Wall insulation also pre-warms incoming fresh air
External-wall insulation with ventilation channels in it to raise the temperature of incoming fresh air has been retrofitted to homes in Longstanton, Cambridgeshire, as part of the Rampton Drift Project. The monitoring phase of development is now underway. The project aims to identify the costs, effects and benefits of a range of low-carbon sustainable technologies by refurbishing existing homes on the estate.
Supplied by Energyflo, the patented Dynamic Insulation integrates the insulation and ventilation system to capture heat escaping through the building fabric to pre-warm incoming air. These homes were built in the 1950s and 1970s. They have also had their cavities insulated, and the Dynamic Insulation further improves the energy efficiency of these homes.
Dynamic Insulation is also effective at insulating solid walls. It can also be installed in the cavities of new houses to achieve lower heat losses than non-dynamic insulation.
Alan Cochrane, principal consultant (energy services) for Willmott Dixon, the main contractor for the project, said, ‘Dynamic Insulation was selected because it is one simple solution that easily integrates the insulation and ventilation system to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality.’
Andrew Peacock, technical director of Energyflo, explains, ‘One aspect of our technology is that we can deliver solid-wall U-values in hard-to-treat buildings well beyond any other external wall insulation from a thinner and less intrusive build footprint.’ The pre-warming of incoming air is the key to this performance.
