Passivhaus

Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia has launched its first Passivhaus-certified Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system, the Lo-Carbon Sentinel Econiq. With the new Future Homes Standard looking set to reduce carbon emissions for new build homes by a further 75-80% than current Building Regulations, the Sentinel Econiq is designed to provide low carbon heat recovery ventilation for air-tight thermally efficient new build dwellings, making it ideal for Passivhaus projects. The Sentinel Econiq offers exceptional efficiency, near silent operation and complete controllability, providing excellent indoor air quality (IAQ) and occupant comfort.

Over the past three decades, EnviroVent has partnered with social housing providers to solve issues of condensation and mould, providing turnkey solutions from property survey to installation and servicing, utilising directly employed engineers, a unique offering in the market.
 
EnviroVent historically recognised that social housing providers required an indoor air quality solution, long lasting and future proofed, for both existing housing stock and new build.  By the early 2000s, the company developed the Lifetime Range® of sustainable ventilation solutions to last the lifespan of the property. This included the patented Filterless Extract Fan range, which won the Queen’s Award for innovation and has sold over two million units into the UK market to date.

The increased cost of living continues to highlight the need for energy-efficient social housing, leading to greater scrutiny of the thermal performance of building components in new and existing buildings. With legislation also continuing to tighten in the wake of the Future Homes Standard, Russell Hand, Head of Product Management and Technical at REHAU Windows, explains how implementing Passivhaus-informed performance criteria in window specification can ensure properties remain sustainable and efficient.

The state of UK housing is in a profound sense of flux. Rising energy costs are further underlining the need for thermally efficient homes, especially for older properties. This is especially a concern in social housing, as the majority was built between 1945 and 1980 . Consequently, pressure is on building specifiers to select thermally efficient components when retrofitting existing homes or building new developments.

The Kingspan TEK Building System is providing a precise offsite building solution for one of the country’s largest Passivhaus developments in Bowthorpe, Norwich.

Editor Victoria Galligan went along to the annual Housebuilding Forum to meet HAs, builders, architects and suppliers…

The Housebuilding Forum took place at the Slate conference hall in Warwick. As part of the university campus, the striking building – a BREEAM-certified design that boasts floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto a lake – was the ideal venue to get some of the biggest names in housebuilding together.

As well as hosting expert speakers, the organisers Stable Events line up 15-minute meetings throughout the two-day event to ensure suppliers and delegates can take the time to discuss their work and potential collaborations. The speakers and delegates ranged from across the public and private sectors, and suppliers were on hand to display innovative products and services.

At Crest we believe our products transform buildings into something remarkable.