Solar ventilation to bring flood-damaged homes back

A farmhouse in La Torre, one of the areas worst hit by the DANA floods, has become the first home in Europe to try out a solar ventilation system that can tackle damp and the deterioration a flood leaves behind. The system was developed by the Estonian company SOL Navitas and was chosen as the winning solution at the international Hack the Future hackathon, held in Tallinn.

The device captures heat from the sun, warms dry outside air and feeds it into the house through a smart ventilation system. That pushes the damp air out of the interior, stabilizes humidity and prevents mold, fungus and structural damage. The pilot installation also has sensors that track temperature and humidity in real time, so it can adjust how it runs and stay safe.

The Ajuntament de València and València Innovation Capital trusted Fundación Felisa to make the project happen, on the strength of our experience running projects that combine effectiveness, closeness to the people involved and a practical approach.

The project fits exactly with the work the Foundation has been doing on restoring liveable conditions for the people affected by the floods. It is part of a wider effort that includes drying out affected homes and garages, repairing damaged spaces and donating building materials, furniture and appliances. All with the same aim: that families can get back to their daily lives somewhere safe and decent.

For us, this project goes well beyond the technology. It shows that public bodies, companies and social organizations working together can produce concrete answers that improve people’s lives.

Paula Llobet Vilarrasa, councilor for tourism, innovation and investment at Valencia City Council, together with Pablo Hernández Cabañuz, director of Fundación Felisa, came to see the house where this new approach is being tried out for themselves.

We know rebuilding is a long process with many sides to it. But we are also convinced that innovation can be a powerful ally in speeding things up and cutting the economic, social and environmental cost of recovery after extreme weather.

The farmhouse in La Torre will be only the start. If the system works as we expect, it can be repeated in other homes across the Region of Valencia and lay the groundwork for a more sustainable, more effective model for future work.

At Fundación Felisa we carry on with the same determination that drove us on day one.