Periodic Reporting for period 3 - LTT (Long-term testing of airtightness to increase energy efficiency in buildings.)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2020-08-01 al 2021-07-31
According to the International Energy Agency, global energy consumption is split 40%, 32%, and 28% between buildings, industry, and transportation respectively, leaving buildings as the largest energy consumer on a global basis. Furthermore, 12.5% of that energy leaks out, implying a total energy waste of 5% globally due to leakages alone. While building codes have historically become stricter, a significant amount of today’s buildings were built a long time ago and thus are significantly more leaky than those built in recent years. However, approximately 9 out of 10 buildings that will be in use in 2050 are already built. With such long lifespans, optimizing energy usage and indoor air in buildings is a cost-effective way to significantly reduce global energy waste.
Buildings leak energy when air passes through the building envelope. This leakage may go both ways and is a function of pressure differences between the inside and the outside of the building. This leakage can cause considerable energy loss in heated as well as in cooled buildings. The most common approach to this problem is to attempt to close off or seal openings through which air may flow. However, retrofitting old buildings in order to achieve significant energy savings is costly. An alternative approach is to control the air pressure inside the building so that the difference between outside and inside air pressure is minimized. This approach requires knowledge of the building characteristics as well as knowledge of current weather and climate conditions both inside and outside of the building.
Airthings ASA offers the technology to measure the differential pressure and adjust the pressure using the building’s existing infrastructure.
The objective of the project was to bring our patented LTT technology solution to full market maturation.
Buildings leak energy when air passes through the building envelope. This leakage may go both ways and is a function of pressure differences between the inside and the outside of the building. This leakage can cause considerable energy loss in heated as well as in cooled buildings. The most common approach to this problem is to attempt to close off or seal openings through which air may flow. However, retrofitting old buildings in order to achieve significant energy savings is costly. An alternative approach is to control the air pressure inside the building so that the difference between outside and inside air pressure is minimized. This approach requires knowledge of the building characteristics as well as knowledge of current weather and climate conditions both inside and outside of the building.
Airthings ASA offers the technology to measure the differential pressure and adjust the pressure using the building’s existing infrastructure.
The objective of the project was to bring our patented LTT technology solution to full market maturation.
Our first activities included the initial technical and physical design of our sensors–where we focused on scalability and durability–and the production of a test batch. Together with some test clients, we installed several sensors, harvested data and gained experience in pains and gains for both customers as well as for ourselves.
The test period led to a redesigning of our products to implement the best communication module, fitting our services while maintaining a focus on global reach going forward. We also defined relevant integration types. Other significant activities during the first part of the project period include 1) NPA analysis securing our intellectual properties through a) freedom to operate and b) patent application filing, 2) website development, and 3) stakeholder and narrowing of initial scale-up markets.
While our initial focus was to look at both the residential as well as commercial real estate market, as a result of market mapping, and technical functionality together with our pricing strategy we have shifted our focus to the commercial real estate market as of now. This is due to 1) almost all non-residential buildings having a ventilation system which is not the case for residential buildings in Europe 2) the building size allows for a better cost/benefit ratio for the customer and thus a lower bar for purchasing our service.
Next, we proceeded to in-house testing at three locations. This allowed us to develop a robust solution that minimizes this risk, developing the hardware, software and integrations whilst tightly testing at in-house test locations. We made several design adjustments to the technology to achieve TRL9, based on data from the large-scale piloting, which have allowed us to obtain real-life data on performance and requirements. Modifications were performed in cellular communication, plastic cover, packaging and firmware, allowing us to reach a commercial-ready product. Finally, we have developed product sheets and user manuals for installation.
To handle and analyse data from each specific building, we have developed a data model that creates a digital twin of the building we are monitoring. This helps us analyse the sensor data and provide insight to the end user, as well as control signals to the building ventilation system to optimize for different goals including energy efficiency, expelling air contaminants, reducing draft and minimizing condensation in the walls. We also made results available in a self-service dashboard.
We have established a supply chain for the product enabling us to source and manufacture our products, as well as securing two large downstream partners for distribution and installation. We have also built the pricing model, mapped out standards and regulations and made a plan for engaging stakeholders.
In the latest phase of this work, we have been doing large-scale piloting in real-life environments. This gives our models a great insight into how to best control differential pressure by regulating the air volumes at the ventilation system. We have also made case studies showing the actual savings and calculated condensation of moisture in the construction. The savings are significant and will help future customers with a major and important problem, namely reducing emissions from the construction sector.
The test period led to a redesigning of our products to implement the best communication module, fitting our services while maintaining a focus on global reach going forward. We also defined relevant integration types. Other significant activities during the first part of the project period include 1) NPA analysis securing our intellectual properties through a) freedom to operate and b) patent application filing, 2) website development, and 3) stakeholder and narrowing of initial scale-up markets.
While our initial focus was to look at both the residential as well as commercial real estate market, as a result of market mapping, and technical functionality together with our pricing strategy we have shifted our focus to the commercial real estate market as of now. This is due to 1) almost all non-residential buildings having a ventilation system which is not the case for residential buildings in Europe 2) the building size allows for a better cost/benefit ratio for the customer and thus a lower bar for purchasing our service.
Next, we proceeded to in-house testing at three locations. This allowed us to develop a robust solution that minimizes this risk, developing the hardware, software and integrations whilst tightly testing at in-house test locations. We made several design adjustments to the technology to achieve TRL9, based on data from the large-scale piloting, which have allowed us to obtain real-life data on performance and requirements. Modifications were performed in cellular communication, plastic cover, packaging and firmware, allowing us to reach a commercial-ready product. Finally, we have developed product sheets and user manuals for installation.
To handle and analyse data from each specific building, we have developed a data model that creates a digital twin of the building we are monitoring. This helps us analyse the sensor data and provide insight to the end user, as well as control signals to the building ventilation system to optimize for different goals including energy efficiency, expelling air contaminants, reducing draft and minimizing condensation in the walls. We also made results available in a self-service dashboard.
We have established a supply chain for the product enabling us to source and manufacture our products, as well as securing two large downstream partners for distribution and installation. We have also built the pricing model, mapped out standards and regulations and made a plan for engaging stakeholders.
In the latest phase of this work, we have been doing large-scale piloting in real-life environments. This gives our models a great insight into how to best control differential pressure by regulating the air volumes at the ventilation system. We have also made case studies showing the actual savings and calculated condensation of moisture in the construction. The savings are significant and will help future customers with a major and important problem, namely reducing emissions from the construction sector.
The goal of LTT is to significantly reduce global energy waste. Using our algorithms, we have been able to convert differential pressure together with a known leakage figure, to a calculated value for air volume, energy loss and CO2 emissions. By analysing the data flow from each building at our pilot partners, we have been able to use this insight to describe how current the pressure in the building is, along with how our digital twin believes the pressure should be, to optimize the pressure in terms of energy efficiency and prevention of moisture entering the structure. The savings are significant and will help future customers with a major and important problem, namely reducing emissions from the construction sector.
In addition to reducing energy waste, our system can help reduce the need for expensive retrofitting of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems (HVAC) and/or drastic remodelling initiatives, thus resulting in significantly lower costs for building owners. We also see initial positive effects of building health as air flows the right way limiting moisture in the construction. The two elements are being tested through a use case with a customer.
Furthermore, we believe we will see a positive effect on indoor air quality as we can ensure all air moving through the envelope is filtered through the ventilation. This should have a positive health effect on employees.
In addition to reducing energy waste, our system can help reduce the need for expensive retrofitting of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems (HVAC) and/or drastic remodelling initiatives, thus resulting in significantly lower costs for building owners. We also see initial positive effects of building health as air flows the right way limiting moisture in the construction. The two elements are being tested through a use case with a customer.
Furthermore, we believe we will see a positive effect on indoor air quality as we can ensure all air moving through the envelope is filtered through the ventilation. This should have a positive health effect on employees.