Cube X: Smart Hot Water Technology for the Future of Social Housing
A Smarter, Simpler Way to Provide Hot Water for Homes
Hot water may seem like a straightforward service, but for social housing providers it presents a complex challenge. They must navigate fluctuating energy prices while meeting building regulations that demand higher efficiency and lower carbon emissions. At the same time, tenants need a dependable supply of hot water without the burden of high running costs, and installers require solutions that fit within tight spaces and work around the limitations of existing infrastructure.
Cube X has been designed with all of these pressures in mind. It delivers intelligent, energy-efficient hot water in a form that is compact, easy-to-install, and simple to live with; advanced in the ways that matter and straightforward in the ways that count. There are no unnecessary frills, only design decisions that solve real problems for housing providers, installers, and residents.
Eliminating Legionella Risk for Lower Maintenance Costs
For housing providers, Cube X offers a significant operational advantage: it does not pose a legionella risk in the way conventional hot water cylinders can. This is because Cube X stores hot water indirectly through a heat exchanger within the tank rather than as stored potable water.
That means there is no need for ongoing legionella sampling or expensive pasteurisation cycles. Over time, this can save housing providers thousands of pounds in maintenance costs and compliance checks across a portfolio. It also means less inconvenience for tenants.
The result is a system that meets health and safety requirements without the ongoing overheads that come with traditional stored hot water solutions.
Designed Around Real-World Housing Challenges
Meeting SAP and EPC Targets
Energy performance is no longer a nice-to-have. For housing providers, meeting SAP requirements and achieving the EPC ratings demanded by government policy is a central part of asset management. Cube X is engineered to support compliance from day one. The thermal store design, smart controls, and integration with renewable energy systems all contribute to higher energy ratings while keeping running costs low.
Minimising Tenant Disruption
Every installation in an occupied property is a balancing act between the technical demands of the job and the comfort of the resident. Cube X eliminates the need for G3 certification because it operates without a discharge pipe or expansion vessel. This simplifies the process for installers and significantly reduces the time and disruption for tenants.
Future-Proofing Building Stock
Housing providers need hot water systems that will adapt to changing energy landscapes. Cube X works with direct electric heating and solar PV today. It is ready to take advantage of smart tariffs and can store excess renewable energy for later use. This flexibility means the same unit can meet today’s needs while remaining adaptable to future regulatory changes.
Smart Technology, Made Accessible
Only Heat What You Need
Cube X uses top-down stratification to heat the upper layer of water in the tank first. This means tenants get hot water quickly without wasting energy on heating the full volume unless it is needed. The rest of the water remains cooler until called upon, which cuts standing heat losses and lowers bills.
Control That Feels Intuitive
Some tenants may prefer the straightforward approach of the integral side gauge, while others might opt for the flexibility of the Mixergy App. The side gauge offers a single power button, clear indicators showing hot water volume, and simple controls for adjustment. No technical knowledge required. By contrast, the Mixergy App allows users to set schedules, boost heating remotely, and activate holiday mode to avoid unnecessary heating when the property is unoccupied.
Remote Diagnostics for Providers
For housing providers, Cube X offers a welfare dashboard that provides remote visibility of system performance. Temperatures, usage patterns, and fault codes can be checked without visiting site. This helps teams to address potential issues before they affect tenants and reduces the need for call-outs.
Compact Form, Thoughtful Engineering
Space-Efficient by Design
With a footprint of just 520 mm by 585 mm, Cube X is compact enough for a kitchen cupboard or plant room. Its cube-shaped profile makes it easier to plan around than tall, cylindrical cylinders, particularly in small apartments or conversions.
Easy to Handle and Install
Dry weights are 36 kg for the 150-litre model and 44 kg for the 210-litre model. This makes handling on site more straightforward. Once installed, clearances are minimal, and all serviceable parts are accessible without dismantling the unit.
Technical specification at a glance
- Capacities: 150 L or 210 L
- Maximum storage temperature: 65 °C
- DHW coil operating pressure: 3 bar
- Standing heat loss: 1.12–1.24 kWh per 24 h
- ERP rating: B
These figures reflect an optimisation between efficiency, safety, and longevity — not just meeting regulations but ensuring real-world performance.
Built-In Safety and Reliability
Thermostatic Mixing Valve
Every Cube X comes with a factory-supplied mixing valve. This ensures water is delivered at a safe and stable temperature. The recommended setting of 44 °C balances comfort with energy savings, although the unit can be adjusted within the range of 30 °C to 65 °C depending on the needs of the property.
Overfill Protection
The integrated overfill connection acts as a safeguard against excess pressure. It vents safely to a visible location so that any persistent flow can be addressed promptly. This is a passive protection measure, designed to work in the background without adding maintenance complexity.
Minimal Maintenance Demands
The design of Cube X means annual servicing is focused on essentials: checking connections, cleaning the Y-pattern strainer, testing thermostats, and inspecting the overfill pipework. Combined with the absence of legionella sampling, this keeps operational costs exceptionally low.
Energy Efficiency That Works in Practice
Optimised for Smart Tariffs
Cube X can heat water when electricity prices are at their lowest, whether through automated schedules or via direct control in the app. This makes it particularly effective in conjunction with Economy 7, agile tariffs, or future time-of-use pricing models.
Ready for Renewables
Where solar PV is installed, Cube X can use surplus generation to heat water. This increases the property’s self-consumption of renewable energy and reduces reliance on the grid. For providers, it maximises the return on investment in solar technology.
Reducing Bills for Tenants
Because Cube X heats only what is needed and can take advantage of cheaper electricity periods, tenants benefit from lower bills. These savings can be significant over the course of a year, particularly in all-electric homes.
Real-World Example: Retrofitting in Occupied Homes
Consider a social housing block with small service cupboards in each flat, all of which require hot water upgrades. The existing infrastructure cannot accommodate unvented cylinders with discharge pipework.
Cube X’s G3-free design allows the installer to remove the old system and fit the new unit in the same footprint without structural alterations. The compact form means no need to reconfigure the cupboard. The job is completed more quickly, and the tenant experiences minimal disruption.
Once operational, the housing provider can monitor each unit remotely, ensuring consistent performance and catching any issues early. There are no legionella testing visits to schedule. Tenants enjoy reliable hot water and reduced bills, while the provider benefits from improved EPC scores, lower maintenance costs, and streamlined compliance.
I’ve been in the plumbing and heating industry now for over 30 years and this is one of the best products that has come onto the market.
Steve Morris, Managing Director of Legionella and Fire Safe Services
A Future-Ready Choice
Cube X is not just a hot water cylinder. It is a forward-looking asset that supports the transition to low-carbon housing without adding complexity for tenants or installers. Its compact form, integrated intelligence, compatibility with both direct electric heating and solar PV, and absence of legionella risk make it a practical choice for today’s needs and tomorrow’s regulations.
For social housing providers, it offers:
- Simpler, faster installation in a wide range of properties
- Measurable contributions to SAP and EPC compliance
- Tools to manage and maintain systems efficiently
- A route to lower tenant energy costs without compromising comfort
- No ongoing legionella management requirements, saving significant time and money
Hot water is a fundamental part of home comfort, but in social housing it must also meet the demands of compliance, affordability, and long-term reliability. Cube X addresses these needs with a blend of smart design and practical engineering.
It heats only what is needed, works seamlessly with smart tariffs and solar PV, removes installation barriers that often slow down upgrade programmes, and eliminates the burden of legionella checks. The result is an advanced, dependable, and human-centred hot water solution that is ready for the future.
Book a Free Consultation
Book a meeting with our Sales Director, Peter McBride, to discuss your project. We’ll look at EPC / SAP compliance, the decarbonisation journey, and determine the right solution for you.
