The new Chester Community Fire Station (CCFS) is a state-of-the-art four-bay facility and the country’s first zero-carbon fire station for regulated energy*. To meet the zero carbon targets, the project incorporated a range of highly-efficient design features and ‘fabric first’ approach which will save over 75 tonnes of carbon per annum when compared to a typical, nationally benchmarked fire station. In fact, the all-electric station is ‘climate positive’ – with a photovoltaic (PV) array which produces a surplus of renewable electrical energy which is exported to the national grid. Energy performance in operation is monitored and optimised through ISG’sinnovative ‘Performing Places’ system. They worked in close collaboration with Cheshire Fire Authority (CFA) and an integrated design team through the challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic to achieve these successes. Lessons learned have been applied to the delivery of future projects, including Crewe Fire Station for CFA, and a zero carbon Breathing Apparatus training facility for Lancashire Fire & RescueService.
Three Winning Facts:
- Delivering a carbon and climate ‘positive’ fire station with a CO2 emissions rate of -4kg CO2/ m2 per annum
- Saving over 75 tonnes of carbon a year
- Driving zero carbon best practice across the fire & rescue sector