7-Monodraught Natural Daylighting Sundomes Natural Ventilation News 210208-2

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Monodraught - Natural ventilation reduces energy costs and now their controls qualify for ECA tax savings

With Monodraught natural ventilation controls now qualifying for a 100% ECA tax concession, managing director Professor Terry Payne suggest that the H&V sector has a real opportunity to help clients reduce energy costs and their carbon footprint.
Climate change is now acknowledged as one of the biggest threats to our environment, and with businesses and industrial processes responsible for around half of the carbon emissions produced by burning fossil fuels, it is important that efforts to reduce emissions focus on these areas. No wonder then, that the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme is such a key part of the Government’s strategy to encourage businesses to invest in low carbon energy-saving equipment and help the UK achieve its 20% Kyoto target for reducing carbon emissions. Provided qualifying products are on the Energy Technology List, the ECA scheme allows 100% tax relief for organisation paying corporation tax. In effect, this means a 30% saving on the total expenditure of the control equipment listed within the ETL.
An innovative technology that qualifies for the ECA scheme is also one that is now widely recognised as the most reliable and effective means of harnessing the wind’s potential as a renewable energy source.
Roof mounted top down natural ventilation systems are designed to operate with no moving parts. They apply atmospheric principles and the natural effects of the wind to bring fresh air into a building and extract stale warm air from it, using only natural renewable wind energy.
The effect of warm air rising decreases the air pressure within the space below, allowing cooler air to fall in via the natural ventilation system. The resultant subtle change in air pressure produces sufficient airflow to make the space comfortably fresh, while the effect of wind blowing onto the windward side of a ventilation stack allows stale and stagnant air to be extracted through the leeward side.
The natural stack effect of thermal buoyancy is achieved as a result of the difference between the air temperature inside and outside a building. The imbalance of internal and external air masses results in warm air rising up through the units.
Systems can serve multiple floors and in offices, schools hospitals etc., will also provide ventilation to adjoining corridors. Internal dividers and wind turning vanes within individual units can be designed to ensure that both intake and extraction will take place irrespective of wind direction.
The most innovative designs are not dependent on open windows or vents in the building and will continue to operate, providing the benefits of ‘free’ air conditioning. Volume control dampers, controlled by temperature and CO2 sensors, can precisely control the volume of airflow through the system dependent on the internal temperature.
Night-time cooling or ‘free cooling’ is also an important feature of natural ventilation strategies. The volume control dampers can be programmed to open fully, for example from midnight to 6am, to encapsulate cool night air. Any prevailing wind carries the air down into the building below. The cleansing effect of the downwash of cold air leaves the interior of the building feeling fresh and clean for occupants arriving later that morning. A temperature limit can be introduced to ensure that the building is not over-cooled.
Natural ventilation systems can be controlled individually or by a central control panel. Control panels can be fitted with a spring/summer/autumn/winter switch to ensure that dampers open for night time cooling only during summer months. At other times of the year the dampers can be set to open at 3% to 5% to allow trickle ventilation, whilst avoiding the problems of cold draughts.
Another recent innovation that has significantly improved the potential of natural ventilation systems is the addition of solar driven internal fans that can introduce additional fresh air up to 260 l/s. Conversely, the fan operation can also be set to extract stale air. All without any energy cost. This important feature is made possible using a patented control system that works on the basis that the brighter the sun is, the greater the speed of the boost fan. This results in 2½ times more power being generated from the solar panel than can be achieved by a direct connection.
For smaller commercial applications and small rooms such as toilets, units are available that combine natural ventilation and natural light.
As well as the cost saving generated by ‘free’ air conditioning, the latest natural ventilation systems are designed to require little or no maintenance and can be covered by guarantees of up 25 yeas. Noise reduction of up to 26 dB compared to an open window, have also been achieved with standard units and further reductions can be achieved by fitting acoustic linings and pods.
The benefits of natural ventilation can be applied to virtually any organisation. Systems have been installed in government buildings, manufacturing facilities, commercial offices, educational establishments, hospitals, etc., enabling them to reduce their energy overheads and their carbon footprint. And with natural ventilation control systems now qualifying for Enhanced Capital Allowances, the capital and installation costs are effectively reduced by 30% to companies paying Corporation Tax.
Many other costs associated with the provision of controls can benefit from the 100% offset against tax in the first year. Costs that can be offset include the control systems and the installation costs, commissioning, and any necessary modifications to the building. Professional fees directly related to the acquisition and installation of controls also qualify.

Email: angela.dell@monodraught.com