Following a 2-year Carbon Trust sponsored Research programme in conjunction with Nottingham University and CIBA UK plc, we launched our Cool-phase system at Interbuild, where it attracted considerable interest. The design of the system is quite revolutionary, in as much as it uses a Phase Change Material (PCM) in the form of a crystalline wax in microcapsules, which absorb cold air at night making them solidify and during the daytime, the microcapsules melt releasing the benefit of this latent energy providing cooling. The system can also be programmed to control CO2 levels but the major benefit is that each Cool-phase module has the equivalent thermal mass of 9 tonnes of concrete. The long term goal is for the system to be zero carbon in operation by using a solar pack module that will allow the Cool-phase system to be run year round without any energy consumption whatsoever. Development of the system will continue throughout 2009. Download Cool-phase brochure
Monodraught Launch Their
Sola-Extract System
We have launched a new low cost, compact Sola-Extract system aimed particularly at the Developing World market, since it provides energy-free extract from the roof space of any building. Driven by a 15 Watt solar panel, the system incorporates a tangential 75mm fan, which produces a flow rate of 60 l/s and a very low noise level of 25dB. We consider there is great demand for a simple, low cost, neat and attractive unit, which can be fitted to any roof type and will provide powered ventilation, without any energy cost, at all times when the sun is shining. It is, of course, when the sun is shining that solar gain occurs, which in turn leads to overheating of the dwelling. Once this new Sola-Extract is in full production, it is anticipated that it can be produced at a relatively low cost. Release will be sometime early in 2009!
SunPipes Hit the High Spots
at Grand Designs!
Following our highly successful Exhibition at the Grand Designs Show at the NEC recently, Jackie and Emma, who attended the Show over the weekend, where delighted to have the opportunity of meeting up with Kevin McCloud, the presenter of so many of the Grand Designs programmes on TV. Kevin is, of course, a great fan of SunPipes, since these have so often been featured on the programme, particularly showing an underground house in Cumbria, which was recently revisited by Kevin after the initial five years of operation, when the Clients of the house said how pleased they had been with the SunPipe performance! More than 40,000 visitors were at the Show, which was regarded by many as a great success.
Penryn College Now Completed!
Following the entry on our “Latest News” earlier this year on Penryn College, which are the largest Monodraught units ever installed on such a College, we are pleased to say the whole Project is now complete and is due to open for this new Term next month.
The Architects for this Project are Poynton Brady Wynter Cole (PBWC) and the School is part of Cornwall’s Building Schools for the Future programme and being due to open in September, is a year ahead of any other Projects in this “Building Schools for the Future” group! The £20m scheme provides accommodation for 1,150 pupils aged between 11 and 18. There is an excellent 5-page write-up in next month’s Architecture Today on the Project but the photos of the completed Project are pretty stunning, as can be seen.
Literature Email Service
As a result of “public demand” we now make our literature email service a standard feature on our website, as you can see from the chart right. We also have a ‘button’ on the left-hand side of the screen on any category of product, so that you can always receive our literature by email. In this day and age, although people always compliment us on our literature printed, email is instant, so we do hope that our many Clients will find this new service of assistance.
Such is the popularity of our commercial SunPipes that we have now put together a “Gallery” of the first 50 photographs of Projects around the world, since these all show the amazing transformation that takes place, when natural light is piped into a building through a SunPipe system. Please click on the button above. We will update this ‘rolling gallery’ of Commercial SunPipes whenever the opportunity arises.
Our Latest Customers' Comments
Every week, indeed every day, we get the most marvellous comments from customers who
return their guarantee cards and below are just four of them! We have to withhold their
telephone number and address details in recognition of the requirements of the Data Protection
Act but nevertheless, we hope you find these 'unsolicited' responses of interest.
