13/09/2011 - Thomas Vale shortlisted at Energy Awards for exceptional environmental achievements

Thomas Vale Construction and Staffordshire County Council have been short-listed at the Energy Awards 2011 for a project delivered under the Staffordshire Construction Partnership.

The Apedale Energy Station, Newcastle under Lyme, has been shortlisted for Energy Efficient New-Build Project of the Year and the National Energy Awards 2011.

The awards acknowledge the achievements of companies across all industries in cutting their emissions and celebrate businesses improving the performance of their buildings, making their products and operations more carbon-friendly. The Energy Awards is the only event that recognises the achievement across the entire energy industry.

With climate change playing a significant part of today’s society and mounting pressure to meet Government climate change targets, energy security worries and price concerns, the energy industry is facing rapid change to meet that of the shifting political and economic environment. As a result, businesses like Thomas Vale are demonstrating their commitment to tackling climate change by responding with innovative products, services and applications to encourage sustainability and reduce carbon emissions.

Apedale Energy Station which has been nominated for this esteemed award was constructed by stalwart Thomas Vale Construction in partnership with Staffordshire County Council, last year. The £1 million building has been designed and built to Swedish Passivhaus energy efficiency standards, using materials which will allow the building to breathe naturally. Hygroscopic building materials are nine times more effective compared with mechanical ventilation, in controlling indoor air quality.

Adrian Sutherland, Project Designer for Staffordshire County Council, added: “The project aims, beyond a new visitor centre for the park, were to inform people about the impact of climate change, what can be done to help at home, promote energy reduction, higher levels of insulation, air tightness and good building practice. We have learnt that sustainable construction is achievable today with careful design and material selection, appropriate choices of technologies that support the building and a commitment to sustainable thinking from the first design concept to the finished building.”

In its efforts to promote sustainability, the building fabric ensures the building is as sustainable as possible, by making use of Hemcrete, a hemp system for the external walls, as well as FSC chain of custody certified timber support structure and a rood made from 99% recycled aluminium. The unique building is a showcase for renewable energy, featuring of two wind turbines, a ground source heat pump, solar panels, a septic tank and reed beds for sewage treatment, a pond and gabion retaining walls.

Richard Green, director at Thomas Vale Construction, said: “We are pleased to have been involved in such a unique building as Apedale Energy Station. By utilising sustainable technologies and construction methods which allow the building to breathe naturally, it has been conceived as a zero carbon project over its lifetime. As a result of the long-term collaborative approach and relationship between Thomas Vale and Staffordshire County Council, hopefully buildings such as these will become the norm instead of the exception.”

The final of the awards will take place in London on 1^st December 2011.