Lyric has the green factor
For the last few months our building contractor and patron circle sponsors Gilbert-Ash have been drilling down 22 metres into the ground to install a brand new geothermal system.
This is the first geothermal system to be used in an arts and cultural building in Northern Ireland. We are leading the way by investing in this type of technology which will not only reduce the theatre’s carbon footprint and our reliance on fossil fuel but will also save us money.
Now here’s the science bit…
Meeting the highest environmental standards, geothermal systems use the natural heat of the Earth with no emissions or toxicity involved. The new Lyric Theatre will be provided with 90 kW of cooling from a direct geothermal cooling source. The cooling water, sourced from deep beneath the site and anticipated to be at a temperature of approximately 15oC, will be pumped through a heat exchanger and then used to provide cooling to both the main auditorium and the studio theatre. Both these spaces are also to be provided with “displacement ventilation systems” to ensure maximum audience comfort and thus avoiding the need for refrigerant plant.
If you haven’t driven past the theatre recently it is certainly worth a look. Already we can begin to see the rooms of the lower levels taking shape as well as the stage area of the main auditorium. The drama is building!
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