How can smart technologies help manage commercial energy costs this winter?

As the energy crisis deepens how can organizations reduce costs as employees consider a return to the office to keep warm? Peter Danko, Product Manager for Somfy Projects in Northern Europe explores this question more.

Modern commercial buildings require an almost constant supply of power to stay operational. Most hospitals, offices, and even some educational buildings rely on power and water 24 hours a day, 365 days a year which leads to enormous energy consumption and a vast and growing expense.

As energy prices across Europe reach a ten-year high, many organizations have been forced to question the profitability of keeping offices and production lines open. Some have even taken the drastic decision to close as sky-high gas and electric prices mean they are operating at a loss.

To try and tackle the crisis the German government has taken the unprecedented step of nationalising the country’s biggest gas company. As Europe’s biggest importer of Russian gas, Germany has had to rely on vastly reduced supplies since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began earlier this year.  As a result, halls and corridors in many German public buildings will no longer be heated and office temperatures must be kept below 19 degrees. The Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament, is even planning to turn off hot water in its offices this winter.

In the UK there was the widespread belief that following the end of the coronavirus restrictions a large percentage of the workforce would continue working from home. However, the adoption of hybrid working practices by many companies has led to greater flexibility for employees. This has forced building owners to adapt how offices function, but when you consider remote workers will use 75% more gas per day during winter and 25% more electricity than those in the office five days a week it’s no wonder many are considering returning to the office.

According to the Office of National Statistics, just under a quarter of the UK’s workforce were partially working from home in May 2022. These remote workers now face a sharp rise in energy costs which may lead them to reconsider their current working arrangements. For example, the average annual energy bill will hit £3,549 as of October, yet the average cost for a commuter’s annual season ticket is £3,263 per year.

So, as workers seek refuge in warm offices what can building owners do to increase efficiency and keep costs down this winter?

Is space optimisation the answer to the problem?

The need for increased efficiency and sustainability within buildings is clear, especially if Europe is to meet the ambitious targets set out in the European Commission’s green deal. One way of helping to achieve these goals is through space optimisation, but what exactly is it and how does it work?

Simply put it’s the process of ensuring the best possible use of space within your office building. Through utilizing technology and intelligent management systems you can create an environment that maximizes energy efficiency and keeps costs down.

By incorporating solutions such as adaptive solar shading and occupancy sensors into your intelligent building management system your organization can be agile and adapt energy usage in accordance with the number of people in the building.

For example, only using certain services such as lighting or heating when a space is occupied could reduce electricity bills. Even when the office is occupied, connecting lighting and adaptive shading means that artificial lighting is only used when necessary, helping reduce the building’s energy usage and manage carbon footprint.

Adaptive solar shading can also significantly reduce energy usage in unoccupied spaces. In winter the shading stays closed overnight to ensure captured solar energy is stored and then works in conjunction with occupancy sensors, only opening if the space becomes occupied the next day.

In contrast during the summer months adaptive solar shading can stay down when the sun is at its hottest, keeping spaces cool and preventing costly air conditioning units kicking in, to cool unoccupied offices.

Space optimization can not only increase efficiency it can also help building managers better understand how the office is being used. If your organization owns a building with multiple floors and many employees are based remotely there may be an opportunity to repurpose sections of the office or potentially rent the space out to create an extra revenue stream.

Invest in smart technology for long-term gains

Technology is constantly evolving and offers innovative solutions to age-old issues such as rising utilities costs and inefficiency. When it comes to building renovation particularly, understanding how the space is used is key to optimization in the future and should be at the forefront of the designers’ minds.

Embracing smart technology solutions means that everything within your building from security and lighting to heating and shading can be connected and controlled from one central building management system. The benefits which can deliver long-term gains for your organisation.

1. Energy efficiency – Arguably the most important reason in the current climate is to invest in smart tech solutions. The cost of heating and cooling a building is high, and getting higher, but by installing solutions including adaptive solar shading you can ensure your building adapts according to the environment and occupancy levels to improve its energy efficiency and harness the power of natural daylight.
2. Reduce the impact on the environment – Many buildings still rely on energy heavy air conditioning systems to reduce temperatures and maintain comfortable indoor conditions and as a result are contributing to increased carbon emissions. Using automated solutions to optimize energy usage can also help manage the building’s overall carbon footprint.
3. Human-centric approach – Although it is a hot topic right now, it’s not all about reducing energy costs. People are the heart of most businesses and ensuring their wellbeing and comfort should be a top priority. Comfortable employees are also more productive, so it can affect the bottom line. Space optimization could also bring some additional benefits, such as encouraging collaboration between colleagues and ensuring regular interaction which can be key when it comes to their overall health and happiness.  

How can Somfy contribute when it comes to office optimization?

People are changing how they work and building designers are now having to change with them. The nine to five office is no longer the norm so ensuring your workspace is operating at optimum performance is key to keeping costs down, managing your carbon footprint and keeping employees happy and healthy.

How can Somfy help you achieve this? Our team of locally based experts work with you to find the best solutions for your project. Adaptive solar shading is already being used in commercial buildings across the globe to manage heat, light and glare and by connecting shading and occupancy sensors, it can deliver another benefit, the energy efficiencies that can come with space optimization.

Our aim is always the same, to deliver a solution that works for your needs. This winter will be a test for many organizations across the globe. Energy prices are soaring, and employees will look to keep costs down at home by returning to the office. Now could be the right time to think about space optimization and how connecting already proven shading technology solutions for wellbeing and energy efficiency could benefit your business in many ways.

To find out more about the solutions and services that Somfy offer, contact your local expert team.

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