Energy

An advanced measuring system has been installed in the office building that continuously records energy flows and energy consumption. This system enables us to obtain a good insight into the building’s energy management. It also indicates which devices or sources have the highest energy consumption. Based on this information, energy can be used more efficiently leading to greater energy savings. The new GasTerra location also has less office space than the old building. The compact building format also contributes towards a further reduction in energy costs.

The approach chosen was to leave the existing cavity wall insulation intact and to increase the insulation value of the façades by replacing the frames and glazing of the office building with new glass with significantly higher heat resistance. 

Solar panels with a total surface area of 150 m²have been installed on one roof surface of our building. Solar panels convert solar energy directly into electricity. A surface area of 150 m² generates around 15,000 kWh per year. Annual electricity consumption is around 300,000 kWh and so approximately 5% of our electricity requirements can be met with the solar panels. The panels were installed so that we would achieve the A+ rating.

Almost all the building’s windows are triple glazed which means the total average heat resistance of the façade sections has been considerably increased without any need for additional insulation measures.

The company chose to install interior blinds combined with glazing with a low solar factor (ZTA value). The small quantity of extra heat arising due to interior blinds compared to exterior blinds on the outer façade can be easily ‘cooled down’ via the building’s energy system or stored in the soil source.

Heat-cold storage is used, which improves the sustainability of a building’s energy management. With heat-cold storage, energy in the form of heat or cold is stored in underground layers of water-bearing permeable rock (aquifers). In summer, the cool groundwater is used to cool buildings and water heated up in the building is stored in the soil until it can be used in winter to heat one or more buildings. For heating the buildings, a heat pump is connected to the source. Using this technology, it is possible to make energy savings of 95% on cooling and 40% - 50% on heating.

Since June 2013, a small fuel cell has been part of our office’s boiler room. This fuel cell, which uses natural gas as its fuel, delivers high-efficiency (around 90%) electricity and heat. The electricity, more than 13,000 kWh annually, is used in the building. The heat, annually around 4,500 kWh, goes to the soil source of the heat-cold system in order to supplement the heat extracted from the source.

GasTerra’s heat-cold system is linked to two gas absorption heat pumps. A heat pump can bring the natural heat already present in the ground, air or water to a higher usable heat level (suitable for space heating and hot water). The system yields considerable energy savings as less energy is needed to achieve the desired process temperature. Two high efficiency boilers have been attached to the heat pumps to deliver peak power for heating when the weather is very cold.

The building has an air conditioning system that is connected to the heat-cold storage installation with heat pumps. A heat recovery system forms part of this air conditioning system. A heat recovery system extracts the remaining heat from the waste air in order to preheat the fresh air supply.