Heat pumps in Trinity College Dublin Rubrics
Overview
In the historic confines of Trinity College, the Rubrics building stands as a testament to centuries past. As the oldest edifice on the Trinity campus, the Rubrics exudes the character of seventeenth-century architecture. However, recognizing the need for modernization and efficiency, a refurbishment project was initiated in 2021 to transform the Rubrics into a more functional residential facility while preserving its rich heritage. This ambitious endeavor sought to expand the building's capacity and enhance its energy efficiency. Central to this transformation was the installation of ground source heat pumps, heralding a new era of environmentally friendly heating for the Rubrics.
In conducting an exhaustive feasibility study, AECOM, the project's lead, evaluated various heating solutions against stringent criteria, including energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, and conservation impact. Ultimately, the ground source heat pump emerged as the optimal choice, boasting the lowest CO2 emissions and aligning seamlessly with the building's historic fabric. The innovative closed-loop collector system, comprising 21 vertical boreholes (170 m deep) in New Square, serves as the backbone of the geothermal heating system, harnessing the earth's natural warmth to provide renewable heating and hot water. The water extracted from the collector system, initially ranging in temperature from 9-12ºC, is utilized in three 63kW ground source heat pumps to deliver entirely renewable heating and domestic hot water solutions.
Summary
Underground plant room: plant room of 43 sq m
Units covered: Rubrics building 1715 sq m. The refurbished building provides 9 student rooms, 17 residential staff rooms and 5 guest rooms.
Heating capacity: 188kW
Reduction of CO2 emissions: 75% reduction in primary energy, and CO2 emissions for the building