A multi-million pound new build development at Nottingham Trent University resulted in the installation of 3,960 Kingspan Renewables Thermomax solar thermal vacuum tubes.
Completed in September, the new student accommodation at Clifton Campus was built using the University Partnerships Programme's Eco Residence Model for sustainable development.
To service the hot water needs of its 727 students, Nottingham-based solar specialist MG Renewables specified 132 Thermomax solar thermal vacuum tube collectors, covering more than 6,000 sq ft across the roofs of 12 accommodation blocks.
The Thermomax collectors are now delivering the university campus 33,000 litres of hot water a day, while lowering energy bills and providing a reduction in CO2 emissions of 61 tonnes a year, according to Kingspan Renewables.
Thermomax vacuum tube collectors are said to provide up to 70 per cent of the university campus's hot water requirements throughout the year. Says Kingspan Renewables: 'The vacuum inside each tube provides perfect insulation by protecting the system from outside influences, such as cold, wet or windy weather, resulting in quality performance all year round.
'The vacuum tubes also allow energy from the sun to be collected efficiently and effectively, so that solarheated water is always readily available.'