In the 'green' canteen of Toyota Material in Bologna even kitchen fumes are recycled

Toyota Material Handling has created a new green structure with 350 seats at the table where the fumes from preparing meals are used for heating

BOLOGNA - In the new Toyota Material Handling company canteen in Bologna nothing goes to waste, not even kitchen fumes, which are reused for heating. Built in place of a car park, the canteen, inaugurated today, can seat 350 people. The building consists of two volumes: one arranged on two levels above ground and the other with a single floor surmounted by a green roof. In the main building there is the meal preparation area and a first seating area, which is spread over two floors.

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND PHOTOVOLTAIC ROOF

The lower building houses the largest portion of the consumption room.The structure is designed with highly insulating materials and windows with low thermal transmittance. The roof is equipped with 50 kilowatt peak photovoltaic solar panels for the production of electricity and for powering the heat pump system. Consumption is monitored thanks to a BMS (building monitoring system).For construction were used materials with low environmental impact and from sustainable sources.Furthermore, the internal distribution of the rooms takes into account the solar path to maximize the benefits of natural light.

THERMAL ENERGY SHOULD NOT BE WASTED

The project involves the exclusive use of electricity to power kitchen equipment, completely eliminating the use of gas a thermal recovery system for cooking fumes for heating internal areas.Through a filtration system, this will be possible reuse the thermal energy, which would otherwise be dissipated through the flue gas evacuation pipes into the atmosphere.By transforming the old car park, the green surface was increased by planting new trees.

REPLICABLE PROJECT

“This project aims to achieve a state of high energy efficiency, drastically reducing the carbon emissions associated with the use of the building.The expected results include a positive energy balance on an annual basis and a replicable model for future projects,” explains the company. The building developed with Camst, which has collaborated with Toyota for years in the management of the catering service, and designed by the architect Domenico Dieni, was selected for the 2023 Templum Award review and is designed to be in all respects a low energy requirement building.The restaurant service in the room is completely plastic free, with reusable tableware.