Farnham Park Ranger Office and Lodge

Conversion of bungalow

The building has been clad with cedar to give it the appearance of a contemporary park lodge (and to improve insulation), and part of the present accommodation has been converted to provide a new ranger's office. Outside, a canopy of larch beams with a sedum (green living) roof provides shelter for an interpretation area.  Inside, the building's green credentials have been further enhanced through the replacement of the old gas-fired water and space heating system by a wood-fired system. This uses locally supplied wood, which cuts down our reliance on fossil fuels, and also reduces our carbon footprint by using carbon which is  rapidly recycled back into living plant tissue, which can then be used over and over again. The series of roof-mounted solar panels  also helps reduce our use of fossil fuels.

A new wood gasification boiler has been installed to provide hot water and space heating for the office and associated accommodation.  Unlike conventional wood burners, which need constant  feeding with wood to maintain temperature, this system relies on storing the heat produced by a high temperature burn of a complete load of wood, using a large water storage vessel (containing 1.5 tonnes of water) - seen on the left of the boiler covered in yellow insulation.  Depending on the ambient temperature, this means that burns only have to be carried out every two or three days, in order to maintain the temperature of the building and hot water system.

The wood gasification boiler works differently from a conventional wood burning stove.  Wood gas and smoke, produced from a primary burn, is then burned in a ceramic combustion chamber at a very high temperature using pre-heated air, producing a claimed overall 85% combustion efficiency. All wood to be used in the boiler will be generated locally, some from Farnham Park itself, and much of the remainder from normal management activities on Waverley's Countryside Estate, reducing the need for excessive transport.

Roof-mounted solar panels will enable the sun's energy to be captured directly, allowing water to be pre-heated before it enters the wood boiler, and in summer providing all hot water.

Client: Waverley Council
Value: £163,335.00
Duration: 17 weeks

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