It is installed alongside a low carbon heating system inside Bellway’s ‘The Future Home’ as part of Energy House 2.0 – a lab-controlled research project testing various energy scenarios within new build homes, located at the University of Salford, UK.
Energy House 2.0 is a collaborative project between partners including the University of Salford, Bellway, Barratt Developments, and Saint-Gobain. The unique £16 million research facility, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), will enable SMEs to innovate and develop low-carbon technologies for the built environment.
Resideo has donated the Honeywell Home evohome to the project, which was recently installed in the Future Home. The two-storey, three-bedroom property has been built inside the University’s climate-controlled lab, which can simulate a full year of climate conditions, including humidity, rain and even snow.
Real-world scenarios, including all seasons
With nine rooms in total, twelve radiators and three underfloor heating zones, the Honeywell Home evohome was selected for its smart zoning technology, which uses radiator controllers to wirelessly measure and control temperatures for up to twelve zones individually.
The Future Home at Energy House 2.0 will test how low-carbon heating technologies work in combination with building fabric, efficient services, and renewable energy generation in real-world scenarios. A 5kW Panasonic air-to-water heat pump provides heating and hot water needs with 3:1 modulation, stored hot water and an integrated buffer tank, and an internal heat pump upstairs.
Several different test conditions and system configurations will be trialled throughout the two-year project, with the research and analysis led by Dr Richard Fitton, professor of building performance at the University of Salford. As well as reducing a home’s carbon footprint, Bellway will also be looking at the most cost-efficient ways to help customers reduce their energy bills.
Zoning capabilities
Ian Lawley, Resideo’s national business development manager for new build, said: “The Honeywell Home evohome smart system is an ideal solution for the Future Home at Energy House 2.0 where new technologies like heat pumps are installed. Its zoning capability can be easily reconfigured to divide up the zones, and it is compatible with traditional boilers, modern high-efficiency combi boilers, heat pumps, underfloor heating, and standard radiators.
“It also has a smart weather feature, which will follow the set programme when the lab is set to a cooler temperature and will reduce automatically when it gets warmer to save energy.
“We’re delighted to be involved in this ground-breaking project and looking forward to seeing the initial results in the coming months.”
The Future Home is equipped to run full radiator zoning, mixed zoning, and a basic two-zone system, with and without a buffer. It is fully instrumented with heat meters on all water circuits, and as part of the trial, will welcome test subjects to live in the house to test the system.
Training installers on-site
As well as set-up and commissioning, Resideo has supported the project by training the installers on-site, including Bellway’s site agent and the plumbing contractor, MB Heating.
Jamie Bursnell, Group Innovation and Technical Manager for Bellway said: “The initial feedback we have received from our team on site has been very positive, with key highlights being that the evohome is intuitive and easy for professional installers to use, whilst working effectively with the heat pump units.
“At Bellway we want to lead the way as the housebuilding industry works towards net zero. The research taking place at Energy House 2.0 will help shape the homes of the future, which are not only better for the planet, but better for homeowners and the communities in which we build.
“Working with The University of Salford and key suppliers such as Resideo will hopefully allow us to find solutions which maximise energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions while also being as cost-effective and comfortable as possible for consumers.”