Twycross Zoo - Himalaya
Overview
Hills Energy Management Solutions supports Wates FM at Twycross Zoo through ongoing BMS maintenance and system review. As part of this work within the Himalaya Building, we identified an opportunity to improve the performance of the air handling systems serving the retail, function and kitchen areas.
Although the units were already fitted with variable speed drives, they were operating in a way that did not make full use of their energy-saving potential. By introducing a more responsive ventilation strategy, we helped the client improve efficiency, make better use of existing assets and maintain reliable ventilation across a busy mixed-use building.
Client requirement
The objective was to identify practical energy-saving opportunities through routine maintenance activity, while maintaining reliable operation across an occupied building with a mix of public and back-of-house spaces.
Any improvement needed to:
- reduce unnecessary energy use
- work within the existing plant and controls arrangement
- maintain appropriate fresh air provision to occupied areas
- protect the safe operation of the kitchen ventilation system
- deliver measurable value without major replacement works
This was a strong example of how targeted maintenance and optimisation can deliver benefits beyond basic system upkeep, creating operational and energy value from the systems already in place.
The challenge
The main challenge was that, although the air handling units were equipped with variable speed drives, the existing controls strategy was not using them effectively.
The opportunity was clear, but the revised strategy needed to be introduced carefully. Ventilation output had to be reduced when demand was low without compromising indoor environmental conditions or affecting the operation of the kitchen ventilation system. In particular, airflow serving the kitchen needed to remain stable enough to support safe operation and avoid disruption to the associated gas safety arrangement.
The project therefore required a balanced approach that improved efficiency while maintaining confidence in building performance and safety.
What we delivered
As part of our maintenance review, we identified and implemented a demand-led ventilation strategy across the relevant air handling systems.
The upgrade included additional sensing and updates to the BMS software so that fan speeds could respond more intelligently to occupancy-related air quality conditions and temperature demand. This allowed the ventilation system to adjust more closely to how the building was actually being used, rather than continuing to operate at a fixed output regardless of demand.
The revised strategy was configured to provide safe and stable performance across all served areas, including the more critical kitchen ventilation arrangement, ensuring that efficiency gains were achieved without compromising operational reliability.
Plant and system functionality
The updated BMS strategy now provides more responsive control of the air handling systems serving the building.
This includes demand-led fan speed adjustment, improved response to internal environmental conditions and more efficient operation during periods of lower demand.
By making better use of the existing variable speed drives, the system now operates in a more measured and effective way, while continuing to maintain fresh air provision to occupied spaces and stable operation within the kitchen area.
The outcome
The completed optimisation delivered a clear reduction in unnecessary ventilation energy use by enabling output to better match actual building demand.
In addition to improved efficiency, the revised operating strategy supports a more measured approach to plant operation, helping reduce avoidable strain on fan motors, filters and associated heating and cooling components. This can support better long-term plant condition and help reduce maintenance pressures over time.
Most importantly, the project demonstrated how targeted improvements identified through routine maintenance can deliver meaningful value for the client — improving efficiency, making better use of existing assets and supporting wider sustainability objectives without the cost and disruption of major replacement works.
