Shower Heat Recovery in a historic farmhouse

In Kekerdom, the historic Scholtenhof farmhouse has recently been transformed into a sustainable group accommodation for up to 24 guests. Dating back to the early 18th century, the property includes a former grain barn that now houses 12 guest rooms, each with its own bathroom.

Sustainability played an important role throughout the renovation. A combination of technologies was chosen to make the historic property more energy-efficient, including heat pumps, heat recovery and energy storage.

To recover heat from shower wastewater, four Hamwells Blue 21XE systems were installed, with each Blue connected to two bathrooms.

One system for two bathrooms

Choosing an active shower heat recovery system was mainly a practical decision. In a group accommodation like Scholtenhof, guests may shower at different times and in several bathrooms at once. The four Blue systems recover heat from used shower water and reuse it to help heat fresh water for the showers.

Because each Blue serves two bathrooms, the systems can also be shared efficiently. This means there is no need to install a separate heat recovery unit for every bathroom.

That is particularly useful in a renovation project like Scholtenhof. In an existing historic building, there is often less room to add new vertical pipework or large service shafts than there would be in a new-build project. Thanks to the Blue’s active operation, heat can be recovered without requiring a separate vertical shower heat recovery unit in every bathroom.

Less energy needed for hot showers

Water disappearing down the shower drain still contains a lot of useful heat. The Blue captures this heat and uses it to preheat the cold mains water flowing towards the shower. As a result, the hot water system needs less energy to bring the shower water up to the desired temperature.

The actual energy savings depend on factors such as the number of guests, their showering habits and the amount of hot water used. At Scholtenhof, the potential is particularly interesting: with 12 bathrooms available for up to 24 guests, a significant amount of shower water can be used during a stay.

For owners Leon van Tuijl and his partner Anne Marie, it was important that Scholtenhof should not only be a special place to stay, but also one that is ready for the future. They describe Scholtenhof as a place where guests can step away from everyday life and enjoy peace, space and nature.

The four Hamwells Blue systems are a largely invisible part of that experience. Guests are unlikely to notice them while taking a shower, but behind the scenes they make sure that some of the heat that would otherwise disappear down the drain stays within the building and can be put to use again.

And according to Leon and Anne Marie, the system is working well in practice: they’re very happy with their decision to choose the Hamwells Blue.