Moving From Promises To Proof

Whilst the largest concentration of infrastructure decision makers takes place at UKREiiF this week, we can't be there. Not because we don't want to be.

The reality is there is a ton of work being done which represents the action, the making good of the promises policy and government gave us regarding decarbonising our buildings.

And that's what were up to, every week. Auditing, recording and scrutinising the successes of retrofit.

This latest case study from Discrete Heat demonstrates a brilliant example of successful decarbonisation, at scale, in a monumental setting of a landmark set of buildings.

A Victorian Community

The NHS site at Goodmayes was originally built in the last year of the Victorian era. Designed as a living community for individuals challenged with mental ill health, the site developed into a large facility encompassing administration, clinical work and community housing for in-patients.

At some point, over 15 years ago, the maintenance and utility of the aging buildings was put into question. Cost cutting, no credible solutions and inertia did for the buildings what no German bombs had managed in WWII.

But things are very different now. The NHS has many key workers who go into work unheralded by bashing pans and flag waving and Avi Rosenthal and John Prior are two such people. The men are Senior Estates Programme Managers, when you meet them, they are more like a problem solving hit squad. Methodical, reasoned and conscientious. They are M&E consultants seconded from Donabie Associates.

Working in tandem with the dynamic programme lead Dr Mohit Venkataram the Deputy CEO at the North East London NHS Foundation Trust, the trio used their knowledge of clinical requirements, staff work patterns and intimate understanding of the fabric and performance of Goodmayes striking red masonry -to create a transformative plan to bring the derelict buildings back to life.

No gas boilers.

They wanted a fully functioning site that was heat pump ready. Fast.

They sought the expertise of heat pump power house Panasonic to deliver a constant, measurable and robust heating solution to rooms that had originally been designed to be warmed by coal fires. Although the buildings had latterly been retrofitted with huge gas systems, not just the heating but the delivery of that heat was compromised.

It wasn't just radiators that were a problem, the subsequent multi functional role of the rooms throughout the complex, some for clinical use, some for administration, some, well just TBC - meant the design of the heating solution had to be versatile, and recognise some of the needs of expected residents.

The keystone partner they parried this problem away with turned out to be a unique British solution, an 'overnight success' 14 years in the making.

Discrete Heat, makers of the ubiquitous ThermaSkirt emitter skirting boards, delivered a turnkey resolution to a question that had plagued the planning team. How do you deliver heat, in some places which had to be ligature proof, in some places with limited capacity for pipework and everywhere that had incredible character features?

A Leap Of Faith

In fact, the team at Discrete Heat are already well versed in bringing heat pump transitions to places that you might not expect them - sports halls, hospitals, Ministry of Defence housing. They have the credo. The only leap of faith required by Avi, John and Dr Mohit was the timescales.

And it would be fair and reasonable to say. Discrete Heat nailed it. Collaborating in tight sequencing with second fix trades, Panasonic engineers and an array of technical support staff - the installation process was completed in weeks, not months.

The NHS site started it's journey back to life, at the heart of the local community, with a team that brought warmth, comfort and health living spaces alive.

The excitement from the project team is tangible, the only thing that stands out, is what doesn't. As John Prior comments in the video case study - people are surprised to learn where there heat comes from. And then barely realise it's there.

It's The Way I Tell'em

What's different about the story of this site, isn't that it's groundbreaking, innovative or revolutionary. Heat pumps are old news. In a good way. ThermaSkirt is not a pilot solution, it's in over 85,000 buildings across the UK - and now being installed into buildings from Iceland to Tbilisi.

What's helping to spread the gospel of heat pumps, is the multi faceted delivery of the Goodmayes narrative. It's the story.

The footage collected from site, a variety of interviews - some technical - some community focussed - is being deployed in internal case studies into the NHS, on technical forums for Panasonic admirers and emitter nerds who are 'ThermaSkirt-curious'.

That's multiple outlets based in their own sectors;

Panasonic - A global electronics and technology brand.

Discrete Heat - A home grown British success.

The NHS - Well, we all love them.

You see, everyone loves a story with winners. And at the heart of the storytelling in this replicable, not unique, we can all do it tale - is real people getting real solutions, in real time.

Goodmayes represents what we all need. Decarbonised, electrified buildings. Getting on and doing what buildings do best. Being lived in.

All filming for this film, the Panasonic (Cooling and Heating Solutions Europe) films, the NHS internal case study - was completed by Retrofit.video. You can get this service too. Click here to find out more.