News
passivehouse+ | Issue 14
Origen launches Genvex 185
combined ventilation & hot water heat pump Leading Irish heating supplier Origen Energy has launched the Genvex Combi 185 combined heat recovery ventilation and domestic hot water heat pump to the Irish market. The Genvex Combi 185 system provides balanced whole house ventilation, incorporating a high performance counter-flow heat exchanger that is 95% efficient to recover the heat otherwise lost via the exhaust air. This negates the use of trickle vents, preventing cold draughts from being drawn into habitable rooms. The Genvex 185 is particularly well suited to highly insulated homes and passive houses (of up to 300 square metres), with a small heating and domestic hot water demand. The Combi 185’s integrated air source heat pump prioritises the production of domestic hot water and will provide space heating when the 185 litre cylinder has been fully charged. The hot water cylinder can be connected to a second heat source such as solar panels.
Origen said the heat pump is able to produce about 380L of hot water every 24 hours at a temperature of 55C.The heating time for a whole tank, from 15-55C is about nine hours when the outdoor temperature is at 15C. Capacity depends on the outdoor temperature, the cold water temperature and the hot water use. The heating time will be longer with a low outdoor temperature but this can be reduced to 4.5 hours if the 1kW electrical heating element is used. In well insulated homes, Genvex have found that there is no need for additional heating except a heated towel rail in the bathrooms and in the winter months, a wood-burning stove. The Genvex 185 takes up just 600 x 700 mm (the space previously occupied by a hot water cylinder) and has a low servicing requirement. (right) The Genvex Combi 185 combined heat recovery ventilation and domestic hot water heat pump
Ultimate Windows & Doors launches budget-friendly low energy range Leading Irish low energy window supplier Ultimate Windows & Doors has introduced the Polish-manufactured Eko Okna low energy windows and door range, including airtight, thermally broken lift and slide doors. This new budget-friendly range features all aluminium, aluminium-PVC, aluminium-timber and all PVC triple-glazed windows, and according to the company, it can deliver passive-level performance at much more affordable prices than many passive certified units. “The really exciting thing about it for architects and for those who are architecturally led is that they do an all aluminium profile,” said Paul Tristram of Ultimate Windows & Doors. The MB86 extruded aluminium window system can reach overall U-values of 0.57, Tristram said, explaining that it’s the first aluminium window system to employ silica aerogel as a thermal break. He added that the all-metal profile allows for very deep windows of up to 67.5mm, enabling excellent thermal performance, and for curtain walling with large expanses of glazing, with the frame and sash sitting
flush for a cleaner design. “You can have quite large areas of glazing with it because it’s all metal. For instance, the MB77 lift-and-slide door will go up to 3.2m high or 400kg weight,” he said. “Architects are really going to love it, it’s very contemporary looking.” “This new system also includes a very good aluminium front door in a number of contemporary styles which are cost-effective,” he said. The company also distributes windows and doors from leading Austrian manufacturer Internorm, a well-known supplier into passive house projects. The company has recently decided to rebrand from Ultimate Joinery to Ultimate Windows & Doors. “20% of our business is joinery,” said Tristram. “This rebranding is to ensure that customers who are looking for windows and doors don’t overlook us because of a name.” (left) The Eko Okna range of low energy windows & doors, now available in Ireland via Ultimate Windows & Doors