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How can we make a building more modern, energy-efficient, sustainable and comfortable? That was the question Strukton asked. Since 1921, they have been working on rail systems, civil infrastructure and technique, and buildings. But now, like many of us, they realized it was time to be more sustainable and started to look for solutions on how to do that.
In order to do so, Strukton wanted to work with inspiring innovators with brand new ideas and Rotterdam Unlocked seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so. This initiative aims to open up the city and invite startups from all over the world to come to Rotterdam for a 3-day event. By bringing international innovation to the city, the whole ecosystem benefits.
On the 20th of February, during the closing ceremony of Rotterdam Unlocked, Strukton will announce who they chose to work with. Meanwhile, check out some of the solutions we found for them and the startups working with it.
Smart radiator thermostat – Vestemi (United Kindgom)
Vestemi develops a thermostat that learns how a room is used and automatically adjusts the heating pattern to match the schedule. It can save significant amounts of energy and money by ensuring that empty rooms are not being heated unnecessarily.
AI building management – DABBEL (Germany)
DABBEL is an AI-Autonomous Building Management System with the ability to self-manage building control systems more efficiently than any human. Controls include, but are not limited to, building temperature, ventilation and lighting. It makes its own decisions, through a self-learning, self-adapting and self-configuring system with cognitive artificial intelligence. DABBEL reduces implementation, energy and operational costs (20-40%) and simultaneously increases the wellness of tenants providing a healthy environment. DABBEL can transform office buildings into an AI Self-Driving building in just 2 weeks.
Infrared heating panels – ThermIQ (Netherlands)
ThermIQ produces infrared heating panels that can be installed anywhere and serve to replace traditional heating equipment. That could mean the end to central heating conduits and radiators or furnaces attached to the wall. It also means that installation of sleek-designed, ceiling-mounted panels with a connection to electricity is much simpler.
Automatic blind switch – Kindow (Netherlands)
Standard motorized blind systems fully close when the sun is on the facade, blocking all daylight and view. And when clouds are moving by, the blinds are constantly moving up and down over the whole facade. Kindow wants to solve this problem. By adding the Kindow Dynamic Blind Switch, the sun’s position is taken into account as well, therefore the blinds will only close as far as necessary. Direct light is prevented from ever coming across a set border, like the edge of your desk for example. Stopping glare but still allowing as much view and daylight as possible.
A hybrid solar panel that generates electricity and heat – Naked Energy (United Kindgom)
Naked Energy’s solar panel, ‘Virtu’, is a revolutionary and patented hybrid solar collector that generates both heat and power for commercial and industrial applications. They claim their combination of photovoltaic cells in an evacuated tube collector results in higher electrical output and exceptional thermal performance.
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Windows that generate energy – Physee (Netherlands)
Physee develops PowerWindows, completely transparent windows that are able to generate energy. They apply a coating to the outside of the windowpane that collects the light rays rather than reflecting them, with the solar cell strips within the window itself then converting it into electricity. This way the building itself becomes an energy generator. It also helps reduce the energy consumption by locally optimizing the building’s climate with a smart sensory system.
Ways to recover the heat of wastewater – EHTech (France) and Zypho (Portugal)
In 2011, EHTech launched Obox. They aim to recover the heat generate during showers and use it to preheat the water feeding the boiler. They claim their system requires no maintenance due to their patented auto-backflush system.
Zypho also has a similar solution. In a regular household, consisting of four people who take at least one shower every day, Zypho claims they could save 250 euros per year by using their products.
Energy generating glass facade – Wellsun (Netherlands)
Wellsun has developed the Lumiduct. It enables full glass facades which generate more energy than closed walls completely covered with traditional solar panels. The Lumiduct saves energy and creates an ideal indoor climate by selectively shielding the intense, direct light which is responsible for glare and heating up of the building, and turns it into electricity. At the same time, the Lumiduct is transparent for the soft, diffused light which is then experienced as pleasant daylight.
So which solution do you think it’s the best one for Strukton? Find out on the 20th of February.