Advanced renewable energy solutions are among a range of building services installed by Arc-Tech (Scotland) that are supporting families across West Dunbartonshire.
The Glasgow-based services provider supports commercial, industrial and residential contracts across the country — installing turnkey solutions designed to ensure compliance with building regulations such as energy performance standards and fire safety.
Recent completions in West Dunbartonshire highlight the extent of the firm’s in-house capabilities, with a variety of services contributing to the delivery of some of the most energy-efficient homes in the country.
Clydebank East is West Dunbartonshire Council’s largest ‘net zero ready’ development, consisting of 88 homes in a mix of houses and flats for social rent.
Arc-Tech’s in-house divisions were deployed across the project, with a purpose-built zero-emissions district heating system installed to serve the flatted block alongside solar PV panels and sprinkler systems.
The heating system — comprising two industrial-scale air source heat pumps and two water-to-water heat pumps — delivers space heating and hot water from a centralised source rather than individual water cylinders in each property.
The system was designed in partnership with Hawthorne Boyle, and is one of three to have been installed across the country in the last 18 months.
Arc-Tech (Scotland) Managing Director, John Gallacher, said: “Our in-house Renewables and Sprinklers Divisions worked alongside main contractor CCG (Scotland) from the very early stages of Clydebank East’s delivery. Through this early engagement, our team — alongside Hawthorne Boyle — were able to develop innovative solutions to ensure the Building Services package for the contract could practically be installed on an affordable basis.
“The result is a fantastic new development that has helped address local housing demand and one which will support the local authority’s net zero transition.”
A second council-led development that has been supported by Arc-Tech is Pappert, a 26-home scheme in Bonhill. The project comprises a mix of 20 ‘net zero ready’ and six ‘Passivhaus’ homes for social rent.
All homes again benefit from the adoption of sprinklers and are complete with EV charging points, while each net zero property, which has solar PV panels installed on the roof, has solar battery storage units.
Arc-Tech is one of a small number of building services providers certified to install the TESLA Energy ‘Powerwall’ in Scotland. The unit stores energy generated from the solar panels during daylight hours for later use — even during a power outage — with the benefit of cheaper evening electricity tariffs.
Smart technology installed within the unit tracks usage trends over time to maximise efficiencies as the energy is discharged.
John added: “All of the homes constructed at Pappert will have advanced fabric performance, ensuring they stay warmer for longer and naturally reduce the tenant’s energy consumption. However, the addition of solar batteries can lower energy bills even further, and it is a testament to the Council for piloting their use to understand more about how the technology can potentially be adopted to tackle the fuel poverty agenda at scale across the region.”
Header image: West Dunbartonshire Council’s Clydebank East ‘net zero ready’ development. Image ©CCG.
