Introduction

Government and public buildings

Government, military and public realm buildings have a distinctive architectural presence and specific functional characteristics that are representative of the country in which they are located.

In many instances, Government buildings lead the way on the sustainability initiative to deliver innovative, best practice operational energy efficiency with reduced carbon emissions through the use of modern methods of construction.

These buildings require many different building solutions, ranging from the main structure, external façade, building fabric and insulation, through to access floors, renewable energies and water conservation systems. Kingspan, with their vast portfolio of products, have a system and solution to fulfil all these needs.

E Barrett Prettyman Courthouse

Project :	E Barrett Prettyman Courthouse
Product(s) :	ConCore® 1000 Access Floor Underfloor wire and cable distribution Modular Carpet
Location :	Washington D.C., USA

Key requirements

Extensive product ranges provide:

superior lifetime thermal and air-tightness systems that deliver energy saving, low carbon, environment-protecting buildings
robust methods Loss of construction - 60 year overall life
- Prevention Council Board (LPCB) and Factory Mutual (FM) Insurer approved fire engineered systems
Off-Site manufacturing methods facilitate rapid, safer, high quality on-site assembly allowing earlier project completion and income stream
low and zero carbon technology integration
market leading Insulated Panels and Facades steel support systems
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and water conservation products

Environmentally sustainable buildings

Cradle to cradle - Kingspan systems significantly contribute to achieving green points and credits for environmentally sustainable buildings, from design through to deconstruction (end of life).

The Kingspan portfolio of systems is compliant with the highest rating classifications published by the world leading Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) and the World Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™.

Embodied energy (8-10%)is the quantity of energy required to manufacture, and supply to the point of use, a product, material or service.Operational energy (82-86%)refers to all energy required to run a building, i.e., energy use for fixed building services including heating, hot water, lighting, pumps and fans and all other appliances. Deconstruction (6-8%) is the selective dismantlement of building components, specifically for re-use, recycling, and waste management.

1. Embodied energy is the quantity of energy required to manufacture, and supply to the point of use, a product, material or service.

2. Operational energy refers to all energy required to run a building, i.e., energy use for fixed building services including heating, hot water, lighting, pumps and fans and all other appliances.

3. Deconstruction is the selective dismantlement of building components, specifically for re-use, recycling, and waste management.

Delivering low energy, low carbon buildings today

The focus of today's governments, property owners, designers and constructors is to build environmentally sustainable buildings. Improving the thermal performance of the Insulated Panels and Facades is the easiest, most immediate and cost-effective way to reduce running energy costs and carbon emissions. Kingspan have the capability to deliver Insulated Panels and Facades, including building integrated renewable power and heat technologies that exceed existing and meet future 'zero-carbon' legislative requirements, across global markets.

The chart below shows indicative future energy and carbon emission targets over and above current building codes, to zero-carbon.