The Solaris Centre, located on the South Promenade, is an award-winning building that integrates a high level of energy-efficient features in its design.
With an on-site cafe and a wide range of highly equipped meeting rooms, it is open to residents, visitors and local community groups and businesses.
Continually changing exhibitions of an environmental theme are held at the Solaris and people are encouraged to stop by to discover the interesting artwork and photos that we have on display.
The old Solarium rose like a phoenix out of the ashes of dereliction to become the new Solaris Centre. In keeping with its original use as a sun room the Solaris Centre uses the power of sunlight to provide some of the building's electricity via the photovoltaic roof. The light and airy building uses the most modern design and technologies to be as energy efficient as possible.
Most of the funding for the redevelopment came from grants, particularly the National Lottery and European Union sources. The Council is working in partnership with several major organisations especially Lancaster University, Blackpool and Fylde College, Department of Trade and Industry and the North West Development Agency.
The new Solaris Centre has been designed to be a Zero Energy Building, that means it should generate more of its own electricity than we will use. Any surplus electricity can be sold back to the National Grid.
The two wind turbines generate up to 6KW each and the 232 square metre photovoltaic roof panels can generate 18KW. In addition there is a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit which provides 5.5 KW electricity as it produces the hot water for the central heating system during the winter.
There is also a passive solar heating panel on the roof which pre-warms the water in the central heating system so that the boiler doesn't have to work so hard and provides hot water during the summer months.
The wind turbines start generating electricity at wind speeds of only 3mps and are at almost capacity 80% by 10mps. The average wind speed for Blackpool is 5mps and the average output is calculated to be 45 KW/day from each turbine. They can withstand hurricane force winds and will continue to work up to 150 mph!
Sun Tubes provide daylight through the ceiling in two of the rooms. All of our other light fittings have the latest energy efficient bulbs and some are on movement sensors and timers to save energy.
Rainwater collected off the roof is used to flush the toilets so as not to waste drinking water 'down the drain'.
Outside the grounds have been developed as an environmental resource, with a dipping pond, 'root zone', sensory garden and a 'Carbon Neutral Garden' planted to attract bees, butterflies and other creepy crawlies.
There is also an Orrery Garden demonstrating the Solar System for you to enjoy .
Other environmental events as well as community music and drama can be held outside.
The Solarium can be found on New South Promenade, opposite the Mirror Ball. The main entrance is between the two wind turbines. There is a small free car park at the north (Pleasure Beach) end of the building, with free on-street parking along the side streets and at the rear, but not on the Promenade.However, as this is an environmentally friendly building we do try to encourage visitors to use an alternative form of transport! There are bus and tram stops very close by and we have several cycle stands.
For the latest information about the Solaris Centre and current /future exhibitions, please use the website link from the menu on the right.
If you are a business or community group and would like more information about room bookings and catering, please contact the Solaris Centre on 01253 478020 .
|