Window Film Association of Australia and New Zealand

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Film saves energy at Collins Street

Case study from the Window Film Association of Australia and New Zealand  

Melbourne’s iconic One Collins Street is a striking piece of real estate. It has retained an ageless look, since its tower was designed over 24 years ago to sit harmoniously among the heritage buildings of Spring and Collins Streets that make up the lower parts of its facade.  

The One Collins Street Tower houses twenty five tenants throughout its seventeen levels. It is located at the Paris end of Collins Street, opposite the leafy Treasury Gardens.    

For some time property managers Knight Frank and owner Overland Properties were faced with a problem – how to economically control the temperature of the building while improving the comfort of its tenants.  

Facilities Manager Marty Byrne of Knight Frank said, “There were three compelling issues affecting the property. Firstly, the intense morning sun, especially during summer, on the East and North faces of the building. This was exaggerated by the lack of adjoining buildings that might provide shade. To combat this problem, the air conditioning plant had to start earlier than usual and both chillers were required to run for most of the year to maintain satisfactory temperatures. This was not an economical or environmentally-friendly scenario.  

“Secondly, the tenants wanted to maximise floor space by occupying the areas directly in front of the perimeter windows, which became ‘hot zones’ during the warmer months. Glare was also a major problem, as vertical blinds proved virtually ineffective in stopping heat and glare penetrating the building.  

“And thirdly, due to the increased use of computers and other office equipment over the years, the plant’s original design capacity was exceeded. So both chillers had to run for most of the time to maintain temperatures, which left the building without any backup should either of the chillers break down.”  

All three problems have been greatly reduced thanks to the application of solar control window film in 2007.  

“It’s been an enormously successful exercise and everyone is enjoying the benefits the window film has made,” Marty comments, “Now we’re only using one chiller for all but the hottest months of the year, which led to a reduction in energy consumption. Plus, the conditioners require less maintenance now as they are not used as often. The reinstatement of our backup capacity for most of the year has also been a relief. The tenants appreciate the use of all of their floor space and can leave the blinds open so they don’t miss out on the glorious views for the sake of comfort”.

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