Waste Water Heat Recovery for Showers
eHome2 featuring recoup wwhrs
With the success of Barratt Redrow’s Net Zero concept house, Recoup Energy Solutions’ WWHRS is again being used to reduce domestic hot water (DHW) demand in its recent project, Research Centre Energy House 2.0.
As the second research project conducted by Barratt Developments into providing net-zero carbon homes, eHome2 has been built to test the effects of climate change ready for the Future Home Standard and the government’s target to slash carbon emissions by 75-80% by 2050.
The Energy House 2.0 Research Project
As energy costs rise, water shortages continue and the government deadline for housebuilders grows nearer, Energy House 2.0 will research and test, new ways of powering heating, insulating homes, and cutting water usage to reduce carbon and control running costs in our homes even during the harshest of winters and the hottest summers.
Working together, The University of Salford, Barratt, Bellway Homes, and leading product manufacturer, Saint-Gobain, have created a ‘globally-unique’ research centre consisting of two separate environmental chambers. These chambers mimic the changes in seasons and the fluctuations brought about by climate change. Temperature and humidity can be controlled and wind, rain, solar radiation, and snow can be simulated.
eHome2 Featuring Recoup’s Pipe HEX WWHRS
Inside the Energy House 2.0 research facility, Barratt and Saint Gobain have built eHome2, based on Barratt’s Moresby design, a three-bedroom detached home to test and monitor how new-build houses can cope with extreme weather conditions while cutting energy and water usage. Barratt partnered with its green-tech suppliers incorporating specialist energy-efficient technologies to feature in the eHome2 project. These consist of innovative fabric design, multiple heating systems, hot water and ventilation technologies, and advanced smart controls.
In its mission to reduce hot water energy usage throughout the dwelling, Recoup’s Pipe HEX WWHRS for showers was selected. Barratt has worked with Recoup for over a decade and is well-versed in the benefit of carbon reduction for housebuilders.
Installed within eHome2, the Pipe HEX has been fitted under the first-floor showers with both the bathroom shower and the ensuite utilising the same pipe connection to maximise cost efficiency and space. The layout of both the bathroom and the ensuite have been designed with this in mind, with both showers positioned in close proximity to allow for the vertical pipe.
The installation method connects the preheated water from the Pipe HEX to the cold side of the shower and water heater. This produces the greatest efficiency from the WWHRS unit and therefore a greater reduction in hot water demand and energy use for the property.
Barratt has also focused on flow restriction to save on the water used per shower. The Pipe HEX WWHRS system works with the property’s air source heat pump (ASHP) and the selected low-flow showers. In this particular project, Barratt opted for an air-powered low-flow thermostatic shower in the ensuite and a standard flow-restricted shower in the bathroom.
Example: The Recoup Pipe HEX WWHRS is positioned to serve both the bathroom & ensuite. Image: Barratt Developments’ Moresby en-suite bathroom
Zed House, the First Zero Carbon Home
In 2021, Barratt introduced the Zed House, a zero-carbon concept home designed for sustainable living. Built at the University of Salford’s main campus, the four-bedroom home was to be lived in by a group of students allowing the sustainability team to monitor real-life day-to-day domestic energy use.
The project was Barratt’s first step towards achieving the housebuilder’s target to build zero-carbon homes from 2030. Working with more than 40 partners, from the housebuilding, sustainability, and technology sectors, the Zed House included carbon-cutting features addressing heating, build materials, air, water, energy storage, and smart technology.
The Recoup Pipe HEX was one of the chosen products featured, reducing energy use per shower by 55%.
The Zed House has delivered over 125% improvement in carbon emissions with water, in particular, being cut by over a quarter.
Image: Barratt Developments’ zero carbon home, the Zed House
Energy House 2.0 Results
The first results from The University of Salford about the Energy House 2.0 project have been released and concentrate on the fabric of the homes, including the overall performance, as well as the walls, roofs, and floors. The next set of results featuring hot water will be released in the coming weeks.
*Barratt Developments’ Technical & Innovation Director, Oliver Novakovic said:
“The initial testing of eHome2 has exceeded our expectations with the difference between design and actual performance equating to £4.50 per month so now the home would cost our customers £88 per month to run. This is a very positive result when you consider this is a pilot of a highly efficient zero-carbon home. The key learnings from this stage of the project are that small mistakes / human errors have much bigger impacts when you deliver a highly efficient home. The project has highlighted some gaps in skills and technology improvements we will need to work on, all of which we were expecting. We’re working with our supply chain, and the next generation, to ensure that we plug these gaps. Overall, we are very pleased with the first tests and look forward to sharing more learnings from future tests.”
*Source: salford.ac.uk
Barratt continues its journey to net-zero.
Working with Barratt Redrow
With a relationship dating back to 2013, Recoup Energy Solutions has provided thousands of waste water heat recovery systems for showers (WWHRS) to Barratt Redrow housing developments throughout the UK. In 2023, after ten years as sole WWHRS supplier, Barratt renewed its contract with Recoup. The relationship continues as both parties work together to achieve a more sustainable future through energy-efficient showering technology.
To learn more about how Recoup WWHRS can benefit your next housing development get in touch by email at info@recoup.co.uk or call us on 01379 844010.
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