Specifications

amenities

Living climate and environmental amenities are very closely related. During the design of the H2O, great efforts went into ensuring the lowest-possible consumption of energy with the highest-possible level of living comfort. This was achieved through the use of proven and existing materials and techniques, and by integrating various technologies (in the areas of insulation, energy extraction and savings, and heat sources) or making them suitable for applications at sea. High-quality materials, as sustainable as possible, were selected for the finish. To make all this possible, there is a large battery bank (16 lithium batteries) and an inverter in the engine room. There is of course also a user-friendly quayside connection for supplying electricity for all the on-board equipment.

The most eye-catching innovations and systems that have been applied:

• Heat exchanger and heat pump, the former being made from titanium sheet plates, which enables the generation of energy from salt and fresh surface water.
• The heat energy saving is around 75%, compared to conventional systems.
• Solar panels and collectors have also been fitted.
• The composite deck floor of around 10 metres thick has a high level of insulation and, due to the integrated aluminium profiles, a highly-efficient level of heat transfer.
• The hull and structure are insulated using natural and sustainable materials. The fully seaworthy steel hull has a special coating: very strong, durable, and less of a burden on the environment.
• The large engine room is sealed airtight from the rest of the ship, and heavily insulated against noise.
• The load floor is 120mm thick, and has integrated hoses. The heating of the living part of the ship is fed by a heat pump, which extracts heat from the surrounding water.

10 m dik?

Heat pump

The heat pump is able to extract heat from water in a highly efficient manner. Even water of 5℃ can give off sufficient heat for heating the ship or for providing hot water. The technology works in the same way as a fridge, from which the heat is removed and ventilated out, only the other way round. The heat is given off to the floor, while the cold is pumped overboard. This technique is remarkably efficient. The machine is capable of creating five times as much heat as the power needed for running it.
The fact that the ship is in the water, from where the heat is extracted, is a big advantage, as this means even less energy is used. In the case of houses, for example, multiple 50-metre long cooling pipes often have to be laid in the ground for each home. Heat pumps have not so far been used in a seafaring houseboat, except in the Ecolution.

Balanced ventilation

A balanced ventilator had never previously been fitted in a seafaring houseboat either. It works by recovering heat when the moisture in the ventilated air condenses.
The heat released in this process is then blown back into the cool air as it enters. The energy saved can be as much as around 25% of the energy used.

Cogeneration

The diesel engine produces heat, which is stored in a storage vessel of around 600 litres. This heat is used for tap water and for underfloor heating.