A New Angle on Solar PanelsToday's Specifier - June 2007
Two inescapable facts face us during 2007. Firstly, there is the need to reduce our energy costs used in buildings. This increases the need to turn to the proven performance of natural ventilation, so as to eliminate the need for air conditioning.
Whereas Monodraught's WINDCATCHER® natural ventilation systems have proved so successful in the past, Monodraught have recognised that the need for increased ventilation.
The Sun Shines on Natural VentilationSpecification - June 2007Having won the “Best Building
Services Product of the Year” at last year’s Interbuild for their Sola-boost system, Monodraught are delighted that the product has been short listed for the H&V
“Air Movement Product of the Year” and the “Renewable Product of the Year”.
This recognition by Judges of the importance of applying solar-driven technology to a very successful natural ventilation product has a huge impact on the health sector, as it does
on many other commercial under takings.
A new angle for Solar PanelsRoofs Floors Walls - May 2007The promotion and acceptance of solar panels has become a widely accepted fact of life.
Solar panels seem to spring up everywhere and everyone seems to accept that this must be
a good step forward and will save a lot of electricity, if not save our planet! Solar panels can really be divided into two areas, solar thermal and photovoltaic solar panels.
VKR Acquisition Modern Building Services - May 2007Monodraught, which is well known for its WINDCATCHER® natural ventilation systems and the SUNPIPE® natural daylight systems for exploiting natural daylight, has been acquired by VKR Holding, previously known as the VELUX Group.
"With the incorporation of VKR Holding, Monodraught will be in a position to offer an even broader and more comprehensive range of natural-ventilation products - not least through our association with WindowMaster but also with the entire VKR Group."
Environmental Operation Building Products - August 2006
Two major new PFI hospitals in Bristol, one at Callington Road and another, Fromeside, at Blackberry Hill, have made a major commitment to introducing natural ventilation and natural daylight into their designs through the use of Monodraught's SUNPIPE and WINDCATCHER energy-free lighting and ventilation systems.
"Natural light and ventilation systems from Monodraught bring air of energy efficiency to two new Public Finance Initiative hospitals."
Energy-free powered natural ventilation Energy Efficient Solutions - July 2006
Natural ventilation has been a huge success in the UK and the Monodraught WINDCATCHER systems were originally launched just over 10 years ago in 1995 and since that date, more than 5,000 systems have now been installed. One of the reservations many people have, however, despite the success of the WINDCATCHER performance is, "What happens on a hot summer day when there is no wind?” The implied criticism of the WINDCATCHER systems is in fact unfounded, since all those thousands of people who have WINDCATCHER systems installed on their Schools, Hospitals, Offices, and similar buildings, know from experience that WINDCATCHER systems do work successfully throughout the summer, under all conditions, and there are no problems of overheating!"
Winning the Interbuild Oscars Self Builder & Home Maker - May 2006
It is every company’s dream to win international recognition with an Award
of the “Best Product”, so as to recognise their innovation and dedication to what they consider to be their own unique ideas but to win two Best Product Awards is
really quite remarkable!
In the judges’
opinion, they said of the Monodraught SOLA-VENT® natural daylight and solar powered extract ventilation system, "This well thought out product further develops the company’s
SUNPIPE technology. It puts together in one good-looking
element all the items needed for lighting and ventilation of a
bathroom, simplifying the ventilation and specification process.”
Natural Elements Specified for
New PFI HospitalsHospital BULLETIN - May 2006
Two major new PFI hospitals in Bristol, one at Callington Road and another, Fromeside, at Blackberry Hill, have made a major commitment to introducing natural daylight into their designs and have utilised Monodraught's SUNPIPE and WINDCATCHER energy-free lighting and ventilation systems.
Callington Road Hospital was conceptually designed by DBP and Fromeside Hospital by Devereux. The detailed finishing for both projects was by architects, Fredrick Gibberd Partnership, with Hurley Plamer Flatt, the M&E consulting engineers, and Rydon Construction, the main contractor.
Fromeside is a brand new medium secure mental health unit featuring 80 individual rooms for patients, most of which are clustered in groups to form wards.
These are linked by a corridor, called the 'Central Street', to a two storey central office and administration block, curiously named 'The Banana Building'. There is also a large recreation hall with a badminton court within the hospital itself.
Putting Rooflights in a Spin Specification - April 2006
The advent of tubular skylights has had quite a major impact on the rooflight market.
Standard rooflights, square and rectangular, have been used for decades and indeed 'open up' a building's interior by bringing in natural daylight to deep plan buildings. Tubular skylights, however, do exactly the same job but provide a more versatile approach with quite a few advantages. They are available from Monodraught ranging from 230mm diameter right up to 1.5m diameter.
The main difference from tubular skylights, the most popular of which are the Monodraught SUNPIPE systems, and traditional skylights is that tubular skylights are generally manufactured from highly polished, mirror-finish aluminium tubes, which reflects the sunlight's rays from any direction and irrespective of the angle of the sun, reflects that sunlight down into the space below. The beauty is that there is virtually no limit to the length of SUNPIPE that can be supplied...
Monodraught SUNPIPE systems
Light up a Farm Conversion Selfbuilder homemaker - March 2006
"We are very pleased with Monodraught and the SUNPIPE. The whole package was excellent. Delivery only took two days from ordering, the SUNPIPE was easy to install and it has transformed our cowshed.
It is much more inviting and welcoming."
Monodraught SUNPIPE system Lights up a farm Conversion Housebuilder & Developer - March 2006
Guy and Nicki Radford and their three young sons, moved into a most unusual and interesting property near Chippenham, Wiltshire an old farmyard which dates back to the 16th century. The redevelopment and modernisation has seen the introduction of Monodraught's state of the art SUNPIPE. That not only brings in natural daylight saving on electricity, it also has a calming and soothing effect for the children in the playroom. Which is far more healthier than electric lighting, producing an overall relaxing ambiance in the Radford's 16th century farmyard house.
