Entering the Energy Efficiency Debate

Reducing a building's carbon footprint through eco-friendly design is already big news in the construction industry but new legislation to improve energy efficiency in retail and office space looks set to create another hot potato for architects, specifiers and constructors.

With many retail and office buildings requiring sustained heating throughout the winter and cooling throughout the summer to benefit staff, maintaining a constant temperature is essential to reduce unnecessary energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint. The new energy efficiency legislation now encompasses entrances, setting a new challenge for access specialists.

From new product development, to the elemental impact of an entrance's location, the access point to a building will become a major obstacle for many, in the need to prevent heat loss and gain.

By its very nature, an access point must allow movement between the outside and inside of a property, which generates potential energy loss. The access point must also be convenient to use, durable for high footfall sites, comfortable for staff working in the proximity of the entrance, accessible for all as well as being aesthetically pleasing.

Specialists in access control systems like GEZE UK, are already working on new products and techniques to improve the energy efficiency of entrances, but the original challenge lies with the architect, who must plan the site and style of each entrance with energy efficiency in mind.

It has never been more important for specialists, builders and architects to work together - simple decisions made at the design stage, can have serious implications for the energy efficiency of the building once it is in use. By situating a main entrance on the side of a building that is exposed to the elements, for example with prevailing winds or in strong sunlight, makes it more difficult for a satisfactory level of efficiency to be achieved.

GEZE UK is already working with developers to enhance the efficiency of their entrances, using a combination of design techniques and new products. Revolving doors similar to GEZE's TSA 325, provide a manual option to create an energy efficient entrance, that limits traffic flow as well as the loss of heat and avoiding blasts of hot or cold air which are uncomfortable for staff.

Intelligent sensing on automatic doors ensures that entrances are fully accessible, but by using unidirectional radar sensors, the doors are only open when a user approaches but not when departing the entrance thus greatly reducing 'hold open' time by 40 per cent, therefore enhancing its energy efficiency.

GEZE UK has even developed iContact, a new remote monitoring system, which enables engineers to be instantly informed of any issues regarding an automatic door, and in the event of a fault, to remotely close the doors to prevent heat loss and ensure the building is secure. This instant approach to servicing looks set to be key in the battle to reduce energy consumption.

When these techniques are combined with special products, the effects can be even more dramatic. Glass entrances can be designed using efficient Low E coated glass that reflects UV rays, or using halogen filled double-glazing, which buffers heat loss and gain even more effectively.

So will the energy efficiency issue spur the industry to work together to create innovative, sustainable solutions, which will improve the efficiency, effectiveness and aesthetics of entrances? One thing's for sure - every part of the construction industry will be handling this hot potato.