Without centralised heating controls, managing temperature across a building quickly becomes a game of catch-up. Site teams are left making manual, room-by-room adjustments, an inefficient use of time that often leads to uneven heating, resident complaints, and energy waste. The lack of visibility makes it hard to spot patterns or pinpoint problems until they escalate, forcing teams into a reactive mode.
In larger or older buildings, this becomes even more challenging, as legacy systems offer little flexibility to adapt to seasonal changes or occupancy patterns. The result is a persistent drain on both operational bandwidth and building performance. So, with approximately 100,000 PBSA beds being constructed between 1960 and 1990 (CBRE), outdated legacy systems, and evolving resident expectations, what’s the answer?
Centralised Controls: An Answer with HUGE Benefits
Implementing a centralised energy control system enables a more streamlined and sustainable approach, tailored to the needs of your building. It creates the ability to control heating and energy at scale, and with ease. These controls can be implemented for retrofit and new builds, and provide:
- Remote visibility and control at both site and portfolio levels
- Decreased energy and operations inefficiencies
- Increased Resident and Team satisfaction
- Access to data insights for proactive intervention
- The ability to set both long-term and short-term room level exceptions to adjust to the needs of your residents
Is now the right time to make a change? The Resident Context.
80% of the housing stock that will exist in 2050, exists now, and expectations for this housing stock are only rising. As the market increasingly values enhanced building features, properties equipped with modern infrastructure are becoming more competitive, both in attracting residents, and investors via improved NOI and NAV:
58% of students checked sustainability features in their current building before moving in (Youth Forum – Property Marketing Specialists).
And it’s not just sustainability that’s driving this appetite for upgraded amenities, residents are also looking for more autonomy in their experience, with 69% of students saying they would like their landlord to give them more control over energy consumption (Property Marketing Specialists). Historically, delivering this control in centrally managed systems has posed challenges to energy efficiency and cost management. However, advancements in building automation and energy management technology now allow operators to offer resident autonomy within clearly defined parameters, improving satisfaction without compromising operational goals.
Centralised heating controls can reduce energy consumption, simplify building management, and support operator efficiency [CT1] in a competitive sector. It also enables:
- Automated, MID-compliant meter readings
- Data integration with ESG reporting tools
- Compatibility with existing platforms through open APIs
Utopi’s wireless communication architecture removes the need for physical cabling. This supports faster installation, minimises disruption during retrofits, and preserves room finishes.
Application in a gas-heated asset.
For gas or wet-heated assets, Utopi offers Smart TRVs with savings of up to 35% on heating costs. These TRVs are compatible with 99% of standard radiators and install in minutes. Unlike many other solutions, they do not require additional hardware for remote control access.
Through The Utopi Platform, operators can define optimal temperature ranges, manage zones, and adjust individual room thresholds with ease. Manual controls are also available within set limits, allowing residents a level of flexibility that aligns with operational parameters.
Application in an a electric-heated asset.
For dry-heated assets, Utopi offers Smart Panel Heaters that can deliver up to 20% gross savings on heating costs. These modern, efficient units allow operators to control heating across entire buildings remotely, using automation to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
Integrated metering, environmental sensing, and control capabilities provide valuable insights for ESG reporting. Devices also follow open standards, allowing reuse with other LoRaWAN-compatible platforms – a flexibility that underscores long-term value and adaptability.
Is an energy management control system right for you?
Whether you are looking to upgrade a legacy system, or kick things off with an efficient system in a new development, centralised heating controls offer flexible, real-time temperature and energy management, no specialised hardware required. Adjustments can be made remotely and at scale, supporting both long-term operational planning and short-term resident needs.
Real-time data and heatmaps offer visibility into temperature distribution and energy usage on a room-by-room basis. With 85% of students reportedly managing room temperature by opening windows, offering autonomy within pre-defined temperature parameters through can significantly reduce waste while respecting resident comfort.
With plug-and-play in-room devices and ongoing updates via network connectivity, centralised control represents a practical, future-ready solution for improving efficiency and enhancing resident experience in the buildings of today and the future.