Baxi Ecogen's innovation celebrated in construction products industry

Baxi Group has been recognised for its innovative Baxi Ecogen micro-CHP (combined heat and power) unit, in the Construction Products Association’s 2009 edition of Construction Products Innovation and Achievement (CPIA).

Baxi Ecogen, in the Energy and Carbon Saving category, is one of only 24 products nationwide, to be chosen for this year’s publication, which annually showcases the most innovative products and processes created by the construction products industry during the last twelve months or so. The Multifit GasSaver, also from Baxi Group, was chosen for the online version of the publication.

Steve Rickard, Baxi Group Specification Director, said: “We are very pleased to have been chosen for this year’s CPIA publication. Baxi Ecogen will bring enormous benefits to the construction industry because it is suitable for the mass market as it looks and works like a conventional wall hung boiler.

“It uses a Free Piston Stirling Engine to generate 1kW of electricity while providing heating and hot water, significantly reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency. At peak usage times, a top-up may be required from the National Grid. However, when demand for electricity in the home is low, any surplus electricity generated may be sold back to the energy provider.

“It is very important that our industry recognises and showcases innovation and we are grateful that CPIA 2009 does this,” added Steve.

Commenting on the achievement, Simon Storer, Communications and External Affairs Director, for the Construction Products Association said: “We are delighted that the construction products industry has once again shown an enormous desire to introduce a variety of new and exciting solutions. Despite the economic downturn in the UK, and the construction industry suffering more than most, you only need to look at the products and processes showcased in CPIA to highlight the huge input the industry is making towards change.

“The industry is not always good at trumpeting its own achievements. However, CPIA demonstrates how the construction products industry is continuously developing and improving by creating innovative solutions which make a significant impact to all aspects of construction”.

The Multifit GasSaver is in the online version of CPIA. It is an innovative low cost product that sits neatly between boiler and flue and recycles flue gas heat which would normally be expelled into the atmosphere and wasted.

It creates a thermal store of condensate from the waste flue gases. Heat from this condensate store is then recycled to pre-heat water coming into the boiler from the cold mains supply, significantly reducing the amount of gas required by the boiler to heat the water. This means lower energy bills for the householder and greater carbon savings.

For more information on Baxi Ecogen please visit www.baxiecogen.com or for GasSaver visit www.baxi.co.uk/multifitgassaver. Or contact Steve Rickards on 08448 711538.

The Construction Products Association represents the UK’s manufacturers and suppliers of construction products, components and fittings. The Association acts as the voice of the construction products sector, representing the industry-wide view of its members. The sector has an annual turnover of £40 billion and accounts for 40% of total construction output.

Copies of CPIA are available from the Construction Products Association; please contact avani.raval@constructionproducts.org.uk or see further examples for each category on the Construction Products Association website http://www.constructionproducts.org.uk/publications/Page.aspx?Id=430