Essential Install | HVAC
DID YOU KNOW: The lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth is -89.2°C or -128.6°F at the Vostok Station in Antarctica, July 21, 1983
providers and deliver installers a way to exploit the
profile of the Nest brand.
Looking to steal a little of Nest’s thunder, smart energy
company Geo recently launched an updated version of
its Cosy home heating system. Taking aim at systems like
Nest and Hive, the Cosy 3 now offers the ability to work
with a twin zone heating system as a second Cosy display
can be paired with the system and will work
as the thermostat for the second zone.
The new version also offers hot water
control. The hot water extension
pack allows home owners to
switch their hot water on
and off from either their
Nest is continuing
Cosy display or the iOS or
to drive its ‘works
Android App.
with’ platform
“We are very
excited about the new
functionality that Cosy
3 offers,” says Simon
Anderson, chief strategy
officer at Geo. “Customers
will be able to make highly
effective changes to their
homes, including no longer
having the heating on when
there is no need to.”
Firmly in the entry point
market, a Cosy Smart Thermostat
with Single Zone heating retails for £250
which includes installation, rising to £280 with
hot water control. Twin Zone with installation is £325,
or £355 with installation. Systems like these won’t suit
all installers and being tied to the ‘approved installer’
programs that often accompany them have pros and
cons, however it does indicate the level of awareness
will be rising in the future, so opportunities for those
who want something a little more bespoke and
sophisticated should present themselves.
Last time around we mentioned a few products
that installers might also consider making part of their
portfolio and it’s worth taking a look again at what could
be some nice extra margin opportunities. Heatstore offers
access to the Quick-Fix electric underfloor system. Made
from special matts which use a protected element laid
across self-adhesive mesh 150W/m2, this system can act
as the primary heat source with at least 80% coverage
in well insulated buildings. The same product can offer
a solution to a wide variety of homes as the mats will fix
to many different surfaces. Heatstore also provides a full
design and technical support to get installers going.
Heatstore also has a collection of electrical heating
systems in its Dynamic range, a family of fitted or wallmounted electrical heaters. Again here the company
SensibleEssentialInstal_banners_02_Layout
1 18/09/2014
17:10 Page
3
provides design services
and technical
assistance
as the
company says it can design a system from the ground
up using options from its Dynamic, Dynamic Quantum
or Quantum Cylinders families. This can be from a
one bedroom flat to a 200 room hotel. All Heatstore
Dynamic heating products are designed to comply with
part L of the Building regulations and feature controls
to help achieve the best possible SAP ratings. The
systems are also said to have a lower capital
and maintenance cost than a gas
boiler system.
Other options include the
Electrorad family which
includes Wi-Fi controls for
the Digi-Line electric rads.
The wireless
programmer for the
Digi-Line electric
radiators is called
Touch E3 and delivers a
control hub with Wi-Fi
gateway and App which
creates wireless control
and management of
home heating over the
Internet from anywhere.
The touch screen control
unit may be wall mounted or
free standing and delivers control
of all of the heating functions, or
home owners can use their smartphone,
tablet or PC via Electrorad’s CleverTouch App for
iOS and Android. With constant and auto programming
modes as well as reduced night set backs, time override,
frost protection and holiday modes, Touch E3 also has a
built-in energy monitor that delivers energy usage data
for extra management.
Multiple zones can be created and the App also
enables the heating status of each room to be seen at
a glance including the current room temperature, the
current heating mode and the thermostat set point.
Any room or zone can be selected in order to change
temperature settings, programs and heating modes.
The products come in similar sizes and types as gas
central heating radiators and have the same mounting
bracket approach to fitting. The Digi-Line range offers
a total of 20 models, radiator being fluid filled with
thermal liquid to evenly transfer heat to the whole of
the surface area without the need for any pump or
moving parts.
The Crestron View
Phil Pini, head of residential development at Crestron
EMEA, deals with the challenges presented by HVAC in
MDUs and single dwelling projects on a daily basis and
[email protected] www.sensibleheat.com
sensible heat
Advanced HVAC
controls for the home
24 | November 2016
HVAC.indd 24
21/11/2016 09:50