The winners of the Component Award 2016 for ventilation solutions in residential buildings have been selected. The first prize goes to a concept by the Austrian manufacturer Pichler. A joint second prize will be granted to the Dutch company Vaventis and the Italian firm Michael Tribus Architecture. The approaches for building retrofits selected by an independent jury are not only characterised by a high level of energy efficiency, but also by their economic viability. The presentation of the Award will take place at the 20th International Passive House Conference which is to be held on 22 and 23 April in Darmstadt.

Ventilation with heat recovery is indispensable for energy efficient construction and retrofitting. In existing buildings, this becomes necessary either before or by the time the windows are replaced, with the associated improvement of airtightness. A well thought-out overall concept is essential in the process, with a compact duct network, low-cost devices and flexible installation solutions. All these aspects were diligently examined during the assessment of the submitted entries for the Component Award, in each case with a critical eye on the life cycle costs.

The solution provided by J. Pichler GmbH was impressive especially on account of its planning aspects; the device at the centre of the building allows excellent access for maintenance work; in addition, installation is facilitated by prefabricated component solutions such as a combined unit consisting of a silencer, volume flow controller and distribution box. With a very narrow device and easy installation, Vaventis BV achieved a good rating particularly in the category "Suitability for step-by-step retrofitting". In the solution by Tribus Architecture, the duct network was implemented in a very compact manner – positioning of the device near the exterior wall reduces external air and exhaust air ducts to a minimum.

"In order to supply the growing retrofitting market with high quality energy efficient ventilation systems, cost-effective solutions in particular are very much in demand", says Dr. Wolfgang Feist, Director of the Passive House Institute. "The winning concepts demonstrate in an exemplary fashion how this can work." As a key technology, ventilation systems with efficient heat recovery aren't only interesting from the energy-relevant point of view, emphasises Feist. "The filtered and preheated supply air also increases user comfort significantly."

Details on the winners of the Component Award 2016 will be presented by Kristin Bräunlich, ventilation expert at the international Passive House Institute, at the Conference in Darmstadt. Many of the manufacturers who participated in the competition with innovative solutions will also present their products in Darmstadt during the specialists' exhibition which will take place from 22 until 23 April in parallel with the International Passive House Conference. A total of ten ventilation solutions were submitted for the third Component Award.

Extremely efficient Passive House windows were the focus of the previous two Component Awards – it was thereby shown that with the industry leaders, substantial savings are possible here as well. The competition is part of the EU-funded project EuroPHit. Within the framework of this project, there will be many presentations at the International Passive House Conference 2016 dealing with solutions for energy-oriented retrofitting using certified components.

Renovation of the existing building stock is key to meeting the long term energy and climate goals of the European Union, says Vincent Berrutto of the EU agency EASME (Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises). That is the reason why EU programmes have "over several years supported the development of the Passive House concept and its wider adoption in the mass market." But we also need to see more innovative products entering the market, says Berrutto. "This Component Award is an excellent way of supporting those aims."