Photo: Torben Andersen and Birgit Linnamäe in a KODA in Lauterach, Austria.
As true KODA fans might know, we have been using the Danish Nilan HVAC system (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning) since the early days of Kodasema. When we started producing KODA Concrete, we wanted our ventilation units to be of the highest quality – to ensure excellent indoor climate and air quality whilst keeping the energy consumption low. After a thorough analysis our engineers and architects chose Nilan, a Danish company that has been developing and producing sustainable ventilation and heat pump solutions for more than 45 years.
Studies have found that in North America and Europe, we spend 90% of our time indoors. However, people can be unaware that indoor air can be more polluted than outside air. This is why we have developed a partnership with the best expert in this field – Nilan to provide our customers with a better indoor climate.
The purpose of ventilation is to remove poor quality, humid air from your home and to replace it with fresh, temperate, and if it is needed, filtered, air. The Covid-19 pandemic has painted a clear picture as to the importance of good indoor air quality. Ventilation means continuous air exchange; with a ventilation system, the air is replaced automatically – in contrast to manual ventilation which requires opening windows, which might not always be possible.
“We need to work together closely to ensure that the best technology is put to good use in sustainable housing solutions – for the benefit of people. Working with Nilan we can be sure our high demands both for performance and design are met. Well designed spaces need to have clean, safe indoor air to support people in striving and finding contentment in life – our quality of life consists of a whole spectrum of details,” says Birgit Linnamäe, Kodasema CEO.
Buildings are like humans, they need to breathe. A family of 2 adults and 2 children can produce around 10 litres of liquid a day, and this is just counting the vapour that needs to be ventilated out of the home. The Danish Asthma and Allergy Association recommends that homes are aired out for 3 x 5-10 minutes daily, with a thorough draught, all year round to expel damp and harmful particles. This is not necessary with mechanical ventilation. You also save on heating bills, as the heated air does not disappear out the window in winter. Indoor climate influences our general health as well as our sleep quality, performance and work productivity – that is why we need good quality devices for air circulation.
Here’s where quality starts to really matter: a ventilation system runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This means it needs to be remarkably durable to last. Many of the systems Nilan produced in the early days are in fact still running after more than 30 years. According to the Nilan owner Torben Andersen, customers normally take a 30-year mortgage for their new home, and this is at least as long as their Nilan unit should last
In a KODA, your ventilation system comes with an advantage: you’ll have a separate ventilation unit in each house. You will not be connected to your neighbours’ and the air does not circulate between units. Today, our standard-equipped KODAs include a smaller ventilation unit, and the Nilan unit can be added as extra equipment in the European models.
For any weather: the Nilan Combi ventilation system with integrated heat pump can both heat and cool the home, thus ensuring a stable temperature and comfortable indoor climate. The heat pump heats the supply air when heat is needed, just as the reversible cooling circuit cools the supply air when it is needed in summer.
Nilan HVAC system comes with an app to control the ventilation unit and heat pump in your home directly from your phone, whether you are currently in your house or have been away travelling and are returning from a trip and want your KODA to welcome you at your desired temperature.
Learn more about the Nilan App here
When placing your KODA order, do keep in mind the Nilan option and we can equip your KODA accordingly!