Energy saving for large consumers

Schools, offices, public buildings – there are many types of non-residential buildings for which the topic of energy saving is more topical than ever. Besides the accompanying climate protection, the main driver for energy optimisation is the energy price development and the legal requirements. Especially for large consumers like these, there must be measures that save energy quickly and efficiently and thus quickly reduce running costs. According to the industry association Bitkom and the survey of around 600 companies, 31 percent of the companies surveyed use smart radiator thermostats to save energy. DEOS AG can confirm this trend, as more and more municipalities and cities as well as hospitals and care facilities are relying on DEOS TEO – the patented radio radiator thermostat.

Wireless communication via LoRaWAN

For non-residential buildings, the DEOS expert advises LoRaWAN devices. These devices manage without cable connections and communicate via radio link. This licence-free radio standard has particularly good building penetration. Even through several storey ceilings, the thermostats receive the radio signals. The use of repeaters as in the domestic WLAN is not necessary. Therefore, setting up LoRaWAN radio networks in buildings is less complicated and less expensive than with other radio solutions.

To enable building operators to expand their LoRaWAN network with other sensors such as window/door contacts, temperature sensors or presence detectors to save energy, it is advisable to ensure that the wireless solution is manufacturer-neutral. With a supplementary window contact sensor, the wireless radiator thermostat can then be automatically regulated down via LoRaWAN as soon as the windows are opened. Or by means of presence sensors, rooms are only heated when they are in use.

Those who want to identify further savings potential can expand the data interfaces with professional building automation. To optimise existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems with the data from the LoRaWAN/sensor network.

Investment in the future

The running costs are another point of concern for schools, offices and public buildings: Often there are 50 or more radiators in buildings. It is therefore an advantage if the smart heating thermostat works without batteries, like the DEOS TEO. This eliminates the need to replace batteries every six months, which is often the case with smart home devices. This not only saves the technician’s time, but also avoids battery waste and is therefore more sustainable than comparable radiator thermostats.

In addition to the optimisation of the building envelope, the automated control of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in particular offers great energy-saving potential, as well as an approximately 5-fold faster return on investment (ROI).

Conclusion: The central temperature control of the radiators via radio and according to time/calendar function demonstrably saves heating energy – especially for large consumers. This is the case at the St. Franziskus Hospital in Münster, where the battery-free LoRaWAN heating thermostat DEOS TEO has demonstrably saved 34% in heating costs.