ExtraCare Development, Hanover
Barking and Dagenham

ExtraCare development of 52 dwellings at Darcy House in Barking and Dagenham was chosen as a showcase for environmentally sustainable building technologies with a target BREEAM rating of Very Good. The development decided to use a communal heating system which is shared, rather than individual systems in each dwelling.

Viridian Solar helped achieve this target, by using computer modelling to help the design team to select an appropriate size for the solar water heating system based on realistic estimates of hot water demand, renewable energy targets and value for money. This computer simulation enabled the design team to select the most effective size for solar installation on the ExtraCare block.

Heating System

Hot water for the ExtraCare block was provided by a communal heating system in a ground floor plant room. Two 800 litre cylinders, heated by gas boilers feed a circulating hot water loop from which the flats draw hot water. The solar loop transfers heat from the 26 solar panels mounted on the roof (shown above) and indirectly heats three 1,000 litre cylinders (the solar buffer). This system is shown below.

Cold mains water is heated in the solar buffer tanks, which then feed the conventional heating system. If the water from the solar buffer is hot enough, the thermostatic control on the gas fired heaters will prevent the boiler from firing. If the solar buffer is not hot enough, the boiler will fire to lift the temperature to the set level.

By utilising solar water heating technology, Viridian Solar helped to reduce 6.75 tonnes/year of carbon emissions, resulting in a saving of 31,000 kWh/year of energy.

For more information on how communal heating can be installed into your development, please contact one of our member companies in your area.

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