News

From the subtropical gardens that surround it to its rooftop the Science and Engineering Centre is a sustainability showpiece, so green that it's even powered by trees (solar trees of course).

The Centre is a certified 5-star Green Star rated building in "Education v1" for "Design". Over the coming months the operational performance of the Centre will be very closely monitored with the aim of achieving a 5-star Green Star "As Built" rating. If this second rating is achieved the Centre will be among the highest rated green buildings in Australia.

Power and cooling

•powered by a combination of grid power, natural gas and solar energy
•the Centre can generate enough electricity to power itself and put power back into the QUT grid
•generates up to 198 kw of solar energy from three sources:
- rooftop solar trees
- conventional fixed solar panels
- a flat panel that also shades an outdoor area
•the solar trees, designed and built in Brisbane, are programmed to follow the sun thereby drawing maximum energy every day
•the tri-generation system's natural gas-fired generator produces 830 kw of electricity
•the tri-generation loses far less heat than conventional power generation systems, 15 per cent as compared to 75 per cent
•heat is reclaimed and used:
- in the Centre's air conditioning heating and cooling systems
- to cool the generator's motor
- dehumidify the labs and the air above the pool
- heat the pool to a very comfortable 27°C
•a multi-million dollar building control and web-based metering and information system provides detailed information on energy performance and building environment, for real world teaching and research projects.

Construction

•incorporates a high level of recycling e.g. 86 per cent or 2,719 tonnes of concrete, much of which came from buildings that previously sat on the site
•the double-layered green and clear glass facade minimises the entry of heat into the building as does the Argon gas that fills the void between the two glass layers
•automatic blinds rise and fall throughout the day to shade windows and further reduce the entry of heat.

Water and gardens

•water conservation is a key highlight of the Centre's sustainability credentials. Every litre of water that can be captured from roofs or hard surfaces is stored in tanks beneath the building. This water is used to maintain the extensive gardens and lawns and to top up the swimming pool
•grey water is collected, treated and used for irrigation as is the condensation that trickles from the Centre's air conditioning units
•the lawn built above the roof of the swimming pool complex incorporates leading-edge green rooftop technology that involves a layer of foam (similar to that used in floral arrangements but on a giant scale) topped with soil blended with hydrocell flakes (similar to water crystals) to aid moisture retention
•moisture is released from the foam layer back into the soil, if the soil becomes dry
•the lawn has been planted with hardy Australian-developed couch grass
•drip irrigation, installed wherever possible, releases water directly into the soil while mulch helps the soil retain moisture
•native and endemic plants ensure the Centre has a subtropical look and feel with gardens massed with blended shades of green
•flame trees, giant ferns, grevilleas and cabbage palms dominate garden top storeys while elephant ears, lomandra, native lilies and a range of other plants hug the mid and lower levels
•kangaroo vine softens concrete pylons to create vertical gardens, provide shade for other plants and reduce reflected heat.