21/06/2012 - Ideas that could change the way we live...

Government agendas, matched by the prevailing mood in society, have pressed the construction, architecture and building industries to consider ‘sustainable lifestyles’ as never before. With rocketing energy prices, scarcity of resources, ballooning populations and climate change as priorities, there is much debate on how those industries can come up with the house, building, town or city of the future.

Over the coming weeks, we will be looking at new ideas that have emerged recently that could have an impact on the way we live.

This week we examine a project from Andy Stanford-Clark, the ‘chief technology engineer’ (aka, ‘master inventor’) at IBM. He has created a house that twitters!

He has adapted his home so that it can tweet him updates about its energy consumption. A series of meters collect information about energy use, appliances being switched on and off, windows being opened and more.

His ideas were first covered by the BBC a couple of year’s ago, but he continues to upgrade and adapt his technology. Now Andy’s smartphone receives tweets from these meters so that wherever he is, he can monitor the house's efficiency – and he can switch things off in the house remotely from the phone. Gathering this sort of data in real-time using applications like Twitter can build an accurate picture of the life of a building, its changing needs and where improvements can be made. Could this be applied to a whole town or city?

ADM Systems are passionate about sustainability, energy efficiency and supporting new technologies. Our heat recovery ventilation systems are proven to make substantial energy savings. In future, with some IT wizardry, it could be possible to dovetail our systems into a ‘tweeting house’ like Andy Stanford-Clark’s? For more information about energy savings and the choices available, get in touch with one of our experts.



We will be looking at other ground-breaking ideas in our upcoming blogs. Next week we take a look at the Eco Island project, in which residents of the Isle of Wight have come together to work on becoming energy self-sufficient, and even export energy to the mainland… Watch this space...

15/06/2012 - So what's the Green Deal all about...?

Good news for those of you hoping to make energy savings over the coming months. Energy efficient home improvements may now be even easier to finance with the launch of the Government’s latest Green Deal incentive.

The aim is to reinvigorate the energy efficiency market, create thousands of job opportunities and deliver the best deal for consumers. It’s predicted that it could create 60,000 jobs in the insulation sector alone! The Guardian describes the legislation as a 'game-changer'.

Just in case you’ve missed the news, here’s a quick overview of how we understand it will work…

Established by the Energy Act 2011, the Green Deal will allow property owners and occupiers to fund the installation of energy efficient measures, such as double glazing, insulation, and, maybe, heat recovery ventilation systems, with no up-front costs.  Repayments will be met through subsequent energy bills.

The legislation published this week also announced the implementation of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), a subsidy from energy suppliers to provide extra help for those in most need, such as vulnerable people on low incomes, or ‘hard-to-treat’ houses.

Before an owner or occupier can apply for Green Deal funding, they will have to have their property inspected by a Green Deal Assessor. They will look at the construction and fabric of the building, and the way in which it is used.

Consumers will be protected under the legislation, as all assessors, installers and suppliers must be registered and approved by the Green Deal Oversight Body. There are also restrictions on ‘cold calling’ and rules requiring Green Deal Assessors to declare any ties they have to installation companies, or any commission they might be receiving for carrying out an assessment.

So this is the timeline:

• Certification bodies will be able to register with Green Deal from August, as their assessors and installers as ‘Green Deal Approved’.

• Properties can undergo assessments to consider their suitability for the scheme from October 2012.

• The first loans will be available from January 2013
• Arrangements for the Green Deal Registration and Oversight Body, and a Green Deal Ombudsman and Investigation Service will be announced shortly. A Green Deal Code of Practice will be published later this month.

We will keep you updated as more information comes available. In the meantime, if you want any information about how a heat recovery ventilation system could help reduce your energy bills, and make your home a healthier place, contact one of our experts.

08/06/2012  70 mph winds?  Keep out the draughts with a ‘Passive House’...

It’s only a couple of weeks ago that we were talking about fun in the sun, and what a change in the weather we’ve seen? This weekend, gale force winds and heavy rain are forecast to lash many parts of the country, with coasts in the south west to bear the brunt of the storms. Many places could see gusts of between 55 and 65 mph, and as far north as Yorkshire and Northumberland could be hit by the Atlantic storm, according to the BBC weather forecast.

British weather has never been very predictable and with rising energy bills it makes sense to keep out the cold draughts and conserve whatever heat is within your property. When no air can enter or escape, a property retains its heat and minimises energy consumption. When your house has a 70 mph wind howling around it, you will know where those gaps are!
 
New building standards set out by the international organisation, Passive House, or Passivhaus, provide guidance for the construction of airtight buildings. Their standards are simple; build a house that has an excellent thermal performance, exceptional airtightness with mechanical ventilation. Amazingly, it has been proven that inside a Passive House, it will not fall below 16°C, even without heating during the coldest winter months.

Importantly, the air inside the home is refreshed using a heat recovery ventilation system. A sophisticated heat exchanger recovers heat from the air inside the home and warms fresh, filtered air from outside as enters the property. The result is a draught-free, energy efficient home, with superb air quality without the need for opening windows, using extractor fans, or relying on trickle vents that whistle in the wind.

And, even in the middle of a British summer, there is nowhere for raging winds and storms to blow damp, cold air into your home!

If you are interested in this subject, contact one of our experts for more information about heat recovery ventilation and Passive House standards.

31/05/2012 Try out a heat recovery system on holiday....

We have just installed heat recovery ventilation systems in two recently converted holiday cottages on the North Wales coast. The customer, Lucy Weis, is delighted with the installation, and wrote to express her thanks this week. She said, 'Thanks to the ADM team for the pleasant dealings I have had with your company and for all the organising and service...’

Nearby, Conwy is a World Heritage Site, and the beautiful valley in which the 400 year old cottages are situated is a haven for bird watchers and walkers. Named after local birds of prey, Red Kites' Retreat and Buzzards' View are immaculately renovated, decorated in a charming country style and feature superb fixtures and fittings. In keeping with the rural location, heating and ventilation systems have been installed to reduce environmental impact, as well as to be efficient and stylish.

We recommended the Sentinel Kinetic V heat recovery ventilation system for the cottages. The system works by continuously replacing contaminated stale air with warmed, fresh, filtered air. Importantly, a highly efficient heat exchanger recovers over 98% of the stale air’s heat and transfers it to the incoming air, thus saving energy and reducing the carbon footprint.

If you would like to see this system first hand, why not book your next holiday in North Wales? The cottages can be booked through Sykes Cottages, reference numbers 13007 for Red Kites' Retreat and 13008 for Buzzards' View.