Optimising Design for Fuel Poverty Solutions

Airex is a startup on a mission to combat fuel poverty and climate change by improving airflow management in old, poorly insulated homes. Traditional air bricks, while necessary for ventilation, can cause up to 15% of heat loss, leading to higher energy costs. Airex needed to optimise their smart air brick design to reduce this heat loss while ensuring adequate ventilation. Referred to JNDC by another satisfied client, they sought our expertise.

Airex began with JNDC's Design and Project Review, which revealed several new insights. We developed a detailed design of experiments and, using JNDC's environmental test chamber, conducted numerous tests following the design, make, test, iterate process. This helped refine and optimise the product design. By continuously analysing performance under various conditions, we ensured the smart air bricks would perform effectively in real-world scenarios.

Thorough testing enabled the team to finalise the most efficient design, giving Airex the confidence to proceed with higher volume production. The validated design ensures Airex can scale up production while maintaining high performance and reliability. Their smart air bricks now help reduce heat loss by up to 15%, improve thermal efficiency, and contribute to a 2-4 point increase in EPC ratings. By effectively addressing fuel poverty in ageing homes, Airex's solution provides environmental benefits and significant savings on heating bills for homeowners.