ReOpen UK: Safe, Healthy & Energy Efficient Buildings

Lead Participant: LIGHTFI LIMITED

Abstract

COVID-19 presents an unprecedented opportunity to drive behavioural change amongst building owners and operators. The crisis has forced millions of o?ces, commercial and public buildings to be closed. Their ability to re-open depends upon innovative solutions that can enable safe conditions, restoring trust in the building's ability to remain safe. Simultaneously, we need building owners and operators to re-think the operation of their buildings in light of the climate crisis. People are even more aware now of the link between air quality, emission reductions, and the need to reduce the spread of airborne diseases.

This innovation brings these needs and opportunities together through the systemic integration and development of innovative technologies, including people density counting, dynamic building control and granular air quality measurement with a new health related business model. This is a powerful opportunity to better manage airborne diseases, drive energy reduction and resource e?ciency at scale across Europe and worldwide.

Ongoing monitoring of people's movements in buildings in line with social distancing rules, fresh air delivery and monitoring in every space, is a major challenge for owners and operators as countries come out of lockdown and look to get their economies running again under the new social distancing norms.

The innovation will create new Internet of Things (IoT) hardware, platform and integrations. Together this will provide an easy-to-use, cost-effective system that allows building operators, facilities managers and organisations manage and control energy, occupancy, safety, health and wellbeing within their buildings. Internet of Things sensors and building control integration will warn users when a space is at risk of overcrowding in line with COVID-19 guidelines. The innovation delivers valuable real-time data, enabling "close to real-time" adjustments to be made to HVAC systems and for social distancing breach intervention measures to be executed. Thus, simultaneously managing the social distancing risk and reducing carbon emissions through more efficient HVAC control.

Lead Participant

Project Cost

Grant Offer

LIGHTFI LIMITED £201,988 £ 161,590
 

Participant

KNIGHT FRANK LLP £100,067 £ 80,054
INNOVATE UK

Publications

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