eKOCOMFORT is a trademarked name for home comfort systems that combine space heating, domestic hot water and continuous ventilation in one energy-efficient integrated system. Prototypes were first unveiled at the Canadian Mechanicals Exhibition in Toronto last March.

There are currently five Canadian manufacturing groups working on eKOCOMFORT systems, and four groups have working prototypes. Each company is using a different strategy to achieve the eKOCOMFORT standard, and each will market eKOCOMFORT units under their own model names.

The standards were assembled by Natural Resources Canada, which has helped pay for extensive lab testing and continues to fund field monitoring along with CMHC. The manufacturers, government, HRAI (Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute) and gas utilities have worked together to advance the program and hold regular meetings to discuss ways to successfully bring eKOCOMFORT to market.

Vebteck Research of Markham, Ontario, has begun the production run of commercial models, known as the Aquamaster Q100.

Vebteck was the lead designer of the system, with Fleetline Products of Brantford bringing its considerable knowledge of combustion engineering to the table and Nutech Energy Systems of London designing the HRV (heat recovery ventilator) component. All the elements are in one box and are operated by a single control system. There are currently 10 Aquamaster units installed and working in homes across Ontario.

The Aquamaster uses a low-mass, low-water-volume boiler-based heat generator with an instantaneous heat exchanger to provide abundant hot water for domestic use. Although hot water is also used for heating, a solid state control module ensures priority goes to heating potable water. A variable-speed single blower provides air flow for space heating and cooling, as well as the ventilation system. The blower uses an HP GE electrically commutated motor (ECM). Nine of the first 10 installed units use natural gas and one uses oil.

Split water delivery

“The heating coil is also used for air conditioning,” said Aquamaster designer Harry West. “There’s a split delivery of water to the coil. We use freon from an outdoor condenser, then a plate heat exchanger to chill. The switching is controlled by a solenoid, which ensures chilled water only gets to the coil. A chip in the logic board controls the flow. At the same time, the unit still allows domestic hot water because it’s an isolated loop.” This air conditioning strategy has been used in a number of the field installations.

Seven of West’s 10 installed units are in retrofit applications. The three new home installations came forward through a strategy called the Innovative Builder Program.

The eKOCOMFORT group developed the Innovative Builder Program to encourage cutting-edge builders to install eKOCOMFORT units and follow their performance first-hand. The program sets out a code of conduct which details how the manufacturer will assist the builder through the first three years the units are installed.

The manufacturers are offering a guarantee of customer satisfaction for three years, at which time normal warranties kick in. They are also providing education for the builder, sub-trades, and even local building authorities and utilities, if necessary. They will also explain the operation of the system to the home buyer.

In return, the builder must commit to the system for two years, provide an installation-ready home and arrange for quarterly preplanned visits by the manufacturer so the system’s performance is tracked.

The eKOCOMFORT manufacturers are still offering the Innovative Builder Program. For more information, visit the web site at www.ekocomfort.com.

West’s group is the first to commercialize an eKOCOMFORT system, but three other manufacturing groups have field installations in place, ready for the upcoming heating season.

Three other systems in place

Nu-Air Ventilation Systems of Newport, Nova Scotia and IBC Technologies of Vancouver call their unit the Enerboss 647. It’s a boiler-based system with heating and potable water contained in separate loops with an indirect heat exchange coil in the tank. An immersion aquastat senses heating need based on water returning to the tank in the segregated heating loop. The output of the heat generator is modulated based on the return water temperature.

Tirino, of Concord, Ontario, has modified its existing “Northern” model furnace. Tirino has field installations in the Toronto area. Kerr Heating of Parrsborough, Nova Scotia also has a number of field units installed for its boiler-based system. Kerr believes the product should be ready for the market by next heating season.

Based on early results, the builders involved find the versatility of eKOCOMFORT very attractive. With increasing homeowner demand for in-floor radiant heating, eKOCOMFORT is an attractive choice. These units can provide radiant heat where the homeowner wants it, and they are much less expensive than forced-air heating elsewhere.

Although that choice is available in some combo systems now, eKOCOMFORT adds continuous ventilation, heat recovery and, in most cases, optional air conditioning. The energy savings are also attractive. The Aquamaster is providing continuous whole-house ventilation drawing only 34W on low speed.

Thanks to Jeff Culp of Oxford Media Group for assisting with information about the eKocomfort program.

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From Home BUILDER Magazine, Vol. 15 No. 8, November/December 2003 p.22-24. Used with permission.

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