Air conditioning uses 40 per cent of a building’s energy and the current environmentally-aware time demands a greener solution for new and refurbished buildings.
VIM Sustainability is the sole Australian distributor for natural ventilation and daylighting solution, Monodraught Windcatcher units. The Monodraught system is the world leader in energy efficient and maintenance-free natural ventilation design and is available in 20 countries, VIM Sustainability managing director John Brodie said.
“Natural ventilation of buildings will play a much larger part now as the carbon trading scheme begins to impact the way we design buildings and the way we live,” Mr Brodie said.
“Air conditioning is one the biggest users of energy in the built environment, making it a large creator of carbon emissions. In many cases 40 per cent of all energy used in a commercial building is from air conditioning.
“These unique Monodraught units are going to change the way we cool our buildings from now on. Simple, and with only one moving part, they are designed to be weather-, bird- and insect-proof and should be investigated before designing or refurbishing your next building,” he said.
Mr Brodie said using air conditioning to cool buildings was often inappropriate, as more efficiently designed buildings using natural ventilation significantly reduced the need for air conditioning.
“Natural ventilation uses the design of the building and the local climate, including breezes, to make buildings more comfortable.
“The principles of natural ventilation have been used in the Middle East for thousands of years and the same technology is available in Monodraught’s single roof-mounted units. Weatherproof and architecturally designed, these units utilise the age-old principles of cooling houses in the desert to ensure comfort – whatever the building size or type – and zero running costs.
“Using the prevailing wind and the benefits of temperature and pressure caused by the difference in height between the building roof and floor, Monodraught Windcatcher units are the ultimate solution to minimising power bills and carbon production, by removing the need to air condition,” Mr Brodie said.
“Schools, hospitals, aged care facilities, hotels, commercial buildings, sports and entertainment auditoriums, as well as warehouses, can all benefit from Monodraught units. There is nothing else like it on the market in Australia,” he said.
Monodraught units are fully automatic and programmable, distributing fresh air throughout a building when the carbon dioxide levels become too high and ensure the hot air is removed. There is also a solar panel-driven version, which accelerates the rate of heat removal. The unit closes completely in winter, only opening enough to allow in enough air to ensure required fresh air levels are met. In addition, the Suncatcher units also bring daylight into buildings and are available in a range of sizes up to 1.5 metres in diameter.
Each Monodraught unit is custom designed and engineered to suit the function, building type and climate, using the latest energy modelling software. Many design and colour options are available.
For more information about the Monodraught units log on to VIM Sustainability’s website: www.vim.net.au
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