Vasakronan optimizes indoor climate with wireless technology
Vasakronan, one of Sweden’s largest real estate companies, has modernized the HVAC system at Gothenburg District Court using LumenRadio’s wireless technology. By implementing demand-controlled ventilation, Vasakronan has improved the indoor climate for tenants, saved energy, and enhanced the property’s value.
Vasakronan manages buildings across Sweden’s four largest cities and is recognized as one of the most sustainable companies globally by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB). The company prioritizes sustainability economically, environmentally, and socially. Offering flexible and demand-controlled indoor environments reduces energy consumption when spaces are unoccupied and enhances the daily experience for occupants.
HVAC retrofit
Previously, the ventilation at Gothenburg District Court ran 24/7, providing a climate suitable for full occupancy even during evenings and weekends when the building was underutilized. The building comprises four floors across two separate structures with different types of spaces and varying occupancy levels, requiring tailored ventilation solutions.
Daniel Henemyr, Vasakronan’s Technical Manager, collaborated with energy consultant IC Energy and system integrator Ventab to optimize the ventilation system. Variable air volume (VAV) dampers were installed and instead of traditional cabling, a wireless solution using LumenRadio’s W-Modbus was chosen.
The wireless approach simplified the project significantly. “We avoided shutting down operations, relocating tenants, or facing rental losses. Additionally, our costs were substantially lower compared to the extensive work required for cable installation,” says Daniel.
Mattias Gustafsson, System Integrator at Ventab, endorsed LumenRadio’s products for their reliability and reduced installation time.
“The control panel at the Court is deep in the basement. Using wireless technology avoided the need for cabling through multiple floors, minimizing disruption. I was impressed by how quickly and smoothly the installation was completed and foresee W-Modbus being used in many future projects,” he remarked.
Technical Details
A W-Modbus DIN rail unit with an external antenna was installed in the basement control panel. On the first floor, a W-Modbus unit acts as a repeater. Two W-Modbus Wall mount PRO devices per floor (one in each structure) were installed to control a total of eight VAV dampers per floor.
Future flexibility
The short installation time and the ability to maintain full operations during the project were significant benefits of choosing wireless technology. Additionally, the flexibility to integrate occupancy sensors and temperature controls in the future to further reduce energy consumption was appealing to Vasakronan.
“Climate optimization is a priority for us, both for energy savings and tenant satisfaction. Since the installation at the District Court, climate-related complaints have significantly decreased, and our tenants are now happy,” concluded Daniel from Vasakronan.
About W-Modbus:
W-Modbus replaces Modbus cables with reliable wireless mesh technology, enabling quick and easy installation, simplified planning, and increased project capacity.
