With the rapidly emerging challenge of climate change increasingly pre-occupying the minds of all those involved with the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society then a vision was developed for an environmentally friendly, low carbon centre on the Showground that evolved into the EPIC Centre.
The EPIC building has been designed and constructed to maximise low carbon impact. Renewable materials such as glulam timber and wood wool have been extensively used in its construction. Its design has minimised the use of concrete and steel.
A living sedum roof helps insulate the building, moderates its water run-off and assists in the collection of water by the rainwater harvesting system used to supply the toilets within the building. The incorporation of extensive eves on the south side helps to shade the halls from the sun’s heat in the summer but allows sunlight in during the winter.
Heat energy supplied from biomass with fossil fuel only used as a back-up helps to improve the carbon effect. Micro-regeneration by two wind turbines is used to provide some of the base electrical requirements. EPIC has plans to evaluate the potential of photovoltaics and also combined heat and power to boost its renewable electrical supplies.
At the heart of the building is a Siemens Desigo PX Modular BMS System with a full graphical Insight workstation. This allows the user the ability to not only monitor and control the myriad of building services but also set up operational times and comfort conditions for the various function suites and main halls months in advance.
