CEW Award Winners City and County of Swansea were very successful at the UK-wide Public Sector Sustainability Awards held in London on the 12th November 2015.
Swansea was a runner-up in the Innovation and Best Waste/Recycling categories. Corporate Building & Property Services recycle a number of waste streams and currently achieve 93% recycling with the remaining 7% going as waste to energy. Total waste has reduced by 52% compared to 2008/9 and a total of 12,678 tonnes of waste has been diverted from landfill since 2007 across a full range of waste streams
They won the award for most Sustainable Public Sector Project (Best Refurbishment Project) for the Guildhall and Morriston Comprehensive. The Guildhall, incorporating the Brangwyn Hall was opened on 23rd October 1934 and was Grade I listed in July 1994. Although the building was generally structurally sound and many of the original features were in good condition, much of the building required extensive repair and refurbishment works. Works included complete replacement of M&E building services, including power, lighting, fire alarm, communication systems, data network, access controls, heating, domestic hot and cold water services, comfort cooling, environmental controls, ventilation and drainage. A total of 188 photovoltaic panels have been installed on the South East elevation of the Brangwyn Hall roof based upon the recommendations of a feasibility study prepared by the Mechanical and Electrical Designer’s McCann and Partners.
Morriston Comprehensive re-build achieved BREEAM Excellent when it was completed. The development was designed to minimize energy use through the specification of u-values significantly better than the Part L minimum and very good air tightness. The building, benefits from passive design features to optimize energy efficiency, including solar control glazing and shading. The design incorporates combined heat and power which satisfies the base heating load of the building whilst also producing electricity for use in the building. A PV array on the roof provides further electricity. The building also benefits from natural ventilation with automatic controls to ensure occupant comfort whilst minimizing energy use. Lighting controls were provided with automatic absence detection and day lighting control. Metering and sub metering with remote monitoring via the Building Management System has been included for electricity, gas and water to enable monitoring of energy use and target setting. The development has achieved a reduction of energy use against a 30% increase in floor space and 30% reduction in CO2 emissions due to the use of Low/Zero Carbon Technologies. The construction achieved 4.43 tonnes waste removed/100m2 of GIFA off site against BREEAM exemplar target of < 4.7 tonnes/m2. 97.44% of waste was diverted off site from landfill against CEW exemplar target of 95%.
As a result of all these submissions the City & County of Swansea went on to win the ‘Most Sustainable Local Authority’ category and the top prize of ‘The Most Sustainable Public Sector Organisation in the UK’; the Platinum Award.
This is an excellent achievement which recognises the hard work and widespread team approach that City & County of Swansea staff demonstrates in their daily activities.
