Design Centre

InterTech design their own building featuring a Design Centre with strict energy efficiency targets

In 2010, we completed our new head office featuring a commercial design facility and distribution centre. The new building followed very strict guidelines and when it came to energy efficiency, it was very important to make sure our own workplace reflected a true vision of what can be achieved when implementing energy saving solutions.

Despite the many challenges we had to overcome, we now have an energy efficient building which we can use as a working example and upgrade whenever new technology comes along. This facility will help us demonstrate the most efficient and cost-effective ways of installing energy saving solutions.

There will be detailed reports produced for this facility each quarter on energy, carbon and costs. These reports will be monitored to identify any possible modifications or improvements we need to make to our energy saving systems. And this facility will now give us the tools to go further and develop other ways of saving energy in a working environment.

Our energy-saving measures include:

• 1. Fitting of timer switches to ensure lights are not left on overnight;
• 2. Adding movement and daylight sensors to ensure lights are only on when needed;
• 3. Installing energy-efficient lamps;
• 4. Fitting flow restrictors to hot water taps and upgrading boiler controls;
• 5. Fitting movement sensors to turn off equipment such as printers and copiers when offices are unoccupied;
• 6. Improving and testing temperature controls on heating and ventilation;
• 7. Installing building management systems that monitor and control heating and lighting;
• 8. Improved metering which ensures that we are being charged accurately by our energy suppliers. This will allow us to identify any errors from overcharging;
• 9. The installation of one vertical wind turbine; READ MORE
• 10. Installation of Solar Photovoltaic Panels; READ MORE
• 11. Installation of an internal Rainwater Harvest System designed by InterTech. This provides a gravity-fed rainwater supply rather than using electric pumps for managing the water operation. READ MORE

The building will also feature a Sustainability Showroom which will be open to the public early in 2012.