Showersave Launches Hot Water Cylinder Sizing Report To Tackle Industry Confusion

Showersave, part of The Keystone Group, has published a new report and executive summary exploring hot water cylinder sizing for domestic heat pump systems with showers. The report comes ahead of the expected publication of the Future Homes Standard (FHS), under which new-build homes will have to meet a ‘zero-carbon ready’ standard modelled on a notional air source heat pump (ASHP).

Titled, ‘Hot water cylinder sizing for domestic heat pump systems with showers: Accounting for Waste Water Heat Recovery and Instantaneous Electric Showers’, the report seeks to clarify shortcomings in existing guidance on hot water cylinder sizing.

With heat pumps expected to play a central role in the Future Homes Standard, Showersave is urging housebuilders to consider the benefits of Waste Water Heat Recovery Systems (WWHRS) and Instantaneous Electric Showers (IES). These technologies can improve the performance of domestic hot water systems, reduce hot water demand, and cut household electricity demand for heating.

Developed in collaboration with Chris Martin – formerly of the Energy Monitoring Company – and Triton Showers, the report explores how WWHRS and IES can reduce hot water demand, how WWHRS can lower electricity consumption by pre-heating the incoming cold water, and why improved hot water cylinder-sizing models are needed to accurately reflect the impact of these technologies.

The report calls for the following actions:

• Industry bodies, including NHBC, MCS and CIBSE, should update their guidance to reflect WWHRS and IES.

• Housebuilders should consider incorporating WWHRS and IES as standard features in energy-conscious developments.

• System designers should make use of more accurate sizing models, such as those based on BS EN 15316, or other dynamic modelling that accounts for variable demand.

Tony Gordon, Managing Director at Showersave, comments: “Our customers, including housebuilders and housing associations, face several challenges when installing heat pumps, particularly finding space for a hot water cylinder in homes that previously didn’t require one. This report demonstrates why the current guidance on hot water cylinder sizing must evolve to reflect new technologies such as WWHRS and IES.

“Working alongside Chris Martin and Triton Showers has allowed a detailed examination of how both housebuilders and homeowners can be supported to reduce energy bills, enhance hot water system performance and meet the Future Homes Standard.”

As the UK’s first WWHRS provider, Showersave has now been installed in over 200,000 homes across the UK and Europe. Recognised in SAP by BRE and certified as a Passive House Component, Showersave is proven to help housebuilders meet Building Regulations such as Part L, while delivering sustainable, low-maintenance, ‘fit-and-forget’ performance.

To download the report and executive summary, visit: https://showersave.com/future-homes/?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=PR+House+Builder&utm_campaign=Future+Homes.

For more information on Showersave’s Waste Water Heat Recovery solutions, call 028 9334 4488 or email sales@showersave.com

Showersave Supports Passivhaus Certified School

Showersave, part of The Keystone Group, which provides drain water heat recovery solutions, has collaborated with Currie Community High School to install Waste Water Heat Recovery Systems (WWHRS) as part of the school’s journey to Passivhaus certification.   

Built as part of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP), the £65 million facility in south-west Edinburgh accommodates 1,000 students and includes a swimming pool, theatre, café and extensive sports facilities. LEIP is a joint initiative between national and local government that aims to modernise learning environments while delivering sustainable, long-term estate planning.

Pioneered by the City of Edinburgh Council, the project set out to achieve Passivhaus certification, an internationally recognised energy-efficiency standard that minimises energy consumption by reducing the reliance on active heating and cooling systems. Passivhaus buildings are designed to be net-zero-ready and resilient to future climate conditions.

Demonstrating its commitment to these principles, the City of Edinburgh Council won the AJ100 Awards  Client of the Year 2021 for its leadership on the climate agenda and visionary approach to education projects, citing Currie Community High School as a leading example.

Currie Community High School is only the third school in Scotland to be built to Passivhaus standards and is expected to consume 70% less energy than a conventional school. Its design has been modelled to withstand predicted climate changes up to 2080.

To support the whole-building approach required by Passivhaus, Kier Construction opted to install Showersave’s WWHRS. These systems capture heat from shower waste water and use it to preheat incoming cold water. The WWHRS can achieve a reduction in the demand for hot water from the heat source by up to 50%, helping meet an operational target of 67 kWh/m2/year.

Showersave systems integrate seamlessly into showers, requiring no change in behaviour from students. With no moving parts or switches, they feature a built-in overflow for safety and are fully reusable and recyclable, making them an environmentally responsible choice.

At Currie Community High School, Showersave has benefited both students and the wider community. The facilities, including the pool, gym and sports hall, are all used outside of school hours, with showering facilities available after exercise. Showersave’s WWHRS ensure every shower taken remains warm, is more efficient while cutting CO2 emissions, and reduces energy costs.

Cameron Loggenberg, Technical Manager at Showersave, commented: “It was fantastic to work alongside Currie Community High School to support their journey to net zero. The integration of Showersave’s WWHRS will significantly reduce energy consumption, lower costs, and improve SAP performance.”

Gerard McCluskey, Mechanical Engineer at Castle, added: “Showersave is an excellent addition to Currie Community High School’s efforts to create a low-carbon, energy-efficient facility for both students and the public.” The WWHRS will help ensure hot water demand does not put strain on the main heat source or drive up energy costs.”

Since 2005, more than 200,000 Showersave systems have been installed across the UK and Europe. Showersave is the only WWHR solution on the market designed, manufactured, and distributed by a single company – streamlining the supply chain and allowing the business to respond swiftly to the fast-evolving demands of the industry.

For more information on Showersave’s waste water heat recovery solutions, call 028 9334 4488, email sales@showersave.com or visit www.showersave.com. Click here to find out more about the Currie Community High School project.

Flybox - The Retractable Power Socket For Use In Showrooms And Other Large Indoor Spaces

Flybox provides safe power connectivity within large internal spaces exactly where you need it. It provides all the benefits of a flip-lid floor box, which keeps sockets hidden under the floor until you need them, with the versatility of a lengthy fly lead. The result is easy access to power in all corners of the building – a socket where you need it, when you need it.

Simply open the lid and pull the retractable fly lead to the location where a 13-Amp socket is needed and cover the trailing cable with cable protectors to prevent trips. Simple and versatile, Flybox provides power accessibility for a wide range of commercial and public building uses, such as digital displays, lighting, signage, freestanding heaters and even lighting up the Christmas tree! When the power source is no longer needed, unplug the devices, return the fly lead to the floor box and close the lid. No need for additional extension cables or standard fly leads – everything is contained within the floor box and stored away until you need it next time.

With a robust stainless steel construction and choice of lids to suit the floor type, Flybox is ideal for all kinds of large internal spaces, including showrooms, museums, event spaces, exhibition halls, pop-up food and drink festivals and temporary indoor markets. It can also provide safe access to power in covered outdoor areas, subject to adequate protection from moisture and rainfall. www.popuppower.co.uk