Vital Energi is playing a crucial role in the development of ten zero carbon homes for one of the UK’s leading energy suppliers, SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy). The site called “Greenwatt Way” is in Chalvey, Slough and contains a mixture of two and three bedroom family homes, one bedroom flats, an Energy Hub and an Information Centre. 

Greenwatt Way will feature grey water recycling, triple glazed windows, enhanced insulation, and its very own renewable energy ‘heat hub’, housing five different types of micro-generation including air and ground source heat pumps, a biomass boiler and solar thermal panels. Photovoltaic tiles are integrated into the roofs and the site will be entitled to the Government’s new Feed in Tariff for renewable electricity. The homes will be kitted out with the latest energy efficient appliances and SSE will use smart meters to monitor the energy and water usage of the homes over the next 2 years.

The tenants occupying Greenwatt Way will be 5 SSE staff and 5 Slough Borough Council workers and their families. Residents will be asked to give their views on the homes and technology by filling out monthly questionnaires. The findings will contribute to studies being carried out by SSE, Reading University, NHBC (National House-Building Council) and BRE (Building Research Establishment).
Vital Energi are undertaking the design, supply and installation of the Energy Hub, Hydraulic Interface Units (HIU’s) and the District Heating network which will significantly reduce the development’s CO2 emissions. Vital is currently installing a zero carbon biomass wood pellet boiler which will supply heat and hot water to the development.

The zero carbon technologies will feed into Vital’s specialist pre-insulated pipe which will connect the Energy Hub to the zero carbon homes to provide heat and hot water. Exclusive to Vital Energi in the UK is the “Band Muff” fusion welded joint system which will increase the pipes design life from 30 to 50 years. The “Band Muff” joint system coupled with the specialist pre-insulated pipe will significantly reduce the heat loss from the development.

The Energy Hub will also house Vital’s Building Management System (BMS) which will control the plant room and the various renewable heating technologies within. The BMS will manage the heat demand ensuring that there is enough heat for peak times but that excess heat will not be produced when there is low demand.  This will ensure that the Energy Hub runs efficiently without wasting any heat.

The Vital Aqua Varm HIU will be installed in each property which will link to the district heating network and allow the residents to have central heating and hot water instantly and on demand. Vital Energi is also installing heat and hot water meters in the homes which will allow residents to monitor their consumption.

Vital Energi’s role has significantly contributed in Greenwatt Way achieving level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. This development will set a benchmark for zero carbon homes in the future and will help SSE meet it’s 2016 vision of being ‘a leading sustainable global utility’ while helping the UK  meet its target of reducing CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050.