Project objectives

As regulations tighten towards the Future Homes/Buildings Standards, new homes must deliver high energy efficiency without compromising indoor air quality or comfort. Energy House 2.0 provides the ideal platform to de-risk specifications and demonstrate compliance readiness under extreme and variable conditions.

Energy House 2.0 is among the world’s largest purpose-built building-performance test labs, with two chambers that can replicate conditions covering up to ~95% of the Earth’s inhabited climates, enabling partners to validate whole-home strategies quickly and with confidence.

From a ventilation perspective, the project’s goal was to validate a whole-house solution that maintains healthy IAQ, reduces heat loss through effective heat recovery, and integrates smoothly with the construction and commissioning processes expected on live projects.

Titon’s solutions

For this programme, Titon combined whole-house heat recovery with best-in-class single-room extract options to suit different dwelling types and build stages.

HRV1.6 Q Plus MVHR provides continuous, balanced ventilation by extracting stale air from wet rooms and supplying fresh, tempered air to habitable spaces. By recovering heat from the exhaust stream, it helps reduce space-heating demand.

It was selected for Energy House 2.0 because it pairs a compact footprint with high performance and third-party BRE testing. Its efficient heat exchanger, low specific fan power (SFP) and Appendix Q listing support strong SAP outcomes, while robust airflow makes it ideal for medium-to-large dwellings where space is at a premium. Inside Energy House 2.0’s instrumented chambers (200+ monitoring points), the HRV1.6 Q Plus was assessed across varied scenarios, yielding detailed insights into IAQ stability, supply/extract balance and overall energy performance.

Alongside the MVHR, the Ultimate® dMEV fan offers a high-performing, ultra-quiet, low-profile solution for bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms in both new build and refurbishment.

The unit delivers exceptional efficiency and acoustic comfort, while the humidity-sensing version helps prevent mould and condensation. PCDB listed and designed for continuous 24/7 extract, the Ultimate® dMEV fan features a high-efficiency brushless DC motor and constant flow technology with an integral pressure sensor to maintain performance against external back pressures.

Together, HRV1.6 Q Plus and Ultimate® dMEV give specifiers a clear pathway to compliant, low-energy ventilation for whole-house heat recovery or where targeted continuous extract is required.

Product specifications

HRV1.6 Q Plus MVHR

• Compact, install-friendly design (slim 600 mm wide) to suit tight service cupboards and risers. 
• Independently tested by BRE with strong airflow capability—well-suited to medium-to-large dwellings.
• High heat-exchanger efficiency up to 89% aiding SAP performance via Appendix Q. 
• Low specific fan power of 0.49 W/l/.
• Continuous pollutant/moisture control; heat recovery; summer bypass for comfort.

Find out more about the MVHR unit

Ultimate® dMEV

• Ultra-quiet operation from 10 dB(A); low profile, easy-clean design.
• SFP down to 0.11 W/l/s; airflow up to 30 l/s (108 m³/h).
• PCDB listed (Consp10/SAP10); continuous 24/7 extract with constant-flow control (to 20 Pa).
• Humidity version with unit running time & RH data logging; fast, straightforward commissioning.

Find out more about the dMEV unit

Project outcomes

MVHR is recognised as the most effective whole-home solution in airtight, well-insulated buildings, providing continuous dilution of moisture and pollutants while recovering heat. In testing environments like Energy House 2.0, that translates to demonstrable, repeatable IAQ outcomes suited to modern fabric standards.

By recovering heat from the extract air and tempering incoming supply air, the HRV1.6 Q Plus supports lower heating demand and stable comfort. During warmer conditions, summer bypass modes help limit unwanted heat gains to align with overheating design considerations.

The project provides evidence to support specifications aligned with the current uplift and the forthcoming standards trajectory, helping developers and contractors design MVHR into future-proof dwellings that are efficient, comfortable, and easier to sign off with Building Control.

Learn more about Energy House 2.0