Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh with Ambion Heating’s CEO Oliver Baker and Ambion’s low-carbon heating panel in the Future Home at Energy House 2.0
Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh recently visited The University of Salford’s Energy House 2.0, the largest research facility of its type.
Inside, there are two detached houses built by Bellway Homes and Barratt Developments which under controlled conditions, recreate a wide variety of weather conditions with temperatures ranging between -20˚C to +40˚C and simulated wind, rain, snow and solar radiation.
As part of the visit, the Minister saw Ambion Heating’s low-carbon system in Bellway Homes’ Future Home.
Ambion, based in Wakefield, uses infrared heating panels and a revolutionary dynamic pulsing smart control system which together optimise energy use and comfort.
Ambion’s system is being studied in the Future Home by the Energy House 2.0 researchers and is already being used in over 1,500 social homes with housing associations and councils like Fife Council, Slough Borough Council, Halton Homes, Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association, Linc Cymru Social Housing and Yorkshire Housing.
Its IP-owned low-carbon heating panels and smart control system maintain a consistent temperature and conserves energy. Its unique pulsing technology smooths energy consumption across the 24-hour period and reduces load.
A central touch-screen control panel provides a comprehensive breakdown of energy usage and costs, which gives residents transparency and control over spending, which helps to combat fuel poverty.
The data is transmitted to Ambion’s team in Wakefield which can then provide free on-line technical support and reports as required.
Installation is quick, easy and hassle-free, with no pipework or radiators needed, can be installed by any qualified electrician, and the cost of installation is half that of a heat pump.
It also integrates easily with on-site renewable energy generation, one solution that may help upgrade social homes to a minimum energy performance of EPC Band C (or equivalent), with the government due to consult on proposals for this standard in due course.
Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh with Ambion Heating’s CEO Oliver Baker and Professor Richard Fitton in the Future Home at Energy House 2.0
Ambion Heating CEO Oliver Baker said: “We were very pleased to meet the minister and show her how our system works.
“Our mission is to help decarbonise social housing and help ensure everyone benefits from the transition to low carbon and lower cost heating.
“We are delighted to be part of the Energy House 2.0 project and to have our system verified.
“We believe Ambion Heating can make a huge contribution to low-carbon heating for social housing and are pleased to see the positive results from our recent project with Yorkshire Housing.
“We’re now looking to roll out the system to even more housing associations and councils.”
Professor Richard Fitton (PhD) MRICS, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, a senior member of the EH2.0 team, said:
“It was great to welcome Government Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh to Energy House Labs, and to show her round the unique Energy House 2.0 facility. We talked about the amazing work we’re doing to make housing more energy efficient as we move to Net Zero housing.
“Energy House 2.0 is playing a key role in accelerating the progress towards low carbon and net zero housing design. That’s why we were really interested to test Ambion’s heating system as part of a study of electrical space heating.”
Minister for Energy Consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh shown Ambion’s control panel by Ambion Heating’s Product Manager James Webb
Last month officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero visited a social housing development in York using Ambion’s heating system.
Housing association Yorkshire Housing commissioned Ambion Heating’s system last year to replace normal electric panels heaters in two mid-rise blocks of 30 flats at Alabury House in York as part of a pilot project.
The Yorkshire Housing pilot tested the system over 4 months from January to April this year and found that the electricity energy usage saving compared to the old electric panels was 73.8%.
It also discovered the average monthly electric heating bill for a two-bed flat was just £45.78.
Yorkshire Housing were so pleased with the results and feedback from tenants they’re rolling out the infrared heating systems at other properties.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero officials visited Alabury House, visited flats with the new system, spoke to the residents to get their feedback.
Eddie Figura, a tenant at the Yorkshire Housing pilot at Alabury House said of her new Ambion heating system: “I’d recommend it definitely. I do feel the difference and the temperature is quite comfortable. I love it.”
Yorkshire Housing aims to get all its housing stock up to an EPC Band C by 2030 and hopes to be net zero by 2050.