The BREEAM 'Excellent' rated Port Talbot Justice Centre has been awarded the BREEAM Courts Award at the BREEAM Wales Awards 2011. The centre houses an Informal Youth Court, Tribunal Courts and a two-storey Central Fines Unit (CFU). BREEAM ‘Excellent’ was a prerequisite of the brief from HM Courts and Tribunals Service and the building’s BREEAM rating supports the Ministry of Justice Green plan.
The awards recognise and reward the highest scoring buildings in Wales under BREEAM. The winning buildings have all been independently assessed and certified – and as such represent genuine examples of sustainability and are some of the best examples of sustainable design and construction across Wales and Hoare Lea carried out MEP and BREEAM assessments for the building.
The Justice Centre attained an EPC rating of 27 with its sustainability strategy based on the first principles of sustainable design namely orientation, minimisation of solar gain, natural ventilation and thermal efficiency. The centre has delivered a 39.7% reduction in CO2 emissions through the installation of an air source heat pump and solar thermal water heating. The building also regulates its environment through:
•A super insulated and airtight façade
•North-South orientation to minimise heat loss and solar gain
•Enhanced daylighting which reduces reliance on artificial lighting
•Grey water recycling
•Use of recycled materials
•Modularisation of the façade, creating less waste
•Flexibility of building – it can function solely as an office if required
•Roof-mounted solar panels for hot water
Paragraphs 1-4 courtesy of www.breeam.org
