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SUSTAINABILITY AND ENERGY OPTIMISATION
Ir. Mathieu Leroy and Ir. Bruno Busch
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION: THE PHILOSOPHY Focus area 1. Optimising a building’s envelope: maximising
comfort for occupants, while minimising energy requirements
The energy, environmental and social challenges confronting us, in – The positioning of the building, part of the overall considera-
response to which the European Community has adopted hard-hit- tions regarding its architectural integration into the site, plays an
ting policies and set high targets, are already impacting our ways important role in achieving a whole range of objectives conducive
of living, and in particular the way we build. Reflecting these chal- to optimising energy performance.The fire station is not affected
lenges, the new fire station for the Charleroi fire brigade (Service by shade from either neighbouring buildings or the slag heap
régional d’Incendie or SRI) is a good example of this sustainable north-east of it; its exposure to the prevailing south-westerly winds
development approach. [Fig. 1] is exploited through an adiabatic cooling strategy in the patios via
their ponds.
AN OVERALL APPROACH
– The building’s form was chosen with a view to achieving com-
A building forms a unit in which all its different properties interact pactness 1, thereby considerably reducing energy requirements.
with each other and with their environment – throughout the build- Looked at as a whole, the building achieves a very high level (4.0)
ing’s lifespan, from the initial construction phases until its ultimate of compactness. [Fig. 2]
demolition.
–The design strategy chosen in the context of this project gives
In designing a building, it is thus imperative to adopt an overall priority to optimising the building’s thermal envelope, with a level
vision taking account of the entirety of its characteristics in an of insulation exceeding that required by law. [Fig. 3]
integrated manner. Such an approach covers both the building’s
direct environmental impact (its construction, its positioning and – Construction-dictated joints are the weak points of any thermal
interaction with its surroundings, the choice of materials, etc.) envelope. It is thus of crucial importance for a building like the
and the impact resulting from its use (energy performance, water Charleroi fire station with its sophisticated insulation to look at
management, etc.). these in detail. As the envelope has a high thermal performance,
Targets Concept Measures taken
Prevent heat loss
Positioning of the building and the geometry of its envelope – Positioning, surroundings and orientation
Prevent overheating Thermal insulation of opaque walls – Form and compactness of the envelope
Thermal insulation of transparent walls – Inside layout
Make the most of natural light Passive use of solar input
A passive design strategy. – Choice of insulation materials
Minimising heat loss through ventilation – Optimisation of thermal bridges
Reducing heat transfer – Proportion of glazed surfaces
– Choice of the type of glazed surface
Reducing solar input
Reduce internal requirements – Proportion of glazing and the positioning of windows
Thermal inertia and natural ventilation – Exploitation of the thermal mass
Optimisation of the building’s geometry –Transparent thermal insulation
System of natural lighting
– Airtightness
– Air renewal rate
– Heat recovery
–Thermal insulation
– Surface temperatures
–Temperature zones
– Proportion of glazing and the positioning of windows
– Solar protection (fixed and mobile screens)
– Solar factor of the glazing
– Choice of artificial lighting
– Choice of other equipment
– Exploitation of the thermal mass
–The building’s geometry
– Geometry and positioning of the rooms
– Proportion of glazing and the positioning of windows
– Static natural lighting
– Dynamic natural lighting
