Old pumping station

Sustainable energy efficiency

To ensure that the “inner values” of the renovated “Old Pumping Station” in Haan are also right, the engineering office PBS planned a sustainable energy conceptthat achieves excellent consumption values with an innovative combination of technologies. In this interview, Managing Director Ralf Mnich explains the challenges of the project.

Photo @ Martina Chardin

What was your ambition when planning the energy concept for the “Alte Pumpstation”?

We wanted to show that existing buildings, in this case even a listed special property, can meet the requirements of our time in terms of cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency and environmental protection through an intelligent combination of technologies. In addition, a high proportion of renewable energies should also ensure a calculable and cost-effective supply in the future. And all this without compromising on comfort and convenience. This was achieved through the use of intelligent technology, as there were limits to the insulation for reasons of monument protection and architectural aesthetics. Technology can have a much greater impact on the energy balance than the building envelope. The energy costs for the building currently amount to EUR 0.62 per square meter per year – well below the level of comparable new buildings. In this way, the additional costs for the technology are amortized within ten to twelve years. And the indoor climate leaves nothing to be desired – neither in summer nor in winter.

The use of ice energy storage technology in conjunction with the ClimaLevel Multiboden HKL is innovative. Why did you choose these components?

With ice energy storage technology, we make renewable energy usable and storable. It also supplies the required cooling energy at zero cost. This is a key factor, because the ever-increasing internal cooling load in office buildings means that cooling is becoming a more relevant factor for energy consumption than heating. The ClimaLevel Multiboden HKL is ideal for heating or cooling buildings with low-temperature systems such as heat pumps and ice energy storage, as it uses the screed mass as an additional heat exchanger. A perfect combination.

The ClimaLevel Multiboden HKL is an essential climate control component in the energy system of the “Old Pumping Station”. What requirements must it meet?

Our aim was to create a pleasant indoor climate 365 days a year that would enable our employees to work productively and creatively. And with an economical system that maintains a basic temperature level all year round and can still react quickly to external influences. An optimum indoor climate also includes a sufficient supply of fresh air, whereby it should be ensured that the air is fed into the rooms without draughts both when cooling and heating. The ClimaLevel Multiboden HKL is the “executive organ” in the system, so to speak, which efficiently and flexibly implements the previously defined specifications for the room climate, as it combines a slow and a fast component through the combination of a static heating or cooling surface and an air duct. This type of ventilation is one of the few alternatives that avoids unpleasant draughts.

What makes the ClimaLevel Multiboden HKL so easy to combine in your projects?

The ClimaLevel Multiboden HKL offers underfloor heating, ventilation and air conditioning in one system. This means that instead of three, I only have one component that needs to be integrated into the energy system, which makes it much less susceptible to faults. But the innovative floor system also offers immense advantages in terms of “ease of construction”: During construction, the ClimaLevel Multiboden HKL forms a compact unit on the floor, into which all electrical supply lines can also be integrated. This means that installation can take place at a relatively early stage and there are no further restrictions in the subsequent construction process. ClimaLevel GmbH supplies everything from a single source, including installation by its own experienced staff. Once the screed has been applied, the heating, cooling and ventilation issues are taken care of.

After almost eight years of operation, what are your experiences with the energy system at the “Alte Pumpstation”?

When we planned the system in 2010, this combination of technologies was a novelty, especially in a special property. We have therefore carried out close operational monitoring from the outset and collected all relevant data in order to gather experience for future applications and use our system as a reference object. In the meantime, we have been able to convince many customers of the technology combination of ice energy storage, heat pump and ClimaLevel Multiboden HKL and the satisfaction rate is above average.

Photo @ Delta light

Photo @ Martina Chardin

Photo @ Martina Chardin

Photo @ Delta light

Photo @ Martina Chardin

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