The Problem: Overheating and Modern Housing
Modern, airtight housing designs are great for energy efficiency but can trap heat, leading to discomfort and health risks. Key factors contributing to this issue include:
- Insufficient Ventilation: Poor air exchange in airtight homes exacerbates overheating.
- Urban Density: Shared walls and limited cross-ventilation opportunities in townhouses amplify heat retention.
- Climate Change: Rising temperatures mean older designs are no longer fit for purpose.
- Building Code Gaps: While Clause H1 of the New Zealand Building Code addresses energy efficiency, it lacks specific overheating mitigation measures.
These issues lead to discomfort, reduced property values, and dissatisfied homeowners.
The Role of Council Bylaws
Local council bylaws often unintentionally contribute to the overheating problem. For example:
- Window Opening Restrictions: Building Code Clause F4 Safety from Falling requires barriers for windows with openings larger than 1000mm in width and sill heights under 760mm. While enhancing safety, these restrictions limit natural ventilation.
- Noise Control Regulations: Councils like Auckland enforce noise bylaws that deter homeowners from relying on open windows for cooling, especially in urban and high-traffic areas. This makes mechanical ventilation essential.
- Security & Privacy Concerns: High-density living often leads to closed windows to maintain security and privacy, further reducing airflow.
Introducing Mitsubishi Electric Lossnay
The Mitsubishi Electric Lossnay Heat Recovery Ventilation system offers a ground-breaking solution to these challenges. It’s designed to maintain optimal indoor air quality while managing temperature efficiently no matter the season. Key benefits include:
- Pre-cooling Maximises Efficiencies: The unique Lossnay core uses the energy from outgoing cooler indoor air to help pre-cool the warmer air coming in. This smart process saves energy and helps lower your running costs.
- Automatic Free Cooling Mode*: Ideal for cooling down a home that may have overheated during the day. Lossnay is able to detect when an indoor space is hotter than the temperature outside. The system will intuitively bypass the Lossnay Core to introduce cooler, fresher air into the home while extracting the stale, overheated indoor air.
- Optional Advanced Wi-Fi Control: Mitsubishi Electric Lossnay Wi-Fi Control makes the invisible, visible. With optional Lossnay Wi-Fi Control you can now monitor when your system is delivering you the above benefits. At the same time, it will also proactively remind you when it is time to clean your filters to maximise both cost-efficient operation and health benefits.
- Improved Air Quality: The system manages CO2 levels** and reduces indoor humidity, providing a healthier environment for occupants.
- Energy Efficiency: Lossnay supports sustainability goals by minimising energy loss.
- Flexible Integration: It can be seamlessly added to both new builds and retrofitted properties.
*In comparison to using a dedicated cooling device. The unit will continue to use a small amount of power to bring colder fresh air from outside.
**Available on LGH-RVS and LGH-RVX3 models only.
A Future-Proof Housing Solution
Investing in advanced ventilation like Lossnay isn’t just about addressing current challenges. It’s about preparing for the future. Climate change, urbanisation, and stricter regulatory demands will continue to shape housing design. Lossnay aligns with these trends, offering a sustainable, energy-efficient, and liveable solution.
Moreover, as awareness grows around the importance of indoor air quality, systems like Lossnay will become non-negotiable in modern homes.
Why Builders and Developers Should Act Now
- Enhance Livability: Improve comfort for residents, ensuring satisfaction and long-term value.
- Meet Future Standards: Stay ahead of potential updates to the Building Code by proactively adopting best practices.
- Stand Out in the Market: Differentiate developments as smart, sustainable, and resident-focused.
Builders, developers, and architects must prioritise systems like Lossnay to stay ahead of market demands. Updates to Clause G4 Ventilation could mandate mechanical ventilation in airtight homes. Proactively adopting these technologies not only ensures compliance but also enhances customer satisfaction and property value.
Mitsubishi Electric is leading the way with proven, high-quality systems designed to meet the needs of modern housing. By integrating Lossnay into your projects, you can set a benchmark for comfort, energy efficiency, and innovation.
Conclusion
The challenge of overheating in townhouses is real, but the solution is within reach. Mitsubishi Electric’s Lossnay Heat Recovery Ventilation system offers a comprehensive approach to creating energy-efficient, comfortable, and healthy homes. Builders and developers have an opportunity to lead the market by adopting this innovative technology, ensuring a cooler, more sustainable future for New Zealand’s urban housing landscape.
Discover the Lossnay ventilation range here or enquire for a free quote today.