Roach Bridge Mill

The Roach Bridge Paper Mill is to be fully refurbished including the installation of a new water turbine which will generate 150Kw of electricity utilising the River Darwen which is a raging bundle of energy providing a substantial contribution to achieving a Zero Energy Building.

A detailed environmental analysis has been carried out simulating the building performance using TAS software to monitor its condition in each zone during all hours of the day for the full year. In collaboration with Firth Associates Architects the facades have been designed to incorporate opening windows to promote natural ventilation aided by stack effect and night time cooling.

Heating is provided by geothermal ground source heat pumps utilising 20No. 50m deep bore holes linked to plant distributing LPHW at 55oC to a series of underfloor heating manifolds and associated pipework distributed through floor screeds.

Rainwater is harvested at roof level and routed to a number of storage tanks which filter and return the water to service the buildings toilets. Hot water is primarily heated via roof mounted solar panels elevating stored water to a usable temperature reinforced during the winter with back up immersion heaters drawing electric produced by the turbine during the night.