EnviroVent’s energiSava 250 MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery) system has been specified for Project 80, a new development by Birmingham housing association Midland Heart.  The development of 12 homes will meet the Government’s Future Homes Standard, reducing carbon emissions by up to 80%.  These homes will be monitored constantly as this research project will be used to inform the Government’s next consultation about the Future Homes Standard, which will be compulsory for all new homes built by 2025.

EnviroVent’s managing director Andy Makin explains: “We’re very excited to be working with Midland Heart on this innovative low carbon project.  The fact that this project is being closely monitored in line with the government’s consultation on the Future Homes Standard just goes to show the role that low carbon, low energy ventilation systems have to play in the homes of the future.”

Director of development at Midland Heart, Chris Miller, said: “We’re really proud to be leading this pioneering project and look forward to working with EnviroVent as one of our partners and welcoming new residents to this unique development.”

“The homes here will be ‘normal homes’, constructed largely using regular materials which have been sourced locally, demonstrating the practicability of the Future Homes Standard.”

The energiSava 250 MVHR unit is a popular choice with housing associations for newbuild projects as it provides optimum ventilation for a property with a minimum loss of energy. It extracts moisture-laden air from the wet rooms such as bathrooms, WCs, kitchen and shower rooms, at the same time it supplies fresh air into the living areas, recovering the energy from the extracted air.

This unique ventilation system incorporates Intellitrac Technology, which monitors and controls humidity. It operates continuously at a low level to ensure that the home is correctly ventilated, providing good indoor air quality with no user intervention required. As humidity rises and falls, the motor speed rises and falls in correlation. This controls condensation and reduces the time that the system operates on maximum speed, helping to save energy.

A highly collaborative programme encompassing industry, academia and the public sector, Midland Heart is working in partnership with local construction company Tricas Construction Ltd to build the homes. The Building Alliance and Birmingham City University are also working with Midland Heart to support the project. The University will provide in depth research to evidence all aspects of the design and delivery of the homes of the future to measure cost-effectiveness, with residents to understand their experience of the new technology.

The project will also offer a living lab for student learning. The evidence gathered will help to inform future policy on climate change adaption in the built environment. The homes are due for completion by Easter 2022, three years ahead of the Government’s target.

Whilst there are other examples of low carbon developments, this is the first that models the Government’s Future Homes Standard which will be compulsory for all new homes built by 2025.