ROUND-UP

Decarbonising home heating white paper

Vaillant has released its ‘Decarbonising Home Heating in the UK’ White Paper, which offers a balanced overview of the mix of heating technologies and the support available to installers and specifiers. The paper is set out into three different chapters — Heat Pumps, Hydrogen and Hybrid Heating Systems. Chapter one focuses on heat pumps, outlining the properties most suitable for this tried and tested technology, looking at the opportunities presented, addressing the challenges in growing the heat pump market, the need for upskilling and the routes available. Chapter two looks at hydrogen and highlights the current timeline for hydrogen trials in the UK. It covers the essential details of what a hydrogen-ready mandate could entail, what Vaillant believes needs to be done, the developments underway and how specifiers can prepare for the future fuel, today. Whilst chapter three covers hybrid systems, where heat pump and boiler technologies are used in tandem.

■ The White Paper is available to download here www.rdr.link/laa016

Heat pump installation is helping Greenwich Council tackle climate emergency

Works to install a highly innovative water source heating system, which will warm 95 homes at Ernest Dence Estate, Greenwich, have begun as part of the council’s ambitious target to reach net zero carbon emissions, 20 years ahead of the national target in 2030. Water source heat pumps are a low carbon and cost-effective alternative to traditional gas boilers. They work by extracting heat from water hidden beneath the ground and converting it into useful energy to warm homes.

Renewing the heating and hot water system using water source heat pump will provide a more efficient heating system producing less carbon emissions, improving local air quality and delivering 5,309 tonnes of CO2e savings over 25 years — the equivalent of growing around 87,000 trees! The installation of heat pumps at the Ernest Dence Estate are part of a wider scheme which has included building repairs and redecoration, window repairs, loft insulation, and new low energy LED lighting.

■ More details on the project here www.rdr.link/laa018 Install, grow, relocate: the green roof project on the move

Two projects, one green roof. That’s the aim of a groundbreaking initiative to revamp a YMCA with a living roof removed from a development a short walk away. The Saxon Court building in central Milton Keynes has undergone a temporary transformation into a ‘live lab’, showcasing green, blue and biosolar roof applications together with vegetable growing, all installed while planning permission is gained to redevelop the site.

Green infrastructure and living roof specialist Bridgman & Bridgman is spearheading the venture — entitled The Green Roof Project — with support from Milton Keynes Council, aiming to demonstrate the benefits of retro greening urban landscapes for biodiversity, carbon capture and food production. An integral part of the plan is to train young people from YMCA MK to install the living roof and gain expertise and certification in the installation and maintenance of green roofs. Green roof manufacturer Wallbarn has supplied its award-winning modular M-Tray green roof system for the project.

■ More information on Wallbarn’s green roof system here www.rdr.link/laa017

Cement-free concrete block achieves Environmental Product Declaration

The carbon-saving potential of the world’s first cement-free alternative to OPC blocks, Greenbloc, has been ratified following the award of an Environmental Product Declaration. The EPD is classed as a type III environmental declaration with ISO 14025 and provides transparent and credible information about the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifecycle — from material extraction, through to manufacturing, usage and end of life.

Greenbloc was developed as an ultra-low carbon alternative to traditional cement-based concrete blocks and is designed to help reduce the construction industry’s dependency upon cement — the world’s third highest source of man-made CO2 — as a key ingredient in concrete manufacturing. Manufactured to BS EN 771 – 3: (2011) from class 1 aggregates and Cemfree — a totally cement-free alternative to conventional concrete — Greenbloc also complies with Part E of the Building Regulations for Walls and Floors. It is suitable for all applications, including foundations, load-bearing walls, internal leaves of cavity walls and partition walls.

■ For more information on Greenbloc visit www.rdr.link/laa019

Infrared heating and water heating solutions for social housing

Ambion, the manufacturer of computer-controlled infrared (CCIR) space heating technology, has expanded its portfolio to include KERS water heating systems. KERS is a highly efficient indoor heat pump with an integrated mechanical extract ventilation (MEV) that works by recycling the warm air generated inside a home, such as in the kitchen and bathroom, to produce hot water. It can achieve temperatures of up to 65˚C, which is higher than standard air source heat pumps (ASHPs), without using an electric immersion heater.

As well as boosting EPC scores and helping social housing providers prepare for the Future Homes Standard, Ambion’s CCIR and KERS combination can help significantly reduce fuel poverty. As CCIR uses 60% less energy than standard convection systems, and KERS uses 70% less energy than standard water heating systems, residents’ heating bills will be significantly reduced.

■ For Ambion’s CCIR space heaing visit www.rdr.link/laa020 ■ For KERS water heating systems visit www.rdr.link/laa021 HVAC systems whitepaper tackles sustainability and overheating issues

With the built environment contributing 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint and the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) warning of the dangers of overheating buildings, a new whitepaper is highlighting the importance of sustainable HVAC systems to construction professionals.

The whitepaper, from polymer specialists REHAU, identifies issues around building overheating, air quality and sustainability, and the need to decarbonise new and existing buildings to meet net zero targets. Citing UKGBC findings that heating and cooling is responsible for large quantities of buildings’ ‘in use’ emissions, it explores the impact of sustainable HVAC systems on construction. Following CCC warningsthat not adapting the built environment to changing climates could pose major risks to occupant health from overheating, the whitepaper looks into thermally activated building structures (TABS) technology’s role in resolving this.

■ To download REHAU’s new whitepaper, click here www.rdr.link/laa022

Future-proof homes

The most efficient and cost-effective way to manage adaptations is to cater for them during the design and build phase

With an ageing population and state care homes facing critical pressure, it is likely that future care will be a prospect in the home. We must therefore consider future-proofing new-build social housing and how adaptations can be made to existing stock, with minimal disruption, says Steve Hill, National Sales Manager at Terry Lifts.

As people age and become less active and mobile, they may lose access to areas of their home, restricted by steps or narrow doorways. This can leave residents limited to just a few rooms and without access to facilities.

Rather than the more obvious and costly solution — moving the resident to another property better suited to their needs but potentially away from their community, friends and family, Registered Providers can choose to adapt the house. We’re all familiar with the vision of an older person accessing the first floor on a stair-lift but technology has evolved, with through the floor lifts offering a practical, life-long, affordable alternative, enabling elderly and disabled people to enjoy the freedom of their home.

Which lift?

Coming in all shapes and sizes, many home elevator systems cater for a wide range of mobility issues and can accommodate a variety of equipment, from wheelchairs to walking frames. Maintaining safe, smooth and stress-free access allows people to continue with their routine and preserve familiarity, for example sleep in their bedroom, use upstairs facilities etc. The needs of the individual/s will influence the choice of home lift. There are several practical considerations including: •How many passengers does it need to carry? •Does it need to accommodate a wheelchair user, now or in the future? • • • How many floors does it need to serve? How much space is available for the lift? Where could the lift be located?

Lift manufacturers can advise and offer guidance through the selection process, with most offering a free no-obligation survey.