Hunt Heating supported with the successful design and installation of Council House 2’s hydronic heating systems, with the building going on to be an award-winning design for sustainability and efficiency in Australia.

• $51 million project
• 10 storey office building with 540 City of Melbourne Staff
• Received awards in design, sustainability, and efficiency
• Example of “Biomimicry Architecture” – operates like an ecosystem by mimicking nature
• Generates its own energy using micro wind turbines, PV panels, and solar hot water panels
• Australia’s first ‘Six Star Green Star Design Rating’ approved by the World Green Building Council

In 2004, the City of Melbourne realised it had outgrown its current office block at 200 Collins St, Melbourne. So the council set out to design and build a groundbreaking development that would be a long-term solution to many problems faced by large commercial buildings. These problems included high energy use, occupant health and well-being and functional but attractive workplace design. The result was Australia’s first ‘Six Star Green Star Design Rating’, approved by the World Green Building Council.

The WGBC is a collective of 70 local Green Building Councils around the world. They aim to limit global warming, reduce building and construction sectors CO₂ emissions and promote all buildings to achieve net zero emissions. CH2 generates its own power using a gas-fired microturbine system and solar panels (both water and PV). The cogeneration plant produces electricity to reduce the building reliance on the grid, which runs the cooling while using waste heat for the heating and potable hot water.

Due to the operating principles of the building, heating is only needed for a few hours in the early mornings during winter. Even so, the designers of CH2 needed to ensure they had the best solution to provide sufficient heat while keeping in line with the design principles of the building. As such, Jaga was picked to be the supplier of heating products after discussions with Hunt Heating. Jaga and CH2 are very similar in values – both strive to achieve maximum efficiency, with minimum impact on the environment and look good while doing so!

A solution from Jaga’s Energy Saver range was an obvious choice for the building, with the final decision being the Mini Canal product. The Energy Savers incorporate a Low H2O heat exchanger in various settings and installation options – in a trench within the floor, on a wall with multiple casing options, or even recessed in the wall or ceiling. The Low H2O heat exchangers used across all of these solutions provide high output with very minimal water content. The energy used by low H2O heat exchangers heat an area is up to 20% less than a standard radiator. That’s why these heat exchangers lend themselves perfectly to the cogeneration plant on the roof of CH2, using as little energy as possible.

The heat exchangers are also a very lightweight copper tube/aluminium fin design which ensures reaction times are kept to a minimum. When thermostatically controlling heating in an office environment, fast reaction times are vital. The fluctuation in numbers of people and computers and lights being turned on and off all lead to vast temperature fluctuations. A radiator from the Jaga Energy Saver range helps to keep the temperature as constant as possible without delay.

Like many modern office spaces, the CH2 lacks free wall space and has high volumes of glass facades. It’s why the Mini Canal trench heating option was chosen. The downward cold airflow associated with glazed facades often causes discomfort. The Mini Canal ensures a warm air curtain: the cold air layer from the glass and returns air from the floor level are naturally drawn in, heated and expelled to create a more balanced and even temperature. Being installed within the floor gives the benefits of a radiator system without taking up wall space.

Overall the design and installation of Council House 2’s hydronic heating systems was a major success. The building has gone on to be an award-winning design for sustainability and efficiency in Australia. The Jaga products installed in this building achieve maximum heating efficiency while having a minimal impact on the environment.