Vent-Axia Provides MVHR Solution For Leading Lo-Carbon Home

Pioneering Lo-Carbon™ technology from Vent-Axia is one of the energy efficient solutions to feature in the recently renovated ‘Sunpower CO2ttage’ in Stroud, Hampshire. Epitomising environmental living, this private family home has undergone a £30,000 whole house eco-makeover and is now believed to be the most energy efficiently improved home in Hampshire to date. Designed to deliver 80% carbon reductions through retrofitting energy saving technology throughout the cottage, the home already meets the savings the Government’s Heat and Energy strategy will require existing homes to achieve by 2050.

Paul Ciniglio, owner of Sunpower CO2ttage, an environmental scientist and international pioneer of low carbon housing, has fully embraced energy efficient technology, and has installed a Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon HR25 Solo mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system (MVHR) in the property. Completed in early 2010, this two-bedroom, 1990 mid-terraced cottage joins a national network of other exemplar homes open to the public as part of the ‘Old Home Super Home’ alliance. This initiative from the Sustainable Energy Academy (SEA) was set up to inspire and encourage homeowners to improve household energy efficiency, and so cut fuel bills and reduce global warming emissions.

“I am very proud to have completed the retrofitting of my home in line with my project vision. I look forward to welcoming visitors and helping to inspire them to achieve their own aspirations to reduce the environmental impact and running costs in their homes. Finally I can begin to enjoy the benefits of living in a truly sustainable home,” says Paul Ciniglio.

Vent-Axia’s HR25 Solo MVHR system has been installed in the kitchen and bathroom facilities in the property. Designed to alleviate the everyday problems that condensation and household odours may cause, the system effectively eliminates pollutants and excess humidity during winter months by exhausting stale air and replacing it with fresh filtered air. Through effective ventilation, the HR25 Solo also recovers up to 84% of the valuable warmth which would otherwise be wasted during the heating season, minimising domestic energy costs and contributing to national reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse emissions. The energy saving Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon DC motors further improve its efficiency and carbon reducing capabilities.

Other energy saving features at the eco-house include vastly improved thermal insulation and air tightness, recyclable ‘A’ energy rated argon filled double glazing with low emissivity glass, an efficient air source heat pump for space heating combined with low water volume radiators, wireless control and fully insulated concealed pipe-work alongside a highly efficient evacuated tube solar thermal panels, solar photovoltaic panels generating free and clean electricity on site, low energy lighting including new style LED’s, energy consumption and solar generation meters. In addition, the property also boasts ‘AAA’ energy rated household appliances and water saving measures, including ultra low dual flush WC, an aerated shower head, water meter and rain water harvesting butts.

This £30,000 project was supported by the South Downs Joint Committee sustainable development fund and formerly opened on 26 March 2010 by Andrew Lee CEO of the Sustainable Development Commission and John Doggart Chairman of the Sustainable Energy Academy.

Vent-Axia’s HR25 Solo is part of the company’s Lo-Carbon™ collection of energy saving ventilation solutions. The aim of the Lo-Carbon™ initiative is to offer the latest low carbon ventilation technology in order to reduce building energy consumption and so carbon emissions. Vent-Axia provides the most comprehensive range of high quality, low energy ventilation products, systems and solutions on the market available from any single manufacturer.

For more information on Vent-Axia's MVHR range, click http://www.vent-axia.com/range/heat-recovery-and-mechanical-extract-syst...