Through big data, guidance and smart energy management systems, energy savings can be achieved automatically without any restoration of buildings or behavioral changes.
In Middelfart Municipality, the project Smart Energy in the Home (Smart Energi
i Hjemmet) has shown that an average energy saving of 7% in single family houses can be achieved. The project initially included 200 single-family houses in Middelfart Municipality, from which heat consumption data were collected. Thanks to the project’s exploratory approach, the households made energy savings. The success of the project was down to guidance and introduction of smart energy management systems.
1.26
MWH CAN BE SAVED ANNUALLY PER HOME
The data collected includes temperature, living space, meteorology and behavioral data. The project installed a system in homes to automatically lower the temperature at night and when no one is home. Besides Middelfart Municipality and the many homeowners, additional project participants include the Danish Building Research Institute, the company PassivSystems and Bolius, a knowledge center for homeowners.
With smart heating installed, the system automatically lowers the heating at night and when the occupant is not at home.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
The project found that, by connecting homes to the development of smart technology and data collection, buildings can be used for energy storage in future smart grid cities.
Climate Action
With a saving of 7% off the heating bill, the project has shown that with relatively few changes, energy for heating can be saved and the associated emissions can be cut significantly.
Partnerships for the Goals
The project is a good example of the Triple Helix model, whereby a Danish university cooperates with a company and a public institution in order to foster social and economic development.
Middelfart Municipality
Middelfart is a town in central Denmark, with a population of 14,815.
Global Goals addressed