Issue - meetings

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Barry)

Report of the Heads of Property Services and Community Engagement

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Barry)

Cabinet received a report from the Heads of Property Services and Community Engagement to seek Cabinet’s recommendations in respect of the four potential projects identified in the report.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

Option 1 - Replacing the boilers at Lancaster Town Hall - (Appendix A to the report)

The existing gas fired boilers and ancillary plant-room pipe-work, pumps; controls etc which provide heating and hot water to Lancaster Town Hall are now approaching the end of their economical life. Due to the age and condition of the existing boiler room plant it  was recommended in the 2006 condition survey that they be urgently replaced with new energy efficient technology and, if possible, a renewable energy source.

Property Services commissioned Capita Symonds to examine various options for the replacement of the boiler room heating plant. Their report identified renewable options that may be incorporated as part of the replacement works in order to reduce the building energy consumption.

The heating / renewable options reviewed in Capita Symonds report are noted below:

·         Gas fired condensing boiler plant with solar thermal installation to provide domestic hot water.

·         Biomass boiler with secondary gas fired condensing boiler plant.

·         Combined heat and power (CHP) with gas fired condensing boiler plant.

·         Ground Source Heat pumps with gas fired condensing boiler plant.

·         Air Source Heat pumps with gas fired condensing boiler plant.

Capita Symonds concluded that the preferred heating replacement option which could be considered viable for Lancaster Town Hall was:

Gas fired condensing boiler plant with solar thermal installation

·         This option would involve replacing gas fired boilers including gas train, controls, flue, plant-room pipe-work, valves, insulation, pumps and pressurisation unit. Installing solar thermal panels on the flat roof area above Ashton Hall. Replacing existing calorifiers with a solar pre heat cylinder and indirect calorifier.

·         Budget cost: £150,000 to £200,000

Potential savings

Current annual gas usage:                 646,950 kWh

Current annual gas bill:                       £17,808.82

Potential annual saving from solar thermal installation: (11,091) kWh

Potential annual saving from new boiler Installation: (32,348) kWh

Total annual KWh saving:                   (43,439) kWh

Estimated revised annual usage:       603,511 kWh

Estimated annual gas bill:                   £16,613.06

Estimated annual financial saving: £1,195.76 pa

Capita Symonds further recommend that the following works are also considered although at this stage there is no estimation of cost. Indeed some of the items are being included as part of the works currently being undertaken to the roof of the Town Hall

·         Reduce air permeability through the building façade.

·      Increase the building insulation.

·         New control system / incorporate weather compensation and building heating zones.

·         Replace existing pumps with new variable speed units.

·         Install thermostatic radiator valves (TRV’s).

As an invest to save project, the savings in terms of financial and KWh’s appear to be low for a large capital investment. However, as the boilers are coming to the end of their life and could fail  ...  view the full minutes text for item 108