ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN EDUCATION TARGETING SCHOOL VENTILATION


With the Net-Zero 2050 target edging closer and with energy prices high, energy-efficient HVAC solutions are essential. Matt Cooper, business development


director at Breathing Buildings, highlights how hybrid ventilation can reduce energy use in schools while maintaining good indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort


NVHRe RANGE The latest innovative hybrid ventilation


has now gone one stage further, saving even more free heat and so offering more cost savings for schools. The key difference between the original NVHR range and Natural Ventilation with Heat Recycling and Heat Recovery (NVHRe) from Breathing Buildings is an addition of a low-resistance heat exchanger cell. This allows the unit to benefit from both heat recycling and heat recovery, reclaiming even more heat than previous models, saving more energy, providing great occupant


N


et Zero is fast approaching, and as buildings become more airtight to improve efficiency,


maintaining IAQ and comfort presents challenges. High energy costs further push the need for solutions that deliver energy savings without compromising occupant well-being. Schools, often constrained by budgets, now have access to additional government funding, including £1.4 billion for the School Rebuilding Programme and £2.1 billion to maintain and improve school buildings. This funding presents an opportunity to integrate low-carbon, high-efficiency ventilation into both new and refurbished buildings, enhancing health, sustainability, and energy performance.


HYBRID VENTILATION For high-heat-gain commercial


buildings like schools, offices and leisure centres, hybrid ventilation offers an ideal solution. Hybrid ventilation is highly efficient and makes use of the free heat (and so energy) that has already been built up within a space. By employing hybrid ventilation, schools can maximise health, comfort and sustainability without having to invest in significant building works, making it ideal for retrofitting. Hybrid ventilation, such as Breathing Building’s


Natural Ventilation with Heat Recycling (NVHR) range, focuses on the balance of IAQ, thermal comfort and efficiency, by choosing the most appropriate mode of ventilation based on the internal and external conditions. Supplied with an external temperature sensor and an internal


temperature and CO2 sensor, as well as an intelligent controller, the latest NVHR systems monitor conditions to create an ideal indoor environment, automatically switching between natural, hybrid and mechanical ventilation, allowing the NVHR to be in the most energy- efficient mode possible at all stages.


24


Natural Ventilation with Heat Recycling


and Heat Recovery (NVHRe)


enough to maintain the desired temperature for occupants. The low resistance heat exchanger cell also ensures it does not overheat a space –the heat exchanger only adds back what is necessary to maintain the ambient temperature, balancing this with optimising IAQ. Boasting the lowest energy consumption for a


hybrid heat recovery ventilation unit in the industry, the NVHRe combines 46% heat recovery efficiency with low Specific Fan Power (SFP) of 0.075 W/l/s to maximise energy savings. In addition, the NVHRe features several different operating modes to minimise energy use, enhance IAQ and improve occupant comfort. An intelligent hybrid system, the unit automatically determines when and if mechanical operation is required, ensuring it only operates when absolutely necessary. The award-winning NVHRe optimises IAQ,


ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Spring 2025


comfort, and allowing users to include it within a building’s energy assessments (SBEM). By including a low-resistance aluminium cross


heat exchanger to the unit, it further lowers energy costs by reducing the reliance on space heating to maintain thermal comfort in a room. It operates during colder external temperatures, typically below 7˚C when mixing recycled air alone is not


comfort and efficiency by automatically switching between natural, hybrid, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery, maximising benefits throughout the year. The unit has four modes: Summer Natural Mode, Summer Mechanical Mode, Winter Mode: Mixing, and Winter Mode: Mixing with Heat Recovery. The Summer Natural Mode enables the unit to maximise the benefits of passive ventilation by opening the damper and ventilating with zero cost. The Summer Mechanical Mode enables the hybrid technology to maximise ventilation and cooler air. In Winter the Mixing Mode and Mixing with Heat Recovery strategies offers huge heating-bill savings as they recycle and recover heat while providing ventilation to ensure excellent IAQ and thermal comfort. Offering energy-efficient ventilation, the NVHRe’s heat recovery also reduces the need for additional heating, providing savings on space heating costs, and also saving floor space. Easy to retrofit and only requiring small penetrations through a building’s external façade, NVHRe is virtually maintenance- free. British designed and manufactured, all key components of the NVHRe are recyclable at the end of use, helping provide a more sustainable solution.


MVHRe However, certain environments, such


as landlocked rooms (rooms with no exterior walls) or spaces requiring fixed extract rates, need mechanical ventilation. Air Quality Management Areas, where air pollution levels are higher than the national air quality objectives, also require mechanical ventilation and require higher levels of filtration. Breathing Buildings therefore recently expanded its portfolio with its energy-efficient MVHRe commercial heat recovery unit so it can provide the


designs and supply the units for any setting. Meanwhile, Breathing Buildings has adopted the


CIBSE TM65 methodology for collecting product data and has completed these evaluations for all its ventilation units, allowing specifiers to accurately evaluate their environmental impact. With government funding available, now is the


time for schools to invest in advanced ventilation technologies that align with sustainability goals and contribute to a healthier learning environment. By adopting energy-efficient ventilation solutions, schools can reduce long-term operating costs, improve student performance, and support the broader goal of achieving Net Zero by 2050.


Breathing Buildings T: 01223 450060 www.breathingbuildings.com


www.essmag.co.uk


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