Outdoor air conditioning unit (antennae mast too)

Local commercial radio stations provide their listeners with news, traffic reports and entertainment twenty four hours every day throughout the year and want to save energy costs

Lincs FM comprises a group of small local radio stations of which Oak FM, located in Coalville (Leicestershire), is part. In 2008 two stations were amalgamated to improve competition in a tough market. A key objective was to embrace the technology to improve energy efficiency. The result is an example of how design and use of technology can reduce energy consumption, save costs, reduce the carbon footprint and create a facility to encourage ongoing savings.

The broadcast equipment and studios are constantly in use and need cooling; the offices need heat most of the year. Occupation of the offices varies according to activity and lighting demand is ever changing. This places a high demand on electrical energy.The objective for the building services design was to utilise waste heat from the studios and technical areas to heat the offices and to use occupancy detectors to control lighting so it is only on when required.

Mitsubishi VRF technology was selected to move heat around between areas within the building and to provide additional heating and cooling by rejecting or scavenging from the outside air. A Mitsubishi Lossnay fresh air heat transfer unit was selected to transfer heat between the fresh air intake and stale air extract, thus substantially reducing the heating/cooling load of the fresh air. Lighting is configured in groups according to work practices and controlled by PIR occupancy detectors that turn the lighting on when required and off when nobody is present.

Broadcast Studio

Oak FM is the sole occupant of a single storey 3,500 ft/sq building containing two broadcast studios, central racks/equipment room, meeting room, open plan office, tea point, toilets and storage.

The 24/7 studio and computer equipment load is 3.96kW equating to 34,689kW/h per annum. The installed lighting load is 3.77kW which, over the nominal working day, would consume 16,469kW/h per annum. Other items such as water heating and office equipment account for 5,960kW/h per annum: a total consumption of 57,117kW/h per annum.

The projected cost of traditional wet heating amounts to 21,272kW/h per annum and studio air conditioning 32,450kW/h per annum: a total demand of 110,839kW/h per annum. The total consumption for the past year (taken from electricity bills) was 86,929kW/h – a saving of 21.9%

Benefits include:

• Integrated building system
• Effective use of energy
• Lower installation cost
• Lower maintenance cost
• Lower energy bills
• Reduced likelihood of energy waste (forgotten light)
• Air conditioning and fresh air to all occupied parts
• Pleasant working environment

This project was shortlisted for The Environment and Energy Awards 2010 - SME Award for Energy Efficiency.

Cost Saving Opportunity:

The Government is still offering funding to businesses who are trying to reduce their energy usage. You could afford to buy that piece of energy saving kit to cut down on your energy costs to size.

If you do not know how to save on your huge energy costs, we provide the answer and let you know how to reduce your energy consumption by 20%:

Do you have?

• 24/7 offices or Control Rooms
• Computer suites
• Continuous processes
• Dealing rooms
• Heat generating areas

Yes! then we can help you reduce your costs.

A Touch of Class

Classic FM, the first national independent radio station, launched on the 7^th September 1992 bringing a new world of music to the UK. Veale Associates were key to its successful launch and, again, when the station relocated from Camden in 2006.

At 6am on the 7th September 1992 Classic FM went on air for the first time to 80% of the UK population. Veale Associates designed and managed the project, ensuring Classic FM would be ready to begin broadcasting within just nine months of being awarded the licence.

In 2005 Classic FM's owners, GWR, merged with Capital Radio to form GCap Media: this amalgamation brought with it the relocation of Classic FM's studios and headquarters to premises in Leicester Square and, once again Veale Associates were given the task of designing, project managing, creating and delivering three refurbished studios, a new waiting area, entrance and office space, in under three months...

this they did

Classic FM’s first studios were set in a 6000 sq feet basement in a secluded part of Camden, close enough to the media heart of London but without being extravagant.

A stylish open plan office area for presentation and news staff and, above, a 2000 sq ft office for sales and administration were created. The building, located next to the canal, provided no traffic noise problems: however a main BR railway line only 80 yards away created problem vibrations through the 1930’s mass concrete and, in addition, the canal water level was 5 feet higher than the studio floor.

Since its launch, Classic FM has become a distinguished name and currently delivers radio plus a plethora of media including TV, books, records and concerts.

When in 2005 it was decided to relocate Classic FM to GCap’s premises in Leicester Square, Veale Associates were again given the task to create a space where they would be integrated with the other group stations: Capital Radio, theJazz, Capital Disney, Capital Gold, XFM, and Choice FM.

Classic FM required an entrance and waiting area, which would greet their guests with the Classic FM brand and style, a space that was distinct from others reflecting and illustrating their diversity whilst retaining their sophisticated, clean, tranquil appearance but with a modern edge. The Leicester Square building accommodates a range of stations, with diverse styles and identities. Veale Associates had designed many of the stations in the past and, in order to meet Classic FM’s desires, had to re-think the space by opening up and reconstructing the area to create a light, airy, spacious environment.