Nancy Bell

Head of Collection Care

The National Archives, UK

Leaders of Change: Strategies for Meeting the Environmental Challenge

The question

Can we provide appropriate environmental conditions (relativehumidity and temperature) for the collection, meet governmenttargets on CO2 emission and energy usage and prolong the lifetimeof the collection?

Vs

The National Archives

Q1 19783 repositories~6,500m2 each

Q1 repositories

3 421

4 Plant rooms, each servicing a quarter of all three repository floors above it

1 4

2 3

The aim of the model

The aim of the model was to examine options to maintain a sustainable preservation environment for the storage of TNA’s collection.

• Reduced energy consumption in line with sustainability targets

• Built resilience in light of climate change predictions

• Inform ongoing capital investment

• Contribute to the development of appropriate conservation standards and guidelines

Centre for Sustainable HeritageThe Bartlett School of Graduate StudiesUniversity College London

Developed using EnergyPlus

Energy is a building energy simulation program for modelling

building heating, cooling, lighting, ventilating and other energy flows. Developed

by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and trademark of the US Department

of Energy.

Outdoor environment

Building envelope

Air/ConHAMT

Relative humidity Temperature

Centre for Sustainable HeritageThe Bartlett School of Graduate StudiesUniversity College London

Prototype

N

61.4 61.2 66.8 66.4

58.5

58.1 60.8

59.5

W 63.0 51.8 63.5 E

58.1

57.8 57.5

56.8

64.7 65.1 60.6 60.8

S

56.1

56.9 61.0

62.9

59.0 53.1 54.4 56.364.3

56.6 54.7

57.4

57.561.6 66.0

64.0

59.0 57.3 54.8 57.8

N

16.8 16.9 16.1 16.1

17.7

17.5 17.6

17.6

W 16.7 19.7 16.8 E

18.1

17.9 18.1

18.5

16.6 16.5 17.4 17.5

S

16.116.8

16.7 17.617.9

18.1

17.5

19.4

17.8

18.6

19.2

18.7

17.0

16.5

18.1

18.5

18.9

18.3

18.4

18.1

N

16.8 16.9 16.2 16.2

17.5

17.5 17.6

17.6

W 16.7 19.8 16.8 E

17.7

17.8 18.0

18.2

16.7 16.6 17.5 17.5

S

18.1

16.5

17.5

18.2

18.4

16.8 16.218.1 18.8 18.4 18.2

18.9

16.8 17.8 17.619.2 19.2 18.5 18.2

17.0

What-if scenarios

Final model

Model construction

Input data

Building dimensionsMaterial propertiesInternal loadHVAC operationEnvironmental monitoring data

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

01/06/2009 00:00

04/06/2009 17:00

08/06/2009 10:00

12/06/2009 03:00

15/06/2009 20:00

19/06/2009 13:00

23/06/2009 06:00

26/06/2009 23:00

30/06/2009 16:00

04/07/2009 09:00

08/07/2009 02:00

11/07/2009 19:00

15/07/2009 12:00

19/07/2009 05:00

22/07/2009 22:00

26/07/2009 15:00

30/07/2009 08:00

03/08/2009 01:00

06/08/2009 18:00

10/08/2009 11:00

14/08/2009 04:00

17/08/2009 21:00

21/08/2009 14:00

25/08/2009 07:00

29/08/2009 00:00

01/09/2009 17:00

05/09/2009 10:00

09/09/2009 03:00

12/09/2009 20:00

16/09/2009 13:00

20/09/2009 06:00

23/09/2009 23:00

27/09/2009 16:00

01/10/2009 09:00

05/10/2009 02:00

08/10/2009 19:00

12/10/2009 12:00

16/10/2009 05:00

19/10/2009 22:00

23/10/2009 15:00

27/10/2009 08:00

31/10/2009 01:00

03/11/2009 18:00

07/11/2009 11:00

11/11/2009 04:00

14/11/2009 21:00

18/11/2009 14:00

22/11/2009 07:00

26/11/2009 00:00

29/11/2009 17:00

Jun - Nov, 2009

Relative Humidity (%)

mon_RH_3F (mean = 54.2%, SD = 2.8%)

mod_RH_3F (mean = 54.5%, SD = 3.0%)

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

70

01/06/2009 00:00

04/06/2009 16:00

08/06/2009 08:00

12/06/2009 00:00

15/06/2009 16:00

19/06/2009 08:00

23/06/2009 00:00

26/06/2009 16:00

30/06/2009 08:00

04/07/2009 00:00

07/07/2009 16:00

11/07/2009 08:00

15/07/2009 00:00

18/07/2009 16:00

22/07/2009 08:00

26/07/2009 00:00

29/07/2009 16:00

02/08/2009 08:00

06/08/2009 00:00

09/08/2009 16:00

13/08/2009 08:00

17/08/2009 00:00

20/08/2009 16:00

24/08/2009 08:00

28/08/2009 00:00

31/08/2009 16:00

04/09/2009 08:00

08/09/2009 00:00

11/09/2009 16:00

15/09/2009 08:00

19/09/2009 00:00

22/09/2009 16:00

26/09/2009 08:00

30/09/2009 00:00

03/10/2009 16:00

07/10/2009 08:00

11/10/2009 00:00

14/10/2009 16:00

18/10/2009 08:00

22/10/2009 00:00

25/10/2009 16:00

29/10/2009 08:00

02/11/2009 00:00

05/11/2009 16:00

09/11/2009 08:00

13/11/2009 00:00

16/11/2009 16:00

20/11/2009 08:00

24/11/2009 00:00

27/11/2009 16:00

Jun - Nov, 2009

Relative Humidity (%)

2 x exposed surface area (mean = 52.0%, SD = 3.0%)

no exposed surface area (mean = 52.4%, SD = 3.3%)

Calibration

Model software

+ Energy load

Centre for Sustainable HeritageThe Bartlett School of Graduate StudiesUniversity College London

Scenario testing

The environmental options were explored through a series of what-if scenarios tested using the simulation model

• Changes of outdoor conditions

• Changes to the structure of the building

• Changes in the operation of the air conditioning

• Changes in the content of the repositories

• Changes in internal load

Centre for Sustainable HeritageThe Bartlett School of Graduate StudiesUniversity College London

Research to practice

1. Demand for cooling is 70% of total energy load

2. Powering down HVAC over the weekend: Up to 22% saving without affecting the preservation environment

3. Seasonally adjusted HVAC set points: Up to 43% saving with improved quality of preservation environment

• Set points between 40% - 55%RH and 16oC - 20oC

• Savings of approximately £180k per year.

4. Increasing roof insulation and other myths: No significant net change

5. The capacity of the archival material to moderate conditions is marginal whilst HVAC is in operation

6. Projected climate change will increase operation energy load by 15% by 2050 and 24% by 2080

7. Under certain conditions the building can maintain the environment without HVAC system in April, May and December

Centre for Sustainable HeritageThe Bartlett School of Graduate StudiesUniversity College London

The power of evidence

• Transformed thinking and practice in The National Archives

• Demonstrated the potential of computer modelling for our sector

• Realised the potential of research

Developing standards

Act as a guide - measurable attainable goals • Synthesise

of research • Inform policies • Save time and money

Challenges: Shaping policy

• Building the evidence base

• Co-ordinated international research strategy

• The unexpected…………