Ed.Square makes use of geothermal technology.

Ecolibrium

MARCH 2019 · VOLUME 18.2

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This article originally appeared in the March 2019 edition of Ecolibrium, which is published by the AIRAH. The article is also available online at www.airah.org.au/ecolibrium

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Ed talk A new development in Sydney’s booming south-west is making use of geothermal technology.

Sydney’s south-west has been identified as one of Australia’s fastest growing regions.

It’s also where you’ll find Edmondson Square, or Ed.Square for short, located on a 24-hectare site adjacent to the Edmondson Park train station in the Liverpool area.

The project incorporates an Eat Street, modelled on the successful Spice Alley in Frasers’ Central Park development in Chippendale.

Developed by Frasers Property Australia, Ed.Square is proposed as a residential community in close proximity to high-end restaurants, cafes, shopping, entertainment, playgrounds and parklands.

It was the use of geothermal that contributed to targeting a 6 star Green Star rating

The Ed.Square community will comprise about 1,900 dwellings, 40,000m2 of retail and commercial space and six hectares of open space and parks. The plan proposes 992 apartments, and 892 terrace and “mews”-style townhouses.

Frasers Property is targeting a 6 Star Green Star Communities rating from the Green Building Council of Australia for the project.

Construction of Ed.Square is expected to take seven years. In the meantime, a display village and sales office opened last year, with 200 sales said to have taken place in the first three months.

Geothermal will be installed to all two-, three- and four-bedroom residences at Ed.Square, representing about 700 homes in total.

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“It was the use of geothermal that contributed to targeting a 6 star Green Star rating,” says Alinta Energy Geothermal (AEG) chief operating officer Peter Weaver. “The use of geothermal is also a continuation of Alinta Energy Geothermal’s partnership with Frasers Property Australia from the highly successful Fairwater Residential Community in Blacktown, where in excess of 500 installations have been completed to date.”

Internally, everything with the geothermal units is exactly the same as regular air conditioning units: in-ceiling ducted.

This requires no changes to the built form. The difference is that condensers have been removed from balcony spaces.

“The key drivers for using geothermal are for the obvious energy efficiency benefits through this highly efficient system,” Weaver says. “But it also adds to the amenity and liveability of the project through the removal of all condensers from balconies and other useable space.”

Geothermal will be supplied to 700 homes in total.

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Designed by HDR, GroupGSA and HASSELL, Ed.Square will also feature cinemas, a licenced tavern and supermarket.

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Weaver says the technology also removes potential heat islands, which are a feature of condensers installed within confined spaces and in small-lot housing.

“The geothermal system is designed into the building in conjunction with mechanical services engineers to ensure geothermal loops and above-ground equipment are co-ordinated in advance,” Weaver says. “All geothermal loops are installed beneath future carpark areas, with geothermal heat pumps mounted to walls.”

Weaver says the development of the GeoAir technology in conjunction with ActronAir is a compelling local story.

“What has been developed here is completely Australian,” he says. “We own all the IP, and have brought in nothing from the US or Europe. It’s innovation and job creation with zero government support.”

And geothermal won’t be the only way the Ed.Square is targeting sustainability either. Ed.Square will be a 100 per cent walkable community where residents will be able to access all facilities, parks and services by foot.

Geothermal loops will be installed beneath carpark 34 ECO L I BR I U M • M A RCH 2019 areas.

Stage 1 of the Ed.Square Town Centre is anticipated to open in the second half of 2020. ❚