PBSA energy management: Delivering carbon and cost savings

The size of the carbon emissions from the PBSA sector is illustrated by data gathered from 537 further education and universities. It shows that over 2.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) associated with the institution’s use of fuel and electricity were emitted in 2020/21, representing 12% of the overall sector’s carbon footprint. There is therefore a strong incentive for PBSA providers to use energy management systems to reduce energy wastage and therefore the carbon emissions of the asset.

The government target for the UK to reach net zero carbon by 2050 IS pushing carbon reduction higher up the corporate agenda and finding ways for the PBSA sector to become net zero carbon ready is front of mind. This is epitomised by Unite Students, the largest provider of student accommodation in the UK, who have launched a pathway to net zero operations and development by 2030. This includes a target to reduce energy intensity by 28% by 2030 against a baseline set in 2019. 

With regards to the size of the cost savings that could be realised using heating management systems, the energy used for heating student accommodation can be responsible for up to 70% of the running costs of the asset. 

A leader in real estate asset management within the student housing sector, was looking for a more efficient way to manage the student heating systems on a single site. Amber Energy worked in collaboration with SmarterDM and presented a solution in the form of a wireless energy management platform. Once fitted, the SmarterDM energy management system delivered heating energy savings of 63% in occupied student areas and 86% in unoccupied areas. This resulted in an annual cost saving of £28K and meant that the SmarterDM solution provided would pay for itself in just over two years.

How do energy management systems deliver carbon and cost savings for the PBSA asset provider? 

Energy management systems deliver carbon and cost savings for the PBSA asset provider by monitoring and controlling heating systems to remotely adjust heating demands to match the requirements of each student room. 

When the room is unoccupied for periods during the day the heating demand can be reduced, saving energy that would otherwise be wasted. Reducing energy wastage in student accommodation is, of course, a win-win, as it cuts carbon emissions and energy bills that would have both been higher had the energy management system not been present. 

The heating requirements of student rooms also need to be considered between term times. With 3 academic terms, the rooms are left vacant for around 30% of the year. Energy management systems can ensure that the heating is set appropriately to match the prevailing temperature conditions. 

In the warmer months no heating is required so, by ensuring that this is indeed the case, and the heating is switched off, the energy management system saves energy from being wasted.  However, during the winter months, the heating needs to be set at the correct level to protect against frost and mould. So, in this case, the energy management system is also helping to save the asset provider from having to carry out potentially costly repairs to damage to the building fabric that may have resulted from damp and frozen rooms.

Intelligent heating systems not only save money by reducing wasted energy. The systems can, through a secure proprietary network, gather information about energy usage patterns across the asset. This can be used to build up a picture of typical energy use, making it easier to spot areas that are operating outside of expected norms. These can be investigated to see if they are being caused by building fabric or systems issues, providing an early warning system to quickly identify and resolve issues to limit their financial impact. 

In student accommodation, the sensors used by intelligent heating solutions may uncover instances where unauthorised use of equipment is causing temperature spikes – such as cooking in student rooms, which is prohibited due to fire safety concerns.

Where can find more about how PBSA energy management systems can reduce carbon emissions and energy costs? 

More information on how PBSA energy management systems can reduce carbon emissions and energy costs can be found in the SmarterDM white paper ‘Intelligent heating solutions – reducing carbon emissions and energy costs for hotels and student accommodation.

SmarterDM is an innovative UK based software and hardware development company that delivers intuitive systems for asset holders to help monitor, report, and manage data in real time. 

If you'd like to learn more about the carbon and cost reduction benefits that are possible by installing a SmarterDM energy management system in your PBSA, please contact us, and our expert team will be in touch to provide a free indicative energy saving calculation.