Student housing facilities are responsible for a significant amount of energy consumption on university campuses. The high demand for heating and cooling in these buildings coupled with high vacant times can result in high energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions. However, by implementing energy-efficient solutions such as the Dream Thermostat developed by Energex Inc., universities can reduce their environmental impact and save money.
Energex, a leading developer, and manufacturer in the smart thermostat industry have specifically designed its Dream Thermostat to cater to the needs of student housing, multi-unit, hospitality, and senior living buildings. This WIFI-connected, cloud-powered thermostat integrates a suite of wired and wireless sensors, including passive infrared occupancy sensors, humidity sensors, and magnetic door contacts, to optimize energy performance during both occupied and vacant times.
The Dream Thermostat is powered by an AI-cloud platform that constantly monitors the HVAC system’s health, outdoor air temperatures, and occupancy, and performs minute-by-minute calculations. These calculations help save up to 40% of space HVAC consumption while ensuring comfort and assisting building managers in monitoring and identifying potential faults in their HVAC unit inventory.
Smart thermostats are becoming increasingly popular in homes and buildings across the country. These thermostats use sensors to detect when a room is occupied and adjust the temperature accordingly. This feature is particularly beneficial for student housing, as students often have unpredictable schedules and may not be in their rooms for long periods.
According to a study conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, smart thermostats can reduce heating and cooling energy consumption by up to 10-15%. Energex’s Dream Thermostat, with its AI-driven energy management solution, takes this a step further by providing guests and residents with the ultimate comfort and energy savings. It has successfully been implemented in student housing facilities at prestigious universities such as the University of British Columbia (UBC), the University of Toronto, and Pittsburgh State University.
In addition to energy savings, smart thermostats like the Dream Thermostat also provide greater control and customization of temperature settings. Students can adjust the temperature remotely using their smartphones or other devices, providing them with greater comfort and convenience. This can lead to increased satisfaction with the living environment, which can be a selling point for universities when marketing their student housing facilities.
By implementing Energex’s Dream Thermostat in student housing, universities can reduce energy consumption and therefore decrease greenhouse gas emissions. The number of emissions saved can vary depending on the specific building and usage patterns, but studies have shown that the use of smart thermostats can result in an average reduction of 1,000 to 1,500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
In conclusion, the Energex Dream Thermostat offers an effective, connected, and AI-driven energy management solution for student housing. By providing greater control and customization of temperature settings, as well as reducing energy consumption and costs, universities can create a more sustainable and comfortable living environment for their students. The use of smart thermostats like the Dream Thermostat can also have positive environmental impacts by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping universities meet their sustainability goals and improve their overall environmental performance.
Rami Belson
Rami Belson is CEO of Vancouver, BC based Energex Inc.
