Client: Lawford Green Nursery, Essex
Partners: Rose Builders, TH Electrical
Product: Vortice Vort NRG Heat Recovery Units
Executive Summary
To support the critical role of environment in early years education, Lawford Green Nursery needed a ventilation solution that would ensure a healthy, quiet, and energy-efficient learning space. Vortice partnered with Rose Builders and TH Electrical to install Vort NRG heat recovery units in the nursery’s classrooms. These systems were chosen to provide a continuous supply of fresh, filtered air while controlling CO2 levels and minimising noise. The result is an optimal indoor environment that actively supports children’s concentration, health, and development.
The Challenge: Creating the Ideal Environment for Early Years Development
The environment in which young children learn has a profound impact on their cognitive and emotional development. Lawford Green Nursery, in planning its facilities, recognised that indoor air quality was a critical factor. The primary challenges were:
- Maintaining Excellent Air Quality: High levels of CO2 and airborne pollutants in classrooms can lead to fatigue and poor concentration in both children and staff. The nursery needed to ensure a constant supply of fresh air.
- Acoustic Performance: A noisy ventilation system can be a major distraction in a learning environment. The solution had to operate with minimal sound to avoid disrupting classroom activities.
- Energy Efficiency: As with any educational facility, controlling operational costs is crucial. The ventilation system needed to be highly energy-efficient to keep running costs low.
- Creating a Continuous Air Path: To be effective, the system had to be designed to ensure fresh air was distributed evenly throughout the classroom space, preventing stale air pockets.
The Solution: VORT NRG Heat Recovery Units
Vortice worked closely with Paul Willey from Rose Builders and Mark Coutts at TH Electrical to specify the perfect solution. The void-mounted Vort NRG heat recovery units were selected to meet all the project’s requirements.
The system was designed to create a constant air path, with the units extracting stale air from one side of the classroom while supplying fresh, filtered air to the other. Key features of the Vort NRG units that made them ideal for this educational setting include:
- High-Efficiency Heat Recovery: The units guarantee exceptional levels of heat exchange, recovering thermal energy from the outgoing air to warm the incoming fresh air. This significantly reduces heating costs and energy consumption.
- Superior Acoustic Insulation: Engineered for quiet operation, the Vort NRG units do not disrupt the classroom, ensuring a peaceful and focused learning environment.
- Advanced Air Quality Control: The system was specified with CO2 monitors to automatically manage ventilation rates based on occupancy, maintaining optimal air quality. Higher-grade filtration was also included to further reduce airborne particulates.
- Flexible Installation: Available in horizontal or vertical versions, the void-mounted units can be installed discreetly and flexibly within the building’s design.
Results
The installation of the VORT NRG heat recovery units has successfully created a healthy and productive learning environment at Lawford Green Nursery. The system provides continuous, filtered fresh air, keeping CO2 levels low and improving the overall indoor air quality. The quiet operation ensures that children and teachers are not distracted, while the high efficiency helps the nursery manage its energy costs effectively.
This project demonstrates a clear understanding of how the physical environment directly supports educational goals. By prioritising air quality, Lawford Green Nursery has invested in the health, wellbeing, and developmental potential of its children.
Conclusion
Studies have repeatedly shown that good indoor air quality can improve concentration and development while alleviating health issues in children and teachers. The Lawford Green Nursery project is a prime example of this principle in action. The Vortice VORT NRG system has provided a reliable, efficient, and unobtrusive solution that creates the ideal indoor climate for early years education, proving that the right ventilation is a fundamental component of a successful learning environment.
