Showroom, hosted by Martyn

In August 2022 Elite Renewables acquired the Tait Road premises – a warehouse unit built in 1981 – and has since then been fitting them out, under the expert eye of RIBA Chartered Architect and Passivhaus Consultant Alida Calistru with the aim to produce a centre of excellence.   
 
 Located in Croydon, South London, on the Tait Road Industrial Estate, this establishment exemplifies Elite Renewables' commitment to achieving zero-carbon operations.
  
 The decision to establish this groundbreaking office and showroom was made in 2022 by Martyn Fowler, the chief executive and an expert in renewable energy. Martyn aimed to demonstrate that even with the limitations of older building infrastructure, it is possible to achieve a zero-carbon environment. The facility serves as both a fully functional office and a dynamic showroom, allowing clients to witness firsthand the operation of various renewable technologies, rather than relying solely on brochures and second-hand information. This achievement is the culmination of 20 years of experience working with diverse renewable technologies.
  
 One notable feature of the Tait Road facility is its exclusive reliance on a Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) system. Three boreholes, each drilled to a depth of 170m, provide complete heating, hot water, and even cooling for the office in a highly efficient manner. By incorporating 66 solar panels on the roof and three battery storage systems, the facility has significantly reduced its dependence on the traditional power grid, achieving a reduction of over 95% on Grid Reliance.
  
 The office employs underfloor heating on both floors for efficient heating, while cooling is accomplished through fan coil units that are automatically controlled. These fan coil units take advantage of the GSHP system's natural byproduct, utilising free cooling and replenishing the energy stored in the boreholes, thereby increasing sustainability. Moreover, recognising the importance of clean air, the Tait Road facility incorporates a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) unit on each floor. This system supplies fresh, filtered air to all spaces while extracting stale air. It also features heat recovery technology to preheat or cool the replacement air, maximising overall system efficiency.
  
 All these technologies synergistically work together, creating an ideal working environment and sustainable workplace. The Tait Road facility serves as a testament to the effectiveness of these technologies and demonstrates how other offices can adapt to make similar environmentally friendly changes for the benefit of the planet and its people.