ISG returns to Cambridge to deliver latest 'low carbon retrofit' scheme

ISG has returned to Cambridge to deliver its latest 'low carbon retrofit' project – this time for The Crown Estate at the Cambridge Business Park. Cambridge is already home to a global exemplar deep office retrofit project, following ISG’s successful delivery of the multi-award winning Entopia Building for the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL).

For the Crown Estate, ISG conducted a comprehensive de-carbonisation assessment survey of the Cambridge Business Park estates. The second phase of the programme saw the contractor deliver a smart low carbon retrofit upgrade, focusing on building performance enhancements, alongside significant energy reduction measures to slash carbon emissions and reduce operational running costs.  

Looking at whole life carbon costs and sequestered embodied carbon within the existing building, ISG developed a pragmatic retrofit solution that has delivered impressive performance metrics now that the buildings are operational. Core to the success of the project was the removal of natural gas demand heating systems for an efficient electrified source, which underpinned the scheme’s carbon reduction objectives. 

A notable project success was the reduction in energy consumption of existing retained air handling units reducing daily average consumption from 36kWh to 6kWh. Adjustments to centralised heating control systems, based on observable usage data, led to reduced operating times from 24/7 to 12 hours, 5 days per week, resulting in an estimated saving of 200,000 kWh for the year.

Lee Phillips, Managing Director of ISG said: “Our pioneering decarbonisation scheme for CISL successfully demonstrated how cost and programme equivalent a deep office retrofit could compare with a traditional refurbishment, through a combination of early-stage engagement and fully aligned project teams. As the race to decarbonise property assets accelerates, portfolio owners are increasingly seeking out contractors that can provide a comprehensive service offer from consultancy, delivery through to end-user monitoring and optimisation.”