A large housing project in Garden Road, Richmond has achieved Code 4 for sustainable homes with the help from mechanical ventilation and heat pump specialists, Total Home Environment.
The social, intermediate and private flats have been constructed in a 66-week programme with optimised design for cost. The project also consists of 25,000 square feet of office accommodation with an underground car park.
Total Home Environment’s Genvex Combi 185 system was installed into each of the 77 flats to provide ventilation, heating and domestic hot water in an all-in-one integrated appliance. Due to the building’s excellent thermal properties no additional heating system was needed. The system uses a 95% efficient counter-current heat exchanger together with a super-efficient integrated mini exhaust air heat pump to heat domestic water and incoming air using warm air extracted from the property.
Featured with the appliance and from the designers of Bang & Olufsen, the stylish, user-friendly controller has an LCD screen to give total control of the temperature, fan speed and operation throughout the day, using a ten-stage timer. For total peace of mind, an information screen will display all of the current operating temperatures.
Harepath, a niche property developer operating in South West London, were obliged under planning to install a whole house ventilation system, instead of extractor fans and trickle vents which would have allowed traffic noise and pollution into the properties. The decision was made to integrate a system that would deal with both heating and ventilation.
Chris Ackley of Harepath Ltd commented, “We are very happy with the results of installing the Combi system. It has offered a very economical running cost and has assisted us in getting to Code 4 for the social rented/intermediate units without the need for further capital expense.”
He continued, “The technical support from Total Home Environment was outstanding. The product has performed at a high level and installation was provided so we benefited from a one-stop shop. Really importantly, the control system offered a lock out option which was key for social rented units within the scheme.”
The Combi offers around 380L of hot water per day storing it within an integral 185L tank and is suitable for smaller apartments/townhouses where lower domestic hot water and ventilation rates are required. It also offers priority switching in which heating of domestic hot water takes place first.
The Combi 185 has a maximum airflow of 350 m3/h, allowing ventilation with simultaneous heating in living areas of up to 290m2 .
Further information and technical advice on the Genvex Combi 185 system is available from Total Home Environment on 0845 260 0123, email info@totalhome.co.uk or by visiting the company’s website at www.totalhome.co.uk
