High tech drinks in a high tech building

Zip Heaters UK has installed 28 HydroTaps into the state-of-the-art Bournville College development in Birmingham.

Spanning 4.2 acres and serving 15,000 students, the BREEAM rated education facility opened its doors for the first time in September 2011. During the design and specification stages of this contemporary energy efficient building, the decision was taken to install market leading Hy-droTaps from Zip Heaters UK, to further enhance the energy saving credentials of the overall project.

With 550 staff sharing a number of kitchenettes, convenience was the second key consideration, as Alma Aganovic, Assistant Principal for Bournville College, explains: “With our kitchenettes being used by so many staff, waiting for a kettle to boil simply was not a viable option. Installing Zip HydroTaps in all of our kitchenettes means staff can grab a hot drink quickly and conveniently, with the knowledge that we are not wasting energy boiling and reboiling the kettle. With chilled filtered water available from the same tap, we have also saved on space by eliminating the need for bottle-fed water coolers in staff areas.” “For our administrative team, the HydroTaps are a valuable resource and a great time saver, allowing them to prepare for boardroom meetings with ease.” “One of the team has even hailed the taps as the single best part of the entire building − that is quite something when you are standing in one of the most state-of-the-art developments in the city!”

The 28 Zip HydroTaps within Bournville College all boast a number of superior energy saving functions including a programmable 24/7 timer and a sleep timer which is pre-set to power down during periods of inactivity. The taps use PowerPulse™ energy saving technology to further reduce energy consumption, applying full power to heat boiling water only when in heavy use, reverting to micro-pulse power during light usage periods.

Bournville Colleges HydroTaps can produce over 1,500 cups of tea or coffee each hour and more than 2,000 cups of chilled filtered water, making them the ideal choice for a sizable and busy workforce with numerous guests attending the site on a daily basis.