Case Study
AirEx Smart Airbrick Impact Validation
Performance measurements were used to demonstrate that a new product, the AirEx Floorvent smart airbrick, delivers energy performance improvements in real houses. The measurements demonstrated an average 20% improvement in floor U-values which, when combined with lower air leakage, delivers an overall average reduction of whole building heat loss (HTC) of 12%.
The Product
The AirEx Floorvent smart airbrick works by only opening and providing ventilation when sub-floor humidity is high and ventilation is required. The rest of the time the airbrick is closed, reducing heat loss by increasing the temperature of the sub-floor space and increasing the airtightness of the building overall.
The Project
Working together with Elmhurst Energy Consultancy, BTS supported AirEx and EDF Energy to deliver this major monitoring project to demonstrate that the airbrick delivered real benefits in-situ. The project was delivered under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Demonstration Action scheme, becoming the UK’s 1st fully completed Demonstration Action project.
A field trial was carried out across 115 homes, using BTS tools Elmhurst supported AirEx to carry out:
- SmartHTC measurements pre and post AirEx Floorvent installation in 82 occupied homes in a single winter
- Floor U-value measurements in a subset of 19 of those homes
- Floor void temperature and humidity monitoring in 99 properties
The Outcomes
The study found that the AirEx Floorvent smart airbrick significantly reduced heat loss, with an average 20% improvement in floor U-values and 12% reduction in whole building heat loss (HTC). Delivered over a single winter, the project provides a powerful demonstration of the insights that can be delivered by performance measurement in occupied homes.
