Lo-Carbon™ ventilation specialist Vent-Axia has been selected as preferred ventilation supplier for the ‘livinhome’ housing project, a new and innovative approach to affordable housing developed by Geraghty Taylor Architects and Guildhouse-Rosepride. Already being piloted in Croydon, Salford and Aylesbury, the livinhome initiative aims to provide environmentally friendly, functional living spaces at affordable prices.
The concept of livinhome is to offer flexible, easy to live in accommodation suited to all generations by bringing together high quality design and emerging technologies for excellent cost and energy efficiency. A livinhome is constructed using SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) and built around a central chassis onto which a range of exterior and interior building systems can be fitted. These properties are designed to suit changing lifestyles; houses can be adapted by simply changing internal walls, to create a duplex or a series of apartments. Key benefits of livinhome properties are high thermal performance and air-tightness, which simply means the heat used to warm the air in the house stays in the house. This air is kept fresh throughout the house using a ducted heat recovery ventilation system.
Vent-Axia has been contracted to provide all livinhome houses with its Lo-Carbon™ Sentinel Kinetic mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) and Sentinel Kinetic Cooker Hood range of fans. Specifically designed for new build constructions with a high level of insulation, the Sentinel Kinetic is ideal for increasingly air tight homes and complies with the latest Building Regulations Document F 2010 for wholehouse ventilation, System 4. The system is capable of 90% heat recovery which will be significant in helping reduce the DER of livinhome properties.
A whole house, multi-room ducted solution, the Sentinel Kinetic combines supply and extract ventilation in one unit and is suitable for cupboard and loft installation. Meanwhile, the Sentinel Kinetic Cooker Hood option fits within a 600mm aperture above a hob. Warm, moist air is extracted from ‘wet’ rooms through ducting and passed through the heat exchanger before being exhausted to the outside. Fresh incoming air is preheated via the integral heat exchanger which recovers up to 90% of the heat energy that would otherwise be wasted. The unit’s energy saving Vent-Axia Lo-Carbon™ DC motors further improve its efficiency and carbon reducing capabilities.
In addition, heat recovery ventilation reduces excessive moisture in the air, combating condensation and subsequent mould growth, saving money on maintenance and decoration in the long and short-term. Residents are further aided through better indoor air quality which has the duel health benefits of reducing microscopic fungal growth and eliminating the conditions in which house dust mites thrive, both of which are linked to allergic reactions and asthma.
The exact ventilation rate can be set on the LCD display at normal, boost or purge speeds to match the volume of the property. This operation is then further enhanced by a range of internal and external, plug and play control and sensor options which can account for changes in humidity, air quality, PIR (Passive Infra Red), CO2 and temperature. In addition, a user enabled night-time purge facility can help reduce summer overheating. The system’s operating temperature settings can be pre-programmed for automatic operation of the summer bypass, providing free summer cooling. Wireless control options are also available, allowing controls to be located in the most convenient position.
Sentinel Kinetic is part of the Vent-Axia 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.
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