove the need for people to remember to turn lights off when they leave, or when the sun is shining.
Automatic MeteringTo enable us to monitor how much energy we are saving and to identify areas for further improvement, we need to understand where our energy is being used.
The installation of an automatic metering system feeding all the data back to a central point is essential to help us reduce energy waste.
Bee Hives
To increase our biodiversity at Goldsmiths, we are due to get a colony of bees in mid June.
Richard Groves and Michael Dick are attending a weekly beekeeping course funded by the Co-op as part of their PlanBee scheme to increase the number of honey bees in the UK.
Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs)
The installation of TRVs within Warmington Tower has been deemed a success, so we plan to roll this out across the while campus this summer (2010).
Operating instructions for the TRVs can be found by clicking here: TRV Instructions.
Future
Conversion of Existing Light FittingsThe conversion of the existing light fittings in some areas of the Richard Hoggart Building and the Whitehead Building have not been deemed successful.
Therefore we will be embarking on an ambitious plan to change the light fittings around campus from inefficient T8 fittings, to more efficient and lower energy T5 fittings. Where possible, the lighting type will also be changed to make it more suitable for the location.
Anaerobic Digester And Combined Heat And Power
This is a system where rotting food and green garden waste is allowed to breakdown in a sealed facility. As breakdown occurs, methane is given off. This methane is then trapped and stored. The stored methane is then burnt in a boiler / generator that produces electricity and hot water at the same time.
The left over food / garden waste then becomes a nutrient rich compost for the gardeners to use. There is also a left over liquid waste, which can also be used as a liquid compost.
The aim of this system is that it will then be able to provide a good proportion of our electricity, heating and hot water provision.
Recycling
A pilot will soon begin of recycling for the houses on Laurie Grove, Dixon Road and St James.
We are also hoping to soon change the waste collection within Warmington Tower, to boost the recycling there.
Food waste is another area we are hoping to change. A trial should soon begin of ensuring minimal food waste goes to landfill, by separating out as much food waste as possible, and sending it for composting – firstly with our waste contractor, and then with our own schemes.