Case Study: A Warmer, More Energy Efficient Home in the Scottish Borders
Michael, showing the AirEx Floorvent smart air brick installed in his property
“I could feel the temperature rise in the house, there was an immediate comfort difference.”
How one homeowner used AirEx Floorvent to improve comfort, cut energy use and future-proof his home.
When Michael moved into his 1960s bungalow in the Scottish Borders, he was struck by a common imbalance; the upstairs, a newer dormer extension, stayed warm and comfortable, while the downstairs felt noticeably colder.
“We’ve got these large, well-proportioned rooms on the ground floor, which is great,” Michael explains, “but with suspended floors and old-style air bricks, downstairs was noticeably colder and harder to heat. It was really uncomfortable.”
As energy prices began to climb in 2022, Michael started looking for ways to make the house more efficient. He was planning to install a heat pump and had applied through Home Energy Scotland for funding but he knew that without good insulation and airtightness, the running costs would be higher.
“I came across AirEx as I was researching smart ways to tackle heat loss without ripping the place apart. The idea of upgrading the air bricks with a solution that responds to temperature and humidity made a lot of sense, especially for our kind of house.”
A Low-Disruption Fix With High Impact
Working with a local installer, the AirEx Floorvent units were fitted in October 2023. There was no need to lift floorboards or carry out major works. The results were almost instant.
“I remember noticing a difference straight away,” says Michael. “The house just felt warmer, even before the heat pump was installed. I felt the temperature rise in the house and there was an immediate comfort difference.”
Six months later, the heat pump went in and it slotted perfectly into a now much more efficient home. “We were able to run the heat pump at a lower flow temperature without sacrificing comfort. I genuinely think the smart air bricks helped make that possible.”
Tracking the Results
Michael, a self-confessed early adopter of smart home tech, kept a close eye on his energy usage. He compared his 2022 gas use, before the retrofit, to the total energy needed to run the home with the new system in 2024.
“We went from 17,000 kWh of gas use in 2022 to 11,000 kWh of heat generated in 2024, using the heat pump and the AirEx units. That’s a big drop. Of course, there are a few changes wrapped into that, but I’m convinced AirEx played a big role in reducing heat loss and making the heating system more efficient.”
The family also noticed less condensation on windows downstairs, something that had been a persistent issue in the past. “It’s just been more comfortable all round. We haven’t had the same damp feeling in winter, and the floors aren’t cold anymore.”
A Missing Link in Home Efficiency
What surprised Michael most wasn’t the technology, it was that more people weren’t talking about it.
“When I tell people we’ve replaced the air bricks with smart ones, they usually look confused. But air vents are often the biggest source of heat loss in homes like mine. They’re open all year round, and most people just don’t think about it. AirEx lets your home breathe when it needs to and not when it doesn’t.”
Now, Michael regularly recommends the product to friends and neighbours with similar homes. And while he’d love to see more user-facing data in future versions, he’s already convinced of the value.
“Unlike a normal air brick they do a lot more than just let air in. From day one, it’s felt like a different house. It’s been one of the best energy-saving upgrades we’ve made, simple, effective, and totally worth it.”
