Project description
A smart way to save on heating bills
Smart thermostats can save energy and money by regulating heating systems without reducing comfort. Their use is also good for the environment since buildings (both residential and commercial) are responsible for more than a third of CO2 emissions in the EU. In this context, the EU-funded CALORIC project will bring to market smart thermostats for heating systems with warm water radiators. These thermostats are able to switch on/off the heating as needed, for short intervals. Not only do they control the inside temperature, but also use a wireless temperature sensor to regulate the temperature of the radiators. The project expects this simple solution to reduce the consumption (and the cost of heating) by as much as 50 %.
Objective
Heating in residential and commercial buildings is a basic need for the well being of the citizens. It is also a major cost in the family’s and businesses budget, that in most cases it cannot be avoided. The vast majority of this heating is produced through the combustion of fossil fuels in the buildings boilers locally, resulting in an impressive negative environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and smoke pollution inside the cities, not to mention the high cost of the imported fuels.
A low cost, highly efficient, easy to be installed solution that will reduce their heating cost without reducing their heating comfort, is needed.
Buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of energy consumption and 36% of CO2 emissions in the EU. An essential part of Europe's clean energy transition is the changing role of buildings from energy consumers to actively controlling and optimizing indoor environment while contributing to energy system flexibility.
Our company LIGHTHEAT P.C. has invented and developed the Caloric Smart Thermostat (CST). CST has three unique features, that bring a new age in the market of smart thermostats for heating systems with warm water radiators, the Heating Power Adjustment (HPA), the Heating Problem Detection (HPD), and the ability that gives to the user to control and anticipate the heating bill (HBA) with the Heating Hours Meter (HHM).
CST switches on/off the heating when needed, for small intervals, controlling not only the inside temperature but also the temperature of the radiators (HPA) using a wireless temperature sensor. As a result the consumption (heating cost) may drop up to 50%, with more hours of heating comfort, protecting the environment at the same time.
CALORIC is a simple solution with a huge impact, because with the very low cost of CST, the energy the is saved, in order to be produced from other renewable resources or building renovation, would demand a much bigger investment to be achieved.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringthermodynamic engineering
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energywind power
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energysolar thermal
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringadditive manufacturing
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energyphotovoltaic
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
15234 ATHINA
Greece
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.