Two London 2012 Olympic Games venues, previously thought to use HFCs will now use natural refrigerants. Being too far from the main energy centre of the Olympic park to profit from its ammonia chillers, the two venues will be catered for by separate systems using natural refrigerants, the details of which are still to be revealed.
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has decided to use natural refrigerants to cool the London 2012 Olympic stadium and Aquatic Centre buildings, after receiving criticism from the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 among others for its original plans to use HFCs for the purpose. "We've ended up with a situation where the big energy centre for the whole site will have ammonia chillers but there are HFCs designed into other buildings that can't be cooled from the energy centre because of the geography of the park" had said chairman of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 Shaun McCarthy in an earlier statement, referring to buildings such as the Olympic stadium and Aquatic Centre.
The change of approach was announced by McCarthy at a breakfast organised by the Construction Industry Environmental Forum, part of the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA), with the details of the alternatives yet to be revealed. The sites will hence now conform to LOCOG’s (London 2012 Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) Sustainable Sourcing Code, whereby products using fluorinated refrigerants should be avoided.
The venues
In April 2008, Balfour Beatty won the contract to build the Aquatic Centre and planning permission was granted in May 2008. Construction started in July 2008 and will finish in 2011, in time for Test Events before the Games.
The ODA is working with the Team Stadium consortium to design and build the Olympic Stadium venue. The consortium is led by building contractors Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd and includes renowned sports and design architecture team HOK Sport, and international engineering team Buro Happold. Construction of the venue officially started in May 2008 and will finish in 2011. After the Games, the Stadium will be transformed into a 25,000 capacity venue that will host a variety of sporting, educational, cultural and community events.
The London Olympic's recent decision to "go natural" comes after the Canada Olympics to be held in February 2010 has been promoting ammonia as a most energy-efficient solution for its sliding bob centre, and is currently testing its use under difficult meteorological conditions.
The change of approach was announced by McCarthy at a breakfast organised by the Construction Industry Environmental Forum, part of the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA), with the details of the alternatives yet to be revealed. The sites will hence now conform to LOCOG’s (London 2012 Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) Sustainable Sourcing Code, whereby products using fluorinated refrigerants should be avoided.
The venues
In April 2008, Balfour Beatty won the contract to build the Aquatic Centre and planning permission was granted in May 2008. Construction started in July 2008 and will finish in 2011, in time for Test Events before the Games.
The ODA is working with the Team Stadium consortium to design and build the Olympic Stadium venue. The consortium is led by building contractors Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd and includes renowned sports and design architecture team HOK Sport, and international engineering team Buro Happold. Construction of the venue officially started in May 2008 and will finish in 2011. After the Games, the Stadium will be transformed into a 25,000 capacity venue that will host a variety of sporting, educational, cultural and community events.
The London Olympic's recent decision to "go natural" comes after the Canada Olympics to be held in February 2010 has been promoting ammonia as a most energy-efficient solution for its sliding bob centre, and is currently testing its use under difficult meteorological conditions.
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Aug 25, 2009, 11:48
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