Digitising school buildings – lower energy consumption and greater transparency

Clear usage schedules, long periods of non-occupancy, and often very limited automation technology meet strong cost pressure—a combination that almost automatically leads to unnecessary heating and utility costs. This is exactly where Sensise comes in: with transparent data collection and a control logic based on the building’s real day-to-day use, without reducing comfort or losing ease of use on site.

Starting point: high consumption despite clear usage schedules

In many school buildings, unnecessary heating costs arise because rooms continue running at comfort level during off-hours, on weekends, or throughout school breaks. At the same time, electricity, gas, and water consumption often remain non-transparent—deviations are identified late, comparisons are missing, and optimization measures begin without a reliable data foundation.

An ideal fit for Sensise

School buildings follow clear patterns: class schedules, fixed occupancy times, and extended periods of non-use. That creates strong optimization potential with relatively low complexity in existing buildings. At the same time, daily operation depends on a simple control logic—including manual intervention whenever the situation requires it.

Implementation: occupancy-based heating logic plus automated consumption data

Sensise uses a heating concept with an occupancy and heating schedule that precisely aligns heating phases with building use. Rooms receive heat during occupied periods and switch to setback mode as soon as they are no longer in use. Manual interventions remain an integral part of the concept and ensure day-to-day practicality.

In addition, electricity, gas, and water meters are read automatically so that consumption is continuously recorded and can be compared cleanly for the first time. Selective room climate sensors for temperature, humidity, and CO₂, along with building status signals, provide additional context for evaluation and operation. A gateway connects the components, a range test including documentation ensures radio coverage, and hardware installation is part of the implementation. The data is brought together centrally in the platform and forms the basis for monitoring, analysis, and optimization.

Result: clear rules instead of continuous operation—data instead of assumptions

Once activated, the system operates with transparent time- and occupancy-based logic, reduces unnecessary run times, and keeps comfort stable. At the same time, it creates transparency around consumption and building conditions: irregularities are identified early, analyses begin with real measured values, measures can be derived in a targeted way and reviewed over time. The result is a scalable standard for the efficient operation of school buildings—without disrupting everyday use and with clear, practical control on site.