Case Study: Energy Efficiency Project in a Multifamily Residential Building

Client

This energy efficiency project was carried out in a residential building as part of a project aimed at decarbonizing buildings. The building, originally constructed in 1966 and renovated in 2018, houses 56 apartments spread across 14 floors. The project implemented smart thermostats and energy management solutions to optimize heating and reduce energy costs.

Challenges

The building lacked individualized control over room temperatures, leading to inefficiencies such as heating rooms even when unoccupied, which caused high energy costs. With apartments varying in size from 774 ft² to 990 ft², each containing multiple rooms, there was a need for centralized monitoring and room-by-room control of indoor temperatures.. The existing setup did not allow for such management, making it clear that digitalization was necessary to reduce energy waste and maintain a comfortable living environment without requiring costly renovations.

Solution

To tackle these challenges, Clarity IQ Pro was integrated with the property’s Building Management System (BMS) and Wattsense Bridge Gateway, enabling protocol conversion for communication between different devices using BACnet, Modbus, or MQTT. This integration allowed 242 MClimate Vicki LoRaWAN® Smart Radiator Thermostats to communicate seamlessly with the BMS. These thermostats, along with Clarity IQ Pro, provided room-by-room temperature control, scheduling, and open-window detection. The platform’s intuitive interface, rule engine, and free end-user app further enhanced the system, leading to an energy savings of up to 35% in the first heating season. The Vicki thermostats utilize LoRaWAN® and feature firmware updates over the air (FUOTA), with replaceable batteries that last up to 10 years.

Results

The project resulted in a significant reduction in heating costs, with savings of up to 35% in the first heating season. The building now benefits from real-time and historical data on energy consumption, while the open-window detection feature ensures energy efficiency by preventing heating when windows are open. Additionally, the system’s FUOTA capability ensures that devices can be updated remotely, reducing maintenance needs.

Key Takeaways