PBSA operator – Nido – partners with multi-award-winning ESG technology solutions provider – Utopi – to reduce the carbon footprint of its PBSA assets in the operator’s European portfolio, starting with Ireland and Denmark. The operator’s deployment of this technology is being delivered by managed service provider, ASK4.

Using Utopi’s multisensors and data insights platform, Nido can efficiently track the carbon impact of its PBSA assets, starting with Nido Bryggen in Denmark, Nido Ashlin House and Nido Curraheen Point in Ireland.

Through being able to measure and contextualise the energy consumption within each building, and by engaging with residents, Utopi estimates that Nido could reduce energy use and the carbon impact of the buildings by up to 20% over a three-year period.

“We are conscious of our environmental impact as asset operators and helping our residents reduce their carbon footprint is a priority. Our partnership with Utopi recognises that sustainability is linked to residents’ attitudes towards energy consumption and, following measurement and target-setting, we now have the consistent, real-time data we need to journey towards significant reductions in energy use and carbon emissions at Nido Bryggen, Nido Curraheen Point and Nido Ashlin House.”

Darren Gardner, CEO, Nido

The data insights provided by Utopi showed that the average site temperature for Nido Bryggen at the start of the project was 23.5°C, with average temperatures of 21.4°C and 21.3°C respectively for Nido Curraheen Point and Nido Ashlin House.

Working in collaboration, the pair have developed a resident engagement plan to educate and influence resident behaviours regarding energy use through heating, with a target of reducing the average temperature of the sites during heating season to 20°C in the first instance. 

“Nido’s commitment to effecting sustainable change has made them an ideal partner for trailblazing the Utopi solution in the student housing sector. The team’s dedication to the process, which requires active engagement from operational and comms teams, has not only benefitted the performance of their assets and the wellbeing of residents – it has also paved the way for others in the sector to gain the most value from Utopi’s award-winning technology.” 

Tracy Ellison, Chief Customer Officer, ASK4

By sharing accurate data and engaging with residents through advice and tips on their energy impact, the operator has exceeded its initial target and demonstrated how small behavioural changes can drive efficiencies and savings. The operator’s Nido Curraheen Point and Nido Ashlin House PBSA schemes reduced their average temperatures to 17.39°C and 18.18°C respectively over the last two months.

The next step is to look at other outliers which can reduce the environmental impact of the buildings and drive further positive outcomes.

“If you set parameters for temperature, and monitor real-time data, it becomes easy to see where people are working around these measures. This could be using plug-in blow heaters to provide extra heat, using windows to regulate heat, etc. Having real-time data allows building operators to identify these outliers, do a root cause analysis and make targeted interventions. And ultimately that’s what we’re all about – action.”

Jonathan Burridge, CEO and Co-Founder, Utopi

Utopi states that for every 1°C a space that is heated over 20°C, an estimated 2kWh is required over a 24-hour period for an electrically heated asset. By lowering the site average from 21.43°C to 20°C, there is a potential 272kWh saving per day. Over a 200-day heating season, this equates to a saving opportunity of 54,400kWh or 11,424KG of CO2 emitted from the atmosphere.

See the full article on PBSA News, here - and thanks as always to our PBSA Partners ASK4.