Environmental initiative of the year

Fulcrum Consulting
Winner of the Up-and-Coming Consultancy of the Year in 1998, Fulcrum Consulting's skills have been recognised once more – for the environmental engineering it applied at Great Notley Country Park.

The company was responsible for providing the services for the park's Discovery Centre, which was established as an Egan project at the outset, and had a focus on minimising energy costs. The building provides sports changing and maintenance facilities, and acts as an orientation centre and information point for the park.

Life-cycle analyses determined the possible savings that 'green' solutions would generate and their impact on the local environment. Energy use was central to all the design decisions.

The final recommendations for the project, which is due for completion this Autumn, include a solar roof system to preheat shower water, a rainwater system for wc flushing water and garden irrigation, and a wind turbine for operating lights and mechanical fans.

Fulcrum displayed a well-rounded and balanced approach to environmental design

Judges’ comment

A Termodeck system, which consists of hollow core concrete floor slabs, will be used for ventilation, heating and passive cooling to maintain internal comfort conditions.

and the runners-up...

Durham County Council
Durham County Council received special commendation from the awards judges for providing educational qualities in respect of the community. The Council has installed a 50 kW grid-connected wind turbine at Cassop Primary School – the first in the UK. In addition to reducing the school's electricity charges, the turbine will be used as an educational tool for the County's children.

Earthcare Products
Runner-up in this category for a second year, Earthcare Products continued to develop its portfolio of environmentally friendly cooling systems during 1999. When Middlesex University needed a replacement for its air conditioning chillers, the firm designed a system which uses ammonia refrigerant with slurry ice thermal energy technology while meeting load and cost needs.