Gary Lintott, CEO of Ecosync looks at hybrid work and an outdated approach to heating.
Hybrid working has transformed how we use the workspace. With space usage fluctuating throughout the week, tools that monitor and optimise heating are essential to avoid unnecessarily heating rooms and energy waste.
E.ON Control Solutions - a leading provider of Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) across Europe - was looking for a way to better manage heating in its Glasgow office, in light of the complex occupancy patterns brought about by hybrid work, combined with the demands of its 24/7 operations. They needed a system that could handle unpredictability, deliver clear cost and carbon savings, and enhance comfort for staff across all shift patterns.
Smart retrofits creating smarter results
Ecosync’s technology was a clear fit. The platform specialises in intelligent, room-by-room heat control using retrofit solutions that impose minimal disruption. In February 2023, 26 of Ecosync’s maintenance-free thermostatic radiator valve devices were installed across 15 rooms on two floors in the Energy Management Centre building. These were linked via a central ethernet gateway with 4G backup, providing always-on connectivity.
The devices collect 32 pieces of data every five minutes, including air temperature, valve position, and hot water flow temperature. This data feeds into Ecosync’s machine learning models, which predict how much energy is needed to heat each room based on real-time and historical occupancy patterns. Crucially, if a room is unoccupied, it’s not heated - eliminating unnecessary consumption and cost.
Facility managers access the system via a centralised dashboard, which allows performance monitoring, settings adjustment and schedules remotely. The system also includes scannable QR codes in each room, enabling building occupants to see energy savings for themselves. This simple visual feedback loop encourages small behavioural changes, such as closing a window, that help drive down energy use further.
Cutting carbon without cutting comfort
The results speak for themselves. Between October and December 2022, E.ON achieved a 33% reduction in heating energy use across the monitored spaces. That’s equivalent to 4.2 MWh of energy saved, or 0.8 tonnes of carbon prevented from entering the atmosphere; the same as 33 trees absorbing carbon for a full year.
The project demonstrates the value of granular energy control in commercial buildings, particularly in an era of hybrid work. Rather than retrofitting an entire HVAC system or installing expensive new infrastructure, E.ON was able to make meaningful savings using simple, targeted interventions that adapt to how the building is actually used.
With growing pressure on companies to hit ESG goals and reduce operational emissions, solutions like Ecosync offer a practical, scalable way forward. For E.ON, the benefits have been both environmental and economic; proof that heating smarter doesn’t always have to be complicated.