Considering ventilation, thermal comfort, air quality, and lighting are pivotal factors when aiming for homes aligned with Passivhaus standards. Embracing a holistic stance on these aspects, architects for this bespoke London home opted for Blauberg Vento Single Room Heat Recovery Units to address ventilation needs throughout this entire project.
To maximise available space for the client in this modestly sized, 91m2, two-story modern townhouse, The architects diverged from the conventional approach. Instead of installing a bulky traditional central MVHR unit with ducts and grilles, they chose the space-saving Blauberg Vento's ductless, wall-mounted MVHR units in each room.
Operating silently, the Vento units efficiently extract dirty, stale air from each room while supplying fresh, filtered air from outside. Remarkably, they recycle up to 93% of the heat typically wasted with traditional ventilation systems. Furthermore, equipped with Wi-Fi capability and smart technology, each unit communicates seamlessly with the others, offering a comprehensive whole-house ventilation solution.
For this project, a total of five Blauberg Vento Heat Recovery Units were employed. A Vento-Maxi Unit was positioned on the ground floor for comfort ventilation. In each of the wet rooms on the first floor, two Vento-Duo Units were installed, while in each bedroom, two Vento-Midi Units were utilised. Operating silently at very low speeds during the night, all units ensure uninterrupted sleep, even in the bedrooms.
The ventilation system chosen for the project proved ideal, offering continuous extraction of dirty air, which often carries condensation, mould spores, odours, and CO2 buildup within the house's warm envelope. Additionally, it ensures a constant supply of fresh air and oxygen from outside on both floors. With built-in heat recovery cores, each unit efficiently recycles heat that would typically be wasted with traditional extractor fan ventilation systems.
This approach deviates from the standard 'Building Regulation' practice, which typically involves installing extractor fans in kitchens, bathrooms, and wet rooms. Such fans expel the heat and energy generated within the house while drawing in cold air through draughty trickle vents and windows. Consequently, homeowners often find themselves in a cycle of losing heat and experiencing drafts, leading to the need for constant heating to maintain comfort levels.
It's important to note that from a ventilation standpoint, airtight houses play a significant role in enhancing indoor air quality. With Vento Single Room Heat Recovery Units, the fresh air brought into your home undergoes filtration. This means you're not depending on air being naturally drawn through the 'nooks and crannies' of your walls, which can introduce dust, mould, insulation fibres, and other inorganic matter—elements you generally want to avoid breathing in.
Furthermore, beyond ensuring sufficient ventilation for the entire house, the established physics behind using Vento Single Room Heat Recovery Units demonstrates that they recover a substantial amount of energy, surpassing the energy they consume in the process.
Equipped with low-energy DC motors, each unit operates efficiently, consuming as little as 1.8 watts per unit. Paired with their high rates of heat and energy recovery, this results in significantly reduced levels of primary heating needed for the home. Consequently, there's a decreased reliance on the air source heat pump to achieve the desired thermal comfort levels.
Smart Controls with Wifi
The Vento Maxi-Air Units collaborate with other Vento Mini, Maxi, and Duo-Air units to deliver a comprehensive, decentralised heat recovery ventilation solution for the entire house.
You have full control over individual units or the connected MVHR system through your smartphone or tablet. With the Blauberg app easily downloadable, you gain access to comprehensive control over speed, humidity, manual override, sensor settings, and timer options. Additionally, each unit features localised simple controls, allowing manual override of automatic functions and the ability to shut off heat recovery units when not needed.
Blauberg Vento Maxi-Air
