Grenadier, the local developer of Exmouth’s new Watersports centre, Sideshore, is excited to announce the building has been awarded an Energy Performance Certification (EPC) ‘A’ which is ground-breaking for a commercial building. Only 3% of non-domestic buildings reached EPC A/A+ in England and Wales in 2019*.
Construction of the 10,900 sq. ft. / 1,010 sq.m structure continued throughout 2020 despite the challenges of a national lockdown where the focus was keeping workers safe. The technical challenge of building in a seafront location on a site open to the elements was also tough says the team.
Antony Wood, Director of Construction, Grenadier said: “This project was not without its challenges, despite the effects of a global pandemic we also had to contend with building on an often wet, cold, windy seafront site. We chose to work with Devon Contractors, and they have done an amazing job to ensure the specification of the building is something that will leave a positive legacy for the community.”
Local property developer Grenadier have always stated they wanted to create the most sustainable building possible with low visual and environmental impact on the Exmouth seafront.
How the EPC A was achieved at Sideshore
The new site had to go through rigorous efficiency criteria to achieve an A rating, this included measuring the efficiency of insulation, the amount of energy used per square metre, and renewable energy generation.
All power at Sideshore is supplied by renewable sources to reduce the environmental impact. The specification of all products and materials were measured on sustainability and longevity:
A ground source heat pump was installed to provide heating and hot water with energy savings of between a quarter and a third of traditional sources
Solar panels were installed to generate as much renewable energy as possible. In total, a staggering 74,849kWh of energy is expected to be generated, saving more than 17,400kg CO2 each year. This is the equivalent of powering 26 households or taking 8 cars off the road per annum.
Six Electric Vehicle charging points and 15 bike racks were installed to encourage greener transport
LED lighting throughout
“We understood that we were developing in naturally beautiful surroundings and knew that it was important to both enhance the area and create a facility/centre which will leave a minimal mark upon the local environment. This means Sideshore needed to complement its environment and be as self-sufficient as possible.”
Aiden Johnson-Hugill, Director of Grenadier