Cube 5 (former VGU 180)

Hot water & space heating - the simple way

Nilan Cube 5 Exhaust Air Heat Pump

Nilan Cube 5Nilans VGU EAHPs operate on a simple principle: They combine a Central extract (CMEV) system with an Air Source Heat Pump for domestic hot water (DHW) production. This way the heat pump runs on peak efficiency all year round and there is good continuous extraction in the kitchen and in all wet rooms.

EAHPs are not MVHR systems and therefore do not recover heat as such.

Exhaust Air Heat Pump Principle

Exhaust Air Heat Pumps combine a continuous extract ventilaiton system (MEV) with an air source heat pump and a cylinder. These are being used to produce hot water (DHW) and space heating via a wet central heating system.

The advantages are that there is no outdoor heat pump unit needed. Also the coeficiency of performance (COP) of the heat pump is increased as only warm room air is being used to operate the heat pump.

The disadvantage is that there are larger background vents needed in all habitable rooms, often 100mm holes in the external wall with louvres. These can cause drafts, which can sour the user experience.

These systems are often being used in apartments, where plant space is at a premium.

Nilan Exhaust Air Heat Pumps
Nilan Cube 5

Nilan Cube 5 EAHP

The Nilan Cube 5 (formerly VGU180) is ideal for apartments (45-80 m2), when an external heat pump is not an option. Key parameters:

  • Extract air flow rates from 50 -325 m3/h, continuous operation
  • 4 levels can be pre-programmed. Volt-free boost switches
  • Integrated humidity stat, triggert by a rh-spike
  • Can be used with a wet space heating system.
  • Works with two circuits: hot water and central wet heating
  • 9kW electrical supplementary heater
  • Has external temperature sensor

Cube 5 Details

The Cube 5 is an exhaust air-to-water heat pump with 180l hot water storage. It can produce 226l of 40 deg.C hot water. It can be used for a wet space heating system (radiators), too.

The EAHP is equipped with a supplementary heater, heat pump combination heater and temperature control. The refrigerant is R290.

It is used as CMEV system, extracting from your kitchen, bathroom & other wetrooms, utility and WCs. These rooms should not have background ventilators (trickle vents), but these are needed in all habitable rooms.

Nilan Cube 5
Nilan product comparison

Which System for Which Property?

This overview shows which Nilan system is suitable for which type of property.

The Cube 5 (VGU180) is suitable for:

  • Not airtight properties (from 2 m3/h(m2) at 50Pa upwards)
  • Well insulated with U-values of all opaque components of 0.100 to 0.300 W/m2K
  • Small dwellings of max. 120m2 floor area.

Further Information

Latest News

Dandashill Platform 3 Passive House Development

Passivhaus deemed to satisfy UK NZCBS

Passivhaus deemed to satisfy UK NZCBS The Passivhaus standard is now deemed to satisfy certain aspects of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UK…

Glasgow Homebuilding & Renovation Show

Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show

Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show Glasgow PAUL Heat Recovery is exhibiting at the SEC in Glasgow on the 9th and 10th May 2026. Please visit…

Big Magic training

Big Magic Installer Training

Big Magic Installer Training May 2026 PAUL Heat Recovery hosts a product training event for the Big Magic MVHR system on Thursday 7th May 2026…

Launch of Zehnder Academy

Launch of the UK Zehnder Academy

Launch of the UK Zehnder Academy As Approved Zehnder Partner we were invited for the official launch of the UK Zehnder Academy in Camberley on…

Heating & Cooling Options

heating & cooling with MVHR

Look here for an overview over the different heating and cooling technologies that we offer.

Nilan VT300

Nilan VT300

Nilan VT 300 is a versitile indoor heat pump cylinder that can be used as A) Exhaust Air Cylinder for an MVHR, B) Exhaust Air Heat Pump (CMEV) and C) operated with outdoor air.

Nilan Compact P

compact p

The Nilan Compact P/ P2 is a all-in one system, which includes MVHR with heat pump for DHW and space heating/ cooling.