CHALLENGE
Orchard Lisle & Iris Brook Houses is student accommodation built in the 1980’s. It comprises two halls and five storeys, providing 287 beds. As part of Guy's & St Thomas' Foundation effort to decarbonising their portfolio, the challenge was to develop a Net Zero Carbon Plan for this aging asset. The buildings faced typical issues of older stock: inefficient energy performance, outdated systems, and limited thermal comfort for occupants, all within the constraints of a live, operational student residence.
SOLUTION
Savills Earth employed detailed energy modelling to create a digital twin of the asset to assess and quantify a range of interventions aimed at reducing on-site energy consumption while improving occupant comfort. These opportunities range from optimisation and tenant behaviour enhancements to more major works such as building fabric improvements, centralised plant upgrades and the introduction of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.
RESULTS
The implementation of these opportunities were carefully sequenced to align with maintenance cycles and budgetary constraints and are predicted to provide a 60% reduction in overall energy consumption. This significant improvement not only supports the transition to Net Zero, but enhances the living experience for students through better thermal comfort and air quality and demonstrates that an aging asset can be optimised to meet future operational performance targets.