Bedford College

The Bedford College classrooms faced their own set of problems. On warm days, they tended to overheat, while on cold days, they struggled to maintain sufficient warmth.

Some classrooms and offices were equipped with split-system air-conditioning units, which often operated simultaneously with radiators, resulting in substantial energy wastage. Moreover, due to the absence of timing controls, the air-conditioning units remained switched on overnight, even when unnecessary. This was especially problematic when staff worked late or classes were held during evenings or weekends, as the entire building had to remain heated.


THE RIGHT TO KNOW HOW

To address these issues, the college implemented a series of solutions. Intelligent room sensors that detect occupancy were installed in each room, along with modern double panel radiators equipped with smart thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs). This setup enables pre-heating of rooms prior to occupation and maintains a predetermined temperature during use. Once a room becomes unoccupied, the sensors automatically adjust the temperature to a setback level, conserving energy and reducing costs. In situations where staff members stay late or events take place outside regular hours, only the required rooms are heated, eliminating the need to heat the entire building.

To improve heating efficiency in the workshops, the fan blowers were replaced with wet overhead radiant panels. These panels emit heat downwards, directly providing warmth to the occupants. Like the rest of the system, the radiant panels are controlled based on room occupancy. Additionally, the existing air-conditioning units are now centrally controlled to prevent them from running simultaneously with the heating system or when the room is unoccupied.

BENEFITS OF INTELLIGENT CONTROLS

Implementing intelligent controls for heating and cooling systems offers numerous advantages, including significant cost savings and an improved learning and working environment within the featured building. Bedford College has specifically chosen Genius Hub as the controls supplier due to its wireless equipment, allowing for quick and easy installation with minimal disruption to existing systems. Typically, the installation process takes only a few days without affecting the normal operation of the building.

With the new controls in place, college staff and the maintenance team no longer need to manually adjust temperatures in the rooms. Any heating issues that arise can be conveniently addressed through the Genius Hub app, accessible via a smartphone or computer web browser.

The Genius Hub system also keeps a comprehensive record of room occupancy and temperature data, providing valuable insights to administrative staff regarding room usage patterns. Additionally, the system takes care of routine maintenance tasks such as exercising the pump and radiator valves during the summer, preventing seizing and sludge build-up. The Genius Hub system typically offers a return on investment within two to five years.