At Homerton College, University of Cambridge, the challenge was clear: too many empty rooms were being heated unnecessarily—especially outside of term time—leading to wasted energy, higher bills, and missed sustainability targets.
Homerton’s mix of historic and modern buildings made it an ideal testbed for smart retrofit heating solutions. The college turned to EcoSync for a way to better control room-by-room heating without overhauling its existing infrastructure.
The solution: Smart heating control without disruption
EcoSync installed 390 retrofit smart TRVs (thermostatic radiator valves) across four floors of the college, all connected via five ethernet gateways with 4G backup. These low-maintenance devices gather detailed data every five minutes—including air temperature, radiator valve position, and hot water flow temperature—providing precise insight into heating use across each room.
This data feeds into EcoSync’s machine learning models, which predict the exact energy needed for each space. If a room is unoccupied, it’s not heated—cutting energy use immediately. The entire system is managed via a central, browser-based dashboard that lets facility teams adjust heating schedules in real time.
Even better, QR codes in each room allow building occupants to see the impact of their actions—like closing a window—on energy use and carbon savings. This feedback loop encourages responsible behaviour across staff, students, and visitors alike.
The results: 40% energy savings in just four months
From September to December 2022, EcoSync’s installation saved Homerton College:
-
39.28 MWh of energy
-
7.18 tonnes of carbon emissions
-
The equivalent of 342 trees absorbing carbon for a year
That’s an overall energy saving of 40%, achieved without compromising the building’s function, design, or comfort.
Why this matters for heritage buildings
For heritage sites, retrofitting full-scale HVAC systems is rarely viable. EcoSync’s approach offers an alternative: energy-saving tools that work with what’s already there. There’s no need for extensive renovations, and the character of protected buildings remains intact.
As more organisations face rising energy costs and stricter carbon reduction targets, this case study shows that a smarter, more adaptive approach to heating isn’t just possible—it’s effective.
EcoSync is proving that with the right tools, even the oldest buildings can become part of a low-carbon future.
Want to find out more? Click here to view the full case study.