The importance of the ‘digital twin’ in enhancing building performance
Older buildings, particularly those not built with modern, energy-efficient technologies, have enormous potential for optimization. Here, the ‘digital twin’ comes into play as a crucial transformative technology in retrofit building optimization. But what is a digital twin exactly? A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical object or system, in our case a building. It uses real-time data and algorithms to simulate the behavior and performance of a real building. This enables precise performance analysis and forecasting of the building under different scenarios. Digital twins enable building managers to determine inefficient systems, guiding targeted investments that can quickly pay for themselves through energy savings. Real-time monitoring and analysis of energy use, heating, ventilation and other systems significantly cut the building’s ecological footprint. In addition, a digital twin enables scenario simulations that minimize business interruptions and streamline implementations. The ongoing data flow from the digital twin enables facility managers to make informed decisions to enhance building performance and occupant satisfaction. The digital twin is more than just an innovative technology, it is a crucial tool for the future of building optimization. In the field of retrofitting, digital twins offer invaluable real-time analyzes and optimization of a building’s condition and performance. This technology paves the way for more efficient, cost-effective and sustainable buildings and contributes significantly to environmental protection. Image source: PAUL Tech AG
The importance of master data management systems (MDM) in smart building management
By incorporating modern technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence and big data, smart building management offers numerous advantages. With the advent of these technologies, however, data management has become a challenging task. This is where master data management (MDM) comes into play. It serves as the backbone for data integration and consistency, which are of central importance in the context of smart building management. MDM involves managing core business data across departments, silos and systems within the organization. Centralizing this data ensures uniformity and transparency. MDM processes standardize, cleanse and enrich data, enhancing operational process quality and efficiency. Beyond data management, MDM enables complex analyzes, offering deeper insights for building managers leading to more informed decision-making. MDM is crucial for optimizing resource efficiency to optimize energy consumption, space utilization and other resources. It also ensures data conformity and security, which aids compliance with data protection guidelines and regulations. As a strategic resource in smart building management, MDM is indispensable as it equips owners, building managers and facility management teams with a robust data management platform for comprehensive analysis. This supports decisions that encompass cost savings, space efficiency, optimized maintenance, sustainable resource management and energy efficiency. It provides owners, building managers and facility management teams with a robust platform for data management and the ability to perform in-depth analysis. This creates a solid basis for well-founded decisions that go beyond pure cost savings and include aspects such as efficient use of space, optimized maintenance processes, sustainable resource management and energy efficiency. An example is PAUL Cloud, which is equipped with a robust MDM system that enables users to analyze energy consumption and building efficiency thoroughly. This leads to better demand planning and more effective building systems management, resulting in significant cost savings and more sustainable, resource-efficient building management. In view of the constantly increasing complexity of technologies and systems in modern buildings, the importance of comprehensive master data management is set to increase. It is a crucial tool for companies to navigate future challenges and take full advantage of the opportunities offered by smart building management.
Solas Sustainable Energy Fund ICAV (SSEF) and PAUL Tech close financing deal
Solas Sustainable Energy Fund ICAV (SSEF), which is advised by Solas Capital AG, based in Zurich and Dublin, has signed a framework agreement with PAUL Tech AG (PAUL Tech) for registered bonds with an initial value of EUR 20 million to be issued in four tranches. The first two bonds in the amount of EUR 10 million have already been issued. The funding will go towards installing PAUL Tech’s PAUL Performance systems. The PAUL Performance systems use software-controlled hydraulic balancing to optimize water volume flow in heating systems in apartment buildings. The solution improves the energy values of the properties and leads to an average reduction in energy consumption of 20-40%. It helps to reduce the pressure of the energy crisis at an individual level by lowering costs for tenants. Sven Degens, Partner at Solas Capital AG: “This partnership is an example of Solas’ commitment to driving change in the heating sector in Germany. We are delighted to be able to support PAUL Tech by improving the accessibility of their cutting-edge heating efficiency technology, which will have a tangible impact on household budgets across the country.” Sebastian Carneiro, CEO of Solas Capital AG: “SSEF is committed to partnering with ESCOs (Energy Service Companies) that offer a broad range of energy efficiency technologies within the EU to provide our investors with a diversified investment portfolio with stable cash flows.” Sascha Müller, founder and CEO of PAUL Tech: “We are honored to receive this substantial investment from our committed green investor Solas Capital. We also see it as confirmation of the confidence in our position as a HaaS provider, which we will revolutionize with our new PAUL Net Zero solution.” With PAUL, existing buildings can significantly save energy and CO2 emissions. For this purpose, the heating and hot water system is digitalized centrally in the basement. The integrated sensors and actuators – motorized valves – automatically carry out adaptive hydronic balancing: The big issue for the housing industry, which is obliged by the Energy Saving Ordinance to carry out hydronic balancing regularly. Doing this conventionally within the required specifications presents the industry with immense challenges. PAUL performs hydraulic balancing digitally and continuously optimizes it with AI. This pioneering PAUL technology ensures hydronic balancing and achieves energy savings by making the use of heat pumps in existing buildings possible. For more information, please visit: www.solas.capital
WBG Fürth relies on PAUL Tech
Fürth’s member of the Bundestag Carsten Träger (SPD), also the environmental policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, had drawn the mayor’s attention to PAUL at WBG Fürth. The housing industry, politicians and the media can now see onsite how PAUL can make significant energy savings in existing buildings without any investment. Rolf Perlhofer, Managing Director of WBG Fürth, opened his cellar and reported on his successful experience with PAUL. Perlhofer’s WBG Fürth is regarded as a pioneer in the housing industry. He has been in talks with PAUL since 2022 and has now equipped the first 500 units with the system as a pilot project. Perlhoher enthusiastically points to an example, a property with 29% energy savings in the first analysis period – just in time for winter. Savings of up to 20% are expected. Member of the Bundestag Carsten Träger attests to a win-win-win situation: “PAUL is a great for everyone involved. Energy savings of up to 30% are possible without any upfront investment – particularly where we find it hardest, namely in rental apartments in existing buildings. PAUL offers a simple but brilliant solution that needs to be spread. More than half of the people in Germany rent. PAUL offers enormous savings and climate protection potential for all housing providers and tenants.” Head of WBG-Fürth Rolf Perlhofer: “We were enthusiastic about the technology from the start. Solutions for existing properties that have already been modernized and have central heating systems are important. PAUL saves energy in existing buildings in a minimally invasive and cost-neutral way. We are testing this with 500 apartments and are enthusiastic after the initial analyses. After the final evaluations, we will equip our entire portfolio with PAUL.” Maiko Dufner from PAUL Tech: “Germany’s cities are looking to Fürth. We need more pioneers like Lord Mayor Dr. Jung and WBG Managing Director Perlhofer because then Germany will take a significant step forward in the energy transition. The private housing industry has been using PAUL successfully for a long time. With WBG Fürth, PAUL is now also available in the public housing sector – that makes us proud. The PAUL approach is to regulate the grid quickly and cleanly in the basement without losing comfort. We also comply with the GEG and automatically perform adaptive hydronic balancing. This means that PAUL optimizes the pipe networks and permanently adjusts the heating network to the actual requirements of the connected users. It’s easy to save at least 20% of the existing energy without any investment.”
Replenishment for PAUL production
The supplies arrived in time for the installation projects before the heating season. This requires a high degree of flexibility in our teams, which we are very proud of. We develop and manufacture our hardware and work exclusively with European suppliers. Supply chain independence and high-quality standards are crucial to us. And as you can see, the suppliers also have fun with PAUL. Image source: Paul Tech AG
PAUL as a guest at the IHK Frankfurt am Main’s Real Estate Industry Day
The entire event was held under the umbrella of current topics such as ESG, energy efficiency and the heat pump campaign and focused on sustainability aspects such as ESG regulations. Sustainability aspects such as ESG regulations, measures to increase energy efficiency and the circular economy are becoming increasingly crucial for (real estate) companies, property managers and project developers. Read here how PAUL Tech can help your company: PAUL services
Nassauische Heimstätte and PAUL Tech intensify partnership
Dr. Constantin Westphal, Managing Director of the Nassauische Heimstätte | Wohnstadt Group, Holger Lack, Head of the Frankfurt Regional Center, and Sascha Müller, founder and CEO of PAUL Tech AG, sign the letter of intent for the follow-up project with around 1,200 residential units in the presence of GDW President Axel Gedaschko at EXPO REAL. Since 2021, the group of companies and PAUL Tech have been working to digitalize the portfolio in Frankfurt’s Heimatsiedlung and increase energy efficiency. The first step was to optimize the hot water system by using continuous adaptive thermal/hydraulic balancing of the circulation system and to ensure water hygiene. The savings potential from the heating network will be leveraged in the follow-up project now agreed for November 1, 2023. The control system uses smart technology to optimize the volume flow and thus digitally and adaptively ensures the hydraulic balancing required under the (EnSimiMaV). The buildings will become more energy-efficient, and further energy and CO2 savings realized. Increases in ancillary costs for residents will be curbed. “Our goal is to achieve a largely climate-neutral housing stock by 2045, and the challenges on this path are enormous. If we can leverage potential savings in our heating supply with the help of AI and simplify the hydraulic balancing of our heating systems, then this strategic partnership makes a lot of sense for us,” says Constantin Westphal. “On the path to more climate protection, this is exactly the kind of cooperation we need. After all, real progress in energy efficiency and CO2 savings is achieved through innovations directly from practice. The results will provide important indicators for the climate-friendly commitment of companies and politicians so that better framework conditions can be set for sensible climate protection in the building sector in the future. Because there is still a lot of room for improvement in this area in particular,” says Axel Gedaschko, President of the German Association of the Housing Industry (GdW). “I am pleased about the trust that Nassauische Heimstätte has placed in PAUL and the signal that our joint goals have been achieved. Taking the next step with us means leveraging further savings potential and developing the portfolio in a value-stable and sustainable way towards “green warming,” comments Sascha Müller. More about Nassauische Heimstätte: https://www.naheimst.de/
What reduces energy costs in existing buildings – PAUL Tech speaks at EXPO REAL
On the first day of EXPO REAL, Sascha Müller, CEO of PAUL Tech AG, spoke on the panel, “CO2 out of the house! What reduces energy costs in existing buildings.” The PAUL control system digitalizes the central building technology by attaching sensors and so-called actuators – motorized valves – to the basement’s hot water and heating system. This can be done quickly and is minimally invasively. PAUL uses artificial intelligence to regulate the temperature and volume flow and automatically ensures continuous adaptive hydronic balancing. PAUL digitally performs the hydraulic balancing prescribed in the Medium-Term Energy Security Measures Ordinance (EnSimiMaV). PAUL curbs ancillary costs and helps to maintain affordable rents. Of particular interest to the housing industry is that no initial investment costs are required to use PAUL. If the energy-saving effect of hot water heating and heating output are taken together in proportion to their share of total demand, this results in energy savings of at least 15% for the entire building. Meet us at booth C2.210 to talk about current topics in the real estate industry and how PAUL helps increase the energy efficiency of existing buildings, advance the heat transition and improve your ESG rating. Image source: PAUL Tech AG
PAUL Tech is the winner of the Data Streaming Award
The award ceremony occurred at Current, hosted by Confluent, in San Jose, California. We were nominated by Kafka for the public nominations and chosen as the winner by the independent jury! Yves Kurz accepted the prize – in the form of a surfboard – for PAUL. The PAUL Performance control system controls smart valves using artificial intelligence (AI), which receives its information from millions of data points collected via sensors, for example. The intelligent use of data streaming helps to make the millions of data points retrievable and processable. Image source: PAUL Tech AG
PAUL Tech with presentation at the VNW conference in Lübeck
The association invited guests to discuss the challenges facing the housing industry, such as the heating transition, climate targets, digitalization and new technologies for greater energy efficiency and CO2 savings. In our presentation “CO2-neutral existing buildings without insulation and underfloor heating: the solution is in the basement”, Philip Diekert presented the PAUL solution for more energy-efficient buildings using automated adaptive hydronic balancing. The event was excellent for discussing different perspectives and expanding the network. More about the association: https://www.vnw.de/ Source: PAUL Tech AG
