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76 luxurious single-family houses

…sustainable and

energy-efficient…

Air conditioning system

Comfortable and sustainable

Your new rented house has been provided with

a state-of-the-art and sustainable air conditioning

system offering fl oor heating, fl oor cooling and

ventilation. This will allow you to enjoy maximum

living comfort and help you contribute unnoticed

to a cleaner environment.

This brochure covers all the information about

the heat and cold storage system.

ContentsIntroduction page 2

Floor heating and cooling system page 3

Ventilation system page 3

What does all this mean for you? page 4

Floor fi nish page 4

The thermostat page 6

How does it work … the technology page 6

Introduction

The air conditioning system in a nutshellFirst of all, the houses in your new residential district,

De Caaien, are excellently insulated. They have been

provided with a ground based ‘heat and cold’ storage

system. The heat which the houses absorb in the summer

is stored to heat them in the winter which means

less energy is required to enjoy a pleasant temperature

throughout the year. Normally a hot period in the summer

means high temperatures inside the house. But, as all

rooms are kept cool, a pleasant climate is also guaranteed

in the summer.

Your house has also been equipped with an advanced

automatic ventilation system called ‘Demand Flow’ which

constantly ventilates all rooms while the room you are

actually in is automatically ventilated slightly more

than others.

There is no gas connection to the new residential district

De Caaien which means the houses are better prepared for

a sustainable future. With this brochure we would like to

introduce you to the new world of air conditioning.

This way of living provides special comfort and character.

T E C H N O L O G YThe air conditioning system’s heat pump passes air

through the cold ‘underground’ in winter to cool it and

provide a pleasant climate in the summertime. In winter

the reverse happens. Partly because the ground is

used as a sustainable source of energy, the houses in

De Caaien project discharge less CO2 than other new

houses. The project is thus much more ‘sustainable’

and environmentally responsible.

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Properly insulated houses must be provided with

a sophisticated ventilation system. If nobody is at home

during the day, the ventilation system will automatically

select the lowest setting. Once you come home the

ventilation system of your living room will be up and

running. At bedtime the system will select the lowest

setting ventilating only the bedrooms that are being used.

The bathroom will be automatically ventilated for relative

humidity. Everything is fully automated. Fresh air is

supplied in the traditional way via the ventilation grilles in

the external wall. Obviously you will have every freedom

to open the windows in summer and winter. The system

will then recognise the existing ventilation.

There is one exception to manually increasing the level

of comfort. When you are cooking meals you can turn

the ventilation switch to the ‘cooking position’ and back

to ‘automatic’ once cooking is fi nished. In this way your

kitchen will be better ventilated. The cooker head in the

kitchen is a so-called HR cooker hood providing an

‘air curtain’ around the hob. In this way most cooking

steam remains above the hob with the cooking hood

extracting most cooking smells.

T E C H N O L O G YThanks to a new ventilation system all rooms will

automatically be optimally ventilated based on the

measured CO2 concentrations. The CO2 concentration

in a certain room properly indicates that there are people

present in a room and accordingly indicates the level of

air ‘pollution’.

Thanks to the water pipes installed underneath the fl oor

your home has been provided with the most comfortable

and effi cient heating and cooling system. The colder the

weather outside, the warmer the water inside the pipes.

This partly depends on your thermostat setting.

T E C H N O L O G YThe rooms have been provided with water pipes under

the fl oor around which water is pumped. The air

conditioning system automatically adjusts the water

temperature to the outside temperature and the

temperature shown on your room thermostat.

WintertimeDuring the winter the fl oor heating water will have

a maximum temperature of 40°C. This is not the case with

the radiators which might reach 90°C. This means the

winter temperature will be 20°C. The temperature in the

bathroom will be 22°C due to additional heating of

an electrical towel radiator.

SummertimeDuring the summer 18°C water will be pumped below

the fl oors. The cool water will withdraw heat from the

house. The inside temperature, depending on the outside

temperature, will usually fl uctuate between 20°C and 25°C.

This means the house will continue to offer a pleasant

inside temperature throughout the summer.

T E C H N O L O G YThe house will be no more than 5 degrees cooler

compared to a similar home that has not been provided

with this system. The air conditioning system will

automatically regulate the water temperature so there will

be no condensation. The cooling system requires much

less energy than an air conditioning system.

Hot tap waterIn addition, the system also provides hot tap water.

Depending on your thermostat setting, water will be

heated and stored in the boiler either constantly or

alternatively during the night because of the less

expensive off-peak electricity rate. The boiler is

stationed in the technical room.

Floor heating and cooling system

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Ventilation system

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Advantages for man and the environment Floor heating has a number of major advantages:

Occupiers can truly use the entire space of the house,

because not a single room has been provided with

wall or fl oor radiators. This means the house can be

furnished in a more fl exible way.

The entire house has a constant temperature at all

times, because the inside air is slowly heated with the

fl oor heating system at a relatively low temperature.

Also, the fl oor will always be a pleasant touch to

your feet.

Because of the low temperature and the large heating

surface there are hardly any air currents in the house.

The lack of noticeable air currents or draughts means

more comfort. Less air movement also means less

moving dust, which is especially good for people who

suffer from asthma.

The temperature set is maintained both in the winter

(heating) and in the summer (cooling). If the summer

is extremely hot, the temperature inside the house will

automatically drop 5 degrees compared to the

outside temperature.

Automatic ventilation has two major advantages:

The ventilation level can be adjusted according to your

wishes. Mechanical ventilation is responsible for

a signifi cant percentage of house energy consumption.

Proper ventilation is essential but ventilating the house

when it is empty means unnecessary loss of energy.

Compared to a standard ventilation system, this system

can save 50% of ventilation loss, which corresponds to

some 20% of your energy bill.

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Unlike the traditional mechanical ventilation system

this CO2-controlled system will look after itself.

The ventilation position will automatically be

determined which is not the case with manually

operated traditional systems. The cooking procedure

is an exception though.

OperationBecause the fl oor heating system uses relatively low

temperatures, the desired changes in temperature are

slowly reached. Therefore we strongly recommend

keeping the thermostat at the same temperature day and

night. You will no longer need to turn down the thermostat

when it is bedtime.

Saving energyChanging the temperature frequently means using more

energy. Changes in temperature also take a long time.

Even if you are leaving on a summer holiday, we advise

you to leave the thermostat in the normal position.

We explain the different bearings on the thermostat later.

In any case make sure the temperature is at least 18°C,

because it will take quite a long time to reach the desired

temperature once your house has cooled off. This

will mean using more energy and experiencing less

comfort. So, even if you are spending a long time outside

your house in the wintertime, make sure the in-house

temperature is at least 18°C.

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Floor fi nishFloor fi nish

What does all this mean for you?

Floor coveringYour house is heated and cooled via the fl oor. The fl oor

covering must suffi ciently allow heat to transfer to the

rooms. Many fl oor coverings lend themselves perfectly

to this purpose. Because the fl oor heating pipes are just

below the surface, fl oor covering may not be nailed to the

fl oor. Gluing the fl oor covering ensures the best results.

The fl oors have been provided with an anhydrite-bound

screed which is rubbed down prior to delivery to allow

the glue to attach properly. We recommend discussing

the right type of glue with the supplier.

Make sure to emphasise in advance that you will be using

an anhydrite-bound screed that has been provided with

a fl oor heating system. The supplier should then decide

on the right type of glue and the handling procedure.

Also, bear in mind that you will have to remove the fl oor

once you decide to move house. Many fl oor coverings

can be glued using a so-called fi xing glue and are easier

to remove.

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Low maintenanceThe air conditioning system hardly requires maintenance. All you need to do is to check occasionally, as is the case

with a central heating system that uses radiators, the water level. The water pump will tell you the pressure on the

pressure gauge. In case of low pressure the fl oor heating water can easily be added using the water pump.

It is important to clean the ventilation grilles on a regular basis. The outside of the ventilation grille is best cleaned

while cleaning the windows. The inside of the ventilation grille must be dusted and cleaned once every year.

You may remove the inside hood to easily remove the dirt using a vacuum cleaner and a wet cloth. The mechanical

ventilation unit will regularly (once every three to four years) be cleaned in accordance with the property manager’s

maintenance contract.

TYPE FLOOR FINISH SUITABLE IN YOUR HOUSE

Wood, parquet Most parquets are suitable. Soft wood parquet such as beech wood, pine and birch do not lend themselves for fl oor heating applications. Long board parquet too is unsuitable.

Linoleum, marmoleum Applicable at all times.

Linoleum, laminate Always applicable, provided it is glued (thus not fl oating).

Carpet, carpet tiles Most carpets are applicable. Foam back carpet or deep-pile carpet are unsuitable. Never use underlay.

Natural stone, tiles, decorative gravel Applicable but not allowed in rented houses.

Cork Not applicable

These types of fl oor covering must be discussed in advanceThe above mentioned fl oor coverings insuffi ciently

transfer fl oor heat to the room; they insulate too well.

Floor carpet suppliers frequently state insulation values on

their documents. If the insulation value (Rc) is less than

0.1 (m2.K)/W the fl oor covering will defi nitely be suitable.

So we advise you to make crystal-clear agreements with

your supplier. If a parquet fl oor or a laminated fl oor must

be applied to an underlay, the insulation value of the

parquet fl oor plus the insulation value of the underlay

must be less than 0.1 (m2.K)/W. If you have doubts consult

the property manager before buying the fl oor covering.

Discuss matters in case of architectural adjustmentsThe houses are entirely fl oor heated. So it is important to

keep the fl oor free as much as possible to allow transfer

of heat to the room. If, for instance, a water bed or a large

bath is installed, a smaller fl oor area will be available to

transfer the heat. In some cases the room concerned will

not be able to reach the desired temperature. Always

discuss this with the property manager in case you are

planning architectural adjustments or if you wish to

change something in your house as a result of which

less fl oor area will be able to transfer heat.

NB: Discuss how to handle your fl oor with your supplier and the property manager with regard to

removal of fl oor covering on leaving the house.

Which fl oor fi nish is unsuitable for fl oor heating?Soft word parquet such as beech wood, pine and birch.

Long board parquet, due to risk of deformation.

All fl oating fl oor fi nishes, loose or on a foam interlayer.*

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Foam backed carpet or deep pile carpet, because

of high insulation.

Underlay.

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* For these fl oors specifi c underlays are suitable.

Contact your supplier for options!

Ground collectorsThe total system consists of ground collectors and the air

conditioning system in the house itself. For each house

in De Caaien district, hoses have been installed in the

soil reaching 90 to 130 metres in depth. Through these

hoses, which are referred to as ground collectors, water is

pumped around in a closed system. The average ground

temperature during the summer is 12°C.

The water pumped around takes on the temperature of the

ground. In the winter months the water absorbs heat from

the ground to transfer this heat back during the summer.

In the winter the water pump increases the base

temperature to between 25°C and 40°C, depending on the

outside temperature. In the summer the water pump uses

the water with an average temperature of 12°C to cool

the house.

How does it work… the technology

The air conditioning system consists of a number of parts:

Ground collectors;

Heat pump for room heating and hot tap water;

Boiler for hot tap water storage;

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Heat pump for window heating and hot tap waterEach house has been provided with a heat pump that

serves its purpose quietly and unnoticed. In your new

house the heat pump has been installed in a special

room on the ground fl oor near the front door. The

house is constantly kept at a good temperature and with

suffi cient hot tap water, as would have been the case

with a traditional central heating boiler. A central heating

boiler also uses gas and a little electricity. A heat pump

is similar to a refrigerator which uses a compressor to

remain cool. In other words, heat is withdrawn from the

refrigerator and transferred through its back. The heat

pump withdraws heat from the ground water and transfers

it to the fl oor heating water which is then brought to the

right temperature. This heat is also used to heat the tap

water inside the boiler.

The tap water reaches 62°C every day, which means it is

suffi ciently hot to prevent Legionella growth. As is the case

with ‘normal heating systems’ we strongly recommend,

in case of long absence (over one week), to let the hot and

cold water gently run for a minute or so.

If hot boiler water is used, the heat pump will refi ll the

boiler during the night using less expensive off-peak night

electricity. Also, you may ask the property manager or

the installer to install the heat pump to heat the boiler not

only during the night but also at various times during the

day (for instance at 16.00 every day). Special tap water

requirements (e.g. you want a dump shower) are best

discussed with the property manager.

heat pump boiler

Floor heat distributor;

Thermostat for setting the desired temperature.

There is also the previously mentioned ventilation system.

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The thermostatThe thermostat in the living room allows you to adjust the

temperature for the entire house. The fl oor heating system

has basically been set to always keep the bathroom 1 to

2°C warmer than the other rooms. There is no need to

set a clock or apply temperature reduction at night as

a heat pump in a properly insulated house will be most

economical if it is constantly kept low. When it comes

to adjusting your air conditioning system we suggest

you discuss preferences with the property manager.

Thermostat settingsThe thermostat in the living room has different settings.

At a normal setting the system will provide a pleasant,

constant temperature. Set the temperature using the rotary

knob. The cooling and heating system runs automatically.

If the thermostat is constantly kept at this normal

level with a set temperature, energy consumption will

be modest.

If you require extra hot tap water, you can turn the

thermostat to ‘boost’. This means additional tap water

in stock will be heated during the day. Obviously this

involves higher electricity costs.

You may also choose to intensify the cooling system.

This hardly requires any extra electricity. If the outside

temperature remains below -10°C for a longer period of

time, you may use the thermostat to arrange for more

electrical heating. Since this is hardly the case in the

Netherlands, electricity costs for this option are restricted.

Heat and hot tap water are guaranteedEven in the event of disruptions the heat pump will

always ensure you have suffi cient heat and hot tap water.

To this purpose the heat pump has been provided with

an electrical element which can take over heat supply in

case of emergencies. A service engineer can switch on this

electrical element remotely. The system is thus checked

and protected by remote control which means disruptions

are usually solved very quickly.

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Disclaimer: While this brochure has been prepared with the greatest care information provided is subject to express approval and no rights may be derived from it © 2009, Amvest

Boiler for suffi cient hot tap waterEvery house has been provided with a boiler in which

hot water is stored for daily use. The boiler is in the same

room as the heat pump. The heat pump ensures the water

inside the 150 litre boiler is heated up. A 150 litre boiler

provides suffi cient shower or bath water for a family

of four. With the thermostat you may always choose to

heat up the water more frequently if you do not have

suffi cient hot water, although this means additional costs

considering the higher daytime rate electricity. Because

hot tap water remains stored, it is always available in no

time at the right temperature. In the kitchen you can count

on hot 50°C tap water within 30 seconds.

Floor heat distributorEach house has been provided with one or two so-called

‘distributors’ to properly distribute heat to the various

rooms. These distributors have been set to ensure every

room in the house is pleasantly warm. The property

manager can adjust the distributor settings to make the

rooms warmer or colder.

thermostat

distributor

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Javastraat 1a2585 AA Den HaagTel. 070 342 01 01www.frisiamakelaars.nl

Frits Diepenlaan 572497 DN Den HaagTel. 070 336 70 55www.hof-rijnland.nl

For more information:

www.hurenindecaaien.nl