The Environment, Nanotechnology, Engineering Research Facility (ENERF) is a high tech laboratory and test facility for the University’s Advanced Materials and Sustainable Technology Research Department.
The purposely designed south facing wall acts as a carrier for photovoltaic panels and is utilised for solar energy production and experimentation. This system is capable of generating up to 16 KVA of low carbon electricity. The double height laboratory space is used for studies in sustainability whilst equipment laboratories to the rear focus on nanotechnology research.
The building is cooled using gas-fired heat pumps, the first to be installed in Ireland.
The main design requirement was the need for flexibility within the space as experimentation equipment is regularly updated or relocated. To provide flexibility we developed an innovative system of overhead services within a high level bulkhead that could be connected into at any point.
A climate change room was created to facilitate heat transfer experiments to be conducted on new glazing and insulating systems at extreme temperature differentials.
There were extensive site works including site lighting, car park lighting and security upgrades.
