JLM designed and constructed a highly efficient, safe, and comfortable retirement care living facility — a replicable model for future retirement living developments that prioritise energy efficiency, environmental responsibility, and resident well-being.

The overall aim of the project was to create an efficient, safe, and comfortable retirement care living facility that set a new benchmark for sustainability in the region. This involved integrating advanced mechanical and electrical systems, including renewable energy sources and heat recovery technologies, to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint while ensuring the highest standards of safety and comfort for elderly residents.

Key Project Innovations:

Integration of Renewable Energy with Heat Recovery

The project combined solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with an Indoor Heat Pump Hot Water Heat Recovery Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) system. This system was uniquely designed to convert waste heat from bathrooms and kitchens into low-cost, renewable hot water, reducing the reliance on conventional heating methods and maximising the use of renewable energy sources.

Custom-Designed Warden/Nurse Call System:

The warden/nurse call system was not an off-the-shelf solution but was specifically tailored to meet the needs of elderly residents. This included designing user-friendly interfaces, integrating mobile monitoring for staff, and ensuring reliable operation even during power outages, which is particularly crucial in a care environment.

Advanced Smoke Ventilation Extract System:

The smoke ventilation system was uniquely integrated with the building’s mechanical ventilation infrastructure, allowing for localised smoke extraction in case of a fire. This system was designed to be highly responsive and minimise disruption to residents, which is especially important in a retirement living context where mobility may be limited.

Smart Control System for Optimal Performance:

A bespoke control system was developed to optimise the operation of the integrated technologies. This smart controller dynamically adjusted the ventilation rates based on real-time occupancy and indoor air quality, ensuring energy efficiency without compromising resident comfort.

Space-Efficient Design:

The project required innovative solutions to integrate all these advanced mechanical and electrical systems within the compact spaces of the apartments and communal areas. The space-efficient design ensured that the living environment remained comfortable and aesthetically pleasing without sacrificing functionality.

Focus on Resident-Centred Design:

The project was unconventional in its strong emphasis on resident feedback and post-occupancy evaluations. The systems were fine-tuned based on the practical needs and preferences of the residents, ensuring that the technological innovations truly enhanced their quality of life.

Major Challenges Addressed:

Energy Efficiency Integration:

Achieving high energy efficiency while integrating multiple systems such as solar PV, heat recovery, and mechanical extract ventilation was complex. Balancing the energy demands of the building with the renewable energy supply required careful planning and precise engineering. Ensuring that the combined systems operated in harmony without compromising energy efficiency or resident comfort was a significant challenge, particularly in a facility with varying occupancy and usage patterns.

Space Constraints:

The compact nature of the 56-apartment facility posed significant constraints on where and how the mechanical and electrical systems could be installed. Finding space to house the advanced systems without compromising the living space or the building’s aesthetic design required innovative engineering solutions and careful coordination with architects.

System Integration and Optimisation:

Integrating diverse technologies—such as the warden/nurse call system, smoke ventilation, solar PV, and MEV—into a seamless operation was a major technical challenge. Developing a bespoke control system that could optimise the performance of all these integrated technologies, especially in real-time response to occupancy and environmental conditions, was complex and required extensive R&D.

Reliability and Safety:

Ensuring the reliability and safety of critical systems like the warden/nurse call and smoke ventilation systems was paramount, given the elderly population’s needs. Designing and testing these systems to meet stringent safety standards while maintaining user-friendliness and reliability in all scenarios, including during power outages, presented significant engineering and testing hurdles.

Resident Comfort and Usability:

The systems needed to be not only efficient but also comfortable and easy to use for elderly residents, who might have limited mobility or technical skills. Balancing technological sophistication with simplicity and ensuring that systems like the warden/nurse call were intuitive and accessible to all residents required thoughtful design and user-centred testing.

Sustainability Goals

Meeting ambitious sustainability targets, including reducing the facility’s carbon footprint by integrating renewable energy and heat recovery systems. Achieving these goals within the constraints of budget, space, and regulatory requirements required innovative solutions and compromises that did not detract from the overall project aims.

Commissioning and Fine-Tuning:

The commissioning phase involved rigorous testing of all systems to ensure they worked as intended and met all performance and safety criteria. The complexity of the integrated systems meant that fine-tuning was an iterative process, requiring adjustments based on real-world usage and resident feedback to achieve optimal performance.

These challenges required the project team to engage in extensive research, development, and collaboration across multiple disciplines to deliver a facility that met its ambitious goals successfully.

JLM Energy has successfully implemented renewable energy solutions for various care facilities, including a care home in Lincoln, helping to reduce operational costs and enhance sustainability.

JLM specialises in providing innovative renewable energy solutions tailored to the unique needs of the commercial sector.