Glasgow Housing Association, working in partnership with PRP Architects and City Building, has specified Vent-Axia’s Sentinel Kinetic mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) units for the innovative Glasgow House - four prototype houses constructed at City Building’s Skills Academy in Laurieston to illustrate how to dramatically improve the energy efficiency of homes.
A ground-breaking initiative derived from the housing association’s ambitious plans to produce energy efficient homes, the Glasgow House project will play a key role in helping to reduce fuel bills and tackle fuel poverty across the city through modern, efficient and stylish housing. The four 4-bedroom, semi-detached prototype homes incorporate high levels of insulation coupled with low-energy technologies, such as efficient heating systems, windows and rooms which capture the energy of the sun, and solar thermal panels on the roof. Vent-Axia’s Lo-Carbon™ Sentinel Kinetic has been selected as the product of choice to demonstrate the benefits of Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR) in the modern home.
A whole house, multi-room ducted solution, the Sentinel Kinetic combines supply and extract ventilation in one unit. 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 dual 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. Sentinel Kinetic ventilates the home in a remarkably efficient way, saving energy, satisfying all relevant legislative requirements, such as Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, and makes a big impact on cutting fuel bills for tenants and homeowners.
Meanwhile, 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. For further information on all products and services offered by Vent-Axia telephone 0844 856 0590 or visit http://www.vent-axia.com/range/sentinel-kinetic.html