CAT, PV panels within roof lights (Bagnall, 2015) WHAT ARE PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS? Photovoltaic (PV) panels (otherwise referred to as Solar Panels) are a growing trend across the world in a bid to adapt to using sustainable technologies. While at CAT, a lecture was presented to us from Arthur Butler on the practical uses of PV Panels and how variations in design and weather can affect the electrical output of them. PV panels are typically made from a silicon base (covalently

Continue Reading...

Solar heating (also known as solar thermal) is the system of where the solar radiation from the Sun is used to directly heat up water within exposed pipework, which is then pumped into a cylinder within the hot water tank to heat the water within the tank. This water is finally used as the hot water supply throughout the property. According to the EnergySavingTrustUK, trails have shown that using solar (water) heating can provide a domestic home approximately 60% of

Continue Reading...

CAT Reservoir (Bagnall, 2015) CAT itself is built upon an existing slate quarry. Higher up in the hills houses a reservoir which was used to power the quarry’s machinery.  To present day, that same reservoir is being used to power a larger hydro-electric turbine, providing an electrical supply to the site. Hydro-electric power is generally produced by the force of gravity-fed water from a high source, spinning a turbine at a lower source (vertically), which in turn generates electricity. It

Continue Reading...

Biomass heaters consists of a specially designed machine burning a form of wood (chip or pellet) where the heat created by this system is used to heat water, providing a hot water supply to the property. As the source of material (wood) goes through carbon sequestration during its lifecycle; when the wood is burned, the release of that carbon dioxide through burning it is equal if not less to that which the tree has absorbed during its lifecycle. The heaters

Continue Reading...

CAT, sedum green roof (Bagnall, 2015) Green roofs have increased in popularity over recent year, but as well as their aesthetic appear, green roofs provide a positive investment into the environment. At CAT, the application of green roofs has been used throughout many of their building, although each green roof composes of different materials which each have their alternative properties. TYPES OF GREEN ROOF As a group we discussed how green roofs are spilt into two main categories; Green Roof

Continue Reading...

Earth wall as second skin for lecture room  (Bagnall, 2015) CAT, the Centre for Alternative Technology doesn’t just look at renewable technologies and utilising them (for example, solar radiation and water to create electricity), but also how to construct in alternative ways which have a smaller impact on the environment. It is a known fact that concrete and steel is one of the major areas of the construction industry which creates the greatest amounts of carbon dioxide in the UK.

Continue Reading...

Here I have included a selection of photographs which i feel provide a greater depth of what CAT is and what they are trying to do. All photographs taken by myself unless otherwise referenced (Bagnall, 2015). CAT - Sectional Drawing (Borer, P. 2015) CAT, Central courtyard Eco-Cabins  PV panels above WISE building CAT, Cafeteria  CAT-Cafeteria  WISE front space WISE, Roof Lighting WISE lecture theatre roof light WISE cafeteria and lecture roof WISE cafeteria roof WISE building foundations WISE building foundations

Continue Reading...