Gatehouse Theatre in Stafford slashes heating bills with BEC retrofit

(08/07/2010)

Despite experiencing the coldest winter on record for decades, the Gatehouse Theatre has been able to slash its heating bills by half last winter, thanks to a building management system upgrade that was installed and commissioned by building controls specialist, BEC.

Based in the centre of Stafford, the Gatehouse Theatre is an impressive 19th century building, which provides the stage for a wide variety of professional shows and amateur productions throughout the year. Inside its grand exterior, the theatre houses modern facilities including conference rooms, a studio theatre and recording space.

To optimise the building’s performance and improve its energy ratings, Stafford Borough Council's Property Services Department instigated a boiler replacement and a complete controls system upgrade for the venue. BEC were appointed to carry out a controls retrofit, which would also facilitate significant energy savings and cause minimal disruption to the theatre’s events calendar.

BEC installed HVAC controllers throughout the site that are connected via BACnet open protocol. Facilities staff can monitor and proactively control the temperature settings in different areas within the building by using an intuitive front end that can be remotely accessed online via a PC laptop. This gives them the ability to manage heating schedules in advance of the theatre’s use. For example, when occupancy may be low for a production rehearsal, a lower level of control is needed than when the theatre holds a full cast and audience.

By installing new, energy-efficient controls equipment and enabling the theatre to accurately programme temperatures to correspond with changes in occupancy levels, BEC has helped to drastically cut the theatre’s heating bill by 50%.

“We have been very impressed by the savings that the new controls system has created, it has helped us in obtaining a very creditable Band C (57) Display Energy Certificate rating,” says Paul Gerrard, Property Services Senior Technical Officer for Stafford Borough Council. “We can be assured that all our visitors will be comfortable within the theatre, whilst also significantly lowering our energy bills and impact on the environment.”

Related categories:  Air conditioning - commercial and industrial   Energy Conservation   Heating controls