Reducing energy consumption while also ensuring a comfortable living environment is one of the most ambitious challenges for modern-day construction. The challenge is even greater for historic buildings, where invasive methods are not possible. This is where building automation solutions developed by myGekko and the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (unibz) come in. Their project is part of the Fusion Grant call for proposals, which supports researchers under the age of 40 and fosters new collaborations between research and industry. The call for proposals is promoted by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Bolzano and NOI Techpark, in partnership with Südtiroler Wirtschaftsring-Economia Alto Adige and Rete Economia-Wirtschaftsnetz. 

The Smart Technologies for Sustainable Buildings project examined how advanced model-predictive-control solutions can be used to strike the right balance between well-being and energy consumption, and to optimise system use. This is an important topic for the future given that European buildings account for over 40% of final energy consumption and generate over a third of greenhouse gas emissions. “Unlike conventional control systems, model predictive control allows us to choose the optimal action each time, meaning this approach has greater potential than more simple controls,” explains Giovanni Pernigotto, a researcher at unibz and the project’s scientific coordinator. 

The ongoing research and development is taking place at the historic Villa Franzelin in Brunico, where sensors have been installed and a digital model of the building has been created so decisions can be made on system behaviour. For example, the system intelligently understands when to turn on heating or air conditioning based on the weather, so less energy is wasted. A second building will then be involved when the study moves to the TFO (the technical secondary school) in Brunico. The NOI Techpark in Bolzano will also be a location for the project. “We’re conducting a large amount of research in the unibz Building Physics Lab at NOI, where we can use numerical simulation tools to develop digital building models and analyse the data we collect,” Pernigotto explains. “During our activities, the NOI Tech Transfer Green unit has provided us with useful suggestions on specific technological solutions and has also helped us network with research groups working on similar or related topics.” 

For Riccardo Albertin, a unibz researcher recruited through the call for proposals to supervise operational activities, this has also been a valuable experience. “Fusion Grant has been an excellent opportunity to work tangibly on these models, making it easier to conduct applied research with local companies, explore new ideas and lay the foundations for other projects with a broad scope.” 

Synergy is one of the key words of Fusion Grant, as Martin Beikircher also recognises. “Creating a joint working model between universities, research centres and companies is essential for tackling the complex challenges of our time. With this project, we have immersed ourselves in a state-of-the-art research and innovation ecosystem. We have created new forms of collaboration that have broadened our vision and understanding of advanced technologies, paving the way for new opportunities. Although we have yet to integrate these innovations into a finished product, the data and know-how we have gained are important assets for our future development”.