Exceeding Performance Targets at University of Warwick with Energy Synergy®

The University of Warwick has worked with Willmott Dixon's Energy Synergy® service since 2018 to realise significant cost and carbon savings from its Sport and Wellness Hub and Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building (IBRB).

Completed in 2019, the Sport and Wellness Hub (below) is the most energy efficient leisure centre in the UK. Using Energy Synergy® insights to optimise consumption, it performs 27.5% better than CIBSE’s Energy Benchmark and saving hundreds of thousands of pounds in energy bills.

Monitoring of the customer's latest asset, the IBRB (below), has been ongoing since 2021.

After three years of continuous monitoring, the IBRB now operates 9.6% below predicted energy consumption - unlocking significant cost and carbon savings.

Sustainable by Design

The IBRB was designed with sustainability at its core, achieving a BREEAM Excellent rating through innovative design features that significantly reduce both operational and embodied carbon:

• Low-carbon construction: 50% pre-manufactured elements dramatically reduced embodied carbon during construction.
• Innovative renewable generation: Vertical and horizontal solar panels (below) generate approximately 100,000kWh annually, offsetting around 26,000kg of CO₂ emissions each year.
• Advanced building systems: High-performance HVAC systems designed for the demanding requirements of biomedical research facilities.

This commitment to sustainability was recognised when the IBRB won Green Building Project of the Year at the 2022 BusinessGreen Leaders Awards, establishing it as a benchmark for sustainable research infrastructure.

Integrated Monitoring from Day One

Energy Synergy® was implemented immediately at handover, building on Willmott Dixon's proven track record with the University of Warwick.

The comprehensive monitoring system at IBRB enabled precise tracking of energy performance across all major systems, providing detailed sub-metering that revealed both opportunities and challenges in the building's early operation.

Outstanding Performance Transformation

While the IBRB's first year showed energy consumption 3% above design predictions, Energy Synergy®'s continuous analysis and optimisation process has transformed performance dramatically:

This progression demonstrates the power of continuous performance monitoring and optimisation, with the building now consistently exceeding design expectations.

Exceeding Expectations with Energy Synergy®

Energy Synergy®'s advanced analytics identified and resolved critical performance issues that standard monitoring would have missed:

Chiller Sequencing and Efficiency: Our analysis revealed significant inefficiencies in chiller operation. By correcting the sequencing of chillers and improving part-load operation, we enhanced the metered coefficient of performance from ~1.2 to ~3.2. This adjustment delivered approximately £34,000 in annual savings while extending the chillers' replacement cycle—demonstrating how operational optimisation can deliver both immediate cost benefits and long-term asset value.

DHW System Optimisation: A comprehensive review of the domestic hot water (DHW) modelling identified substantial pipework heat loss of 8,984 kWh per month. Adjustments to the calorifiers' settings ensured pumps stop once tanks reach set point rather than running continuously, eliminating unnecessary energy waste.

Lighting Control Resolution: Using SmartScan technology, we linked occupancy levels to out-of-hours lighting usage, resolving control issues that, while having minimal carbon impact, reflected best practice in building management and operational efficiency.

Heating and Cooling System Coordination: Investigation revealed concurrent heating and cooling due to incorrect cycling of fan coil units and suboptimal set point and dead band settings. Correcting these issues eliminated energy waste from competing systems.

Collaborative Success

The Energy Synergy® process enabled close collaboration between Willmott Dixon's building performance experts and the University of Warwick's facilities teams. Regular review meetings, automated alerts for anomalies, and comprehensive monthly reports benchmarked against design predictions created a framework for continuous improvement.

This collaborative approach ensured that lessons learned at IBRB will inform future projects, while the University's facilities teams gained valuable insights into optimising complex research building operations.

Setting New Benchmarks

The IBRB's transformation from 3% over-target to 9.6% under-target energy consumption represents more than operational success; it demonstrates how advanced performance monitoring is essential to realise the full potential of sustainable design. The building now operates as a living laboratory for sustainable research infrastructure, proving that even the most complex and energy-intensive facilities can exceed their sustainability targets.

Through continuous monitoring and optimisation, Energy Synergy® has transformed the IBRB into a beacon of sustainable research infrastructure, proving that exceptional performance and ambitious sustainability targets can go hand in hand.

Parvez Islam, Director of Environmental Sustainability and Infrastructure, said:

“The working relationship with WD has been extremely beneficial from University of Warwick’s perspective; the insight and knowledge provided has led to the successful delivery of many projects. Lessons learnt from each project have filtered through to subsequent projects and key learnings have been implemented.

“Collaborative working ensures knowledge sharing and project processes are optimised. Through Energy Synergy™, both UoW and WD have allowed sustainability and carbon reduction to prosper; reducing the performance gap and creating energy-efficient environments.”