Residential Building, Manchester
Overview
In Manchester (UK), a newly constructed multi‑storey residential building required an advanced heating and hot water system designed to deliver high‑temperature domestic hot water (DHW) and space heating with significantly reduced carbon emissions and optimized energy consumption. The solution needed to meet stringent performance and sustainability targets while ensuring robust operational reliability in a high‑demand residential environment.
The Challenge
The building’s heating and DHW demand presented several technical challenges:
- Consistently supplying high‑temperature hot water suitable for daily residential use, even during peak load conditions.
- Minimizing energy consumption and environmental impact compared to traditional fossil‑fuel‑based heating systems.
- Ensuring reliable performance across a range of external temperature conditions typical of the UK climate.
- Providing a solution that integrates with plant room design constraints and offers long‑term operational resilience with low maintenance requirements.
The project team sought a system capable of delivering measurable improvements in both efficiency and sustainability without compromising occupant comfort.
The Solution: Enex Technologies LHE Heat Pump
To address these challenges, the project adopted the Enex Technologies LHE high‑temperature heat pump, a highly efficient air‑to‑water system engineered specifically for demanding heating and DHW applications.
The LHE series offers:
- Production of high‑temperature hot water suitable for both space heating and DHW distribution.
- High seasonal efficiency (COP/SPF), reducing operating energy costs.
- Effective performance across a wide range of outdoor conditions.
- Use of the low-GWP refrigerant R454B, aligning with modern environmental regulations and sustainability goals.
- Advanced electronic controls and system integration features.
- Scalable design capable of serving larger load profiles.
By using electricity as the primary energy source and leveraging state‑of‑the‑art heat pump technology, the Enex LHE system supports the transition away from fossil‑fuel reliance and contributes to building decarbonization goals.
Implementation & Performance
The Enex Technologies LHE unit was integrated into the building’s central plant room alongside:
- Thermal buffer storage to stabilize output and smooth demand fluctuations.
- Hot water storage tanks to ensure availability during high‑use periods.
- Smart controls for load modulation and energy optimization.
Key performance outcomes:
- Sustained delivery of hot water at elevated temperatures (up to 90 °C) suitable for residential distribution without auxiliary fossil‑fuel input.
- Improved energy efficiency, reducing overall consumption through high COP values.
- Reliable operation even during colder external conditions typical of Manchester winters.
- Reduced carbon emissions compared to conventional boiler‑based systems.
- Environmentally friendly operation using R454B refrigerant, which has a low global warming potential (GWP).
Results
The Enex Technologies LHE heat pump delivered multiple measurable benefits:
| Category | Outcome |
| Carbon Reduction | Significant decrease in CO₂ emissions via high‑efficiency electric heating – advancing sustainability goals. |
| High DHW Capability | Consistent production of high‑temperature DHW, meeting the demands of a large residential population. |
| Energy Savings | Lower operating costs due to high system efficiency and reduced energy consumption. |
| Dependability | Stable performance and water temperature delivery during variable usage and seasonal conditions. |
| Sustainable Refrigerant | Use of R454B, a low‑GWP refrigerant, minimizes environmental impact. |
| Future‑Ready Technology | Modular and scalable design allows for future plant room optimization and expansion. |
The LHE system’s advanced control architecture also enables predictive maintenance and remote monitoring, contributing to improved lifecycle performance and reduced downtime.
Conclusion
The deployment of the Enex Technologies LHE high‑temperature heat pump with R454B refrigerant in Manchester demonstrates an effective, sustainable alternative to traditional heating systems for residential buildings. By combining advanced heat pump engineering with a focus on energy efficiency, low-GWP refrigerants, and reliable performance, the LHE solution delivers:
- Reliable heating and DHW services
- Lower carbon emissions aligned with modern energy standards
- Cost‑efficient operation and future scalability
This case reinforces Enex Technologies’ role as a leader in low‑carbon heating solutions, supporting buildings in meeting sustainability targets while maintaining occupant comfort and operational excellence.