Dynamic Energy Management in Edinburgh

Context

The KanAm Grund Group is an internationally active investment firm with a strong focus on sustainable real estate investments. Its property Quartermile 3, a modern office building in Edinburgh, serves as a prime example of future-oriented property management. In addition to active operational optimization, a dynamic electricity cost optimization strategy enables the full potential of time-of-use tariffs to be leveraged. This project clearly demonstrates how digital technologies can enhance both the sustainability and efficiency of buildings – delivering real value for operators and investors alike.

Key Facts

• Construction: 2018
• Type: Office
• Rental area: 9 000 m²
• Data Points: 11 500

Task

At KanAm Group’s Quartermile 3 property, the goal was to improve both energy efficiency and user comfort. A key objective was to take targeted advantage of favorable night-time electricity rates and to make room automation more flexible and intelligent.

Solution

Using the aedifion platform, an AI-supported room automation system was implemented that shifts energy-intensive processes – such as preconditioning – to night-time hours. As a result, operating costs were reduced while user comfortwas simultaneously improved.

Savings

13 % less energy costs (5,64 €/m²/a)

13 % less energy consumption (24,5 kWh/m²/a)

13 % less CO₂ emissions* (0,38  kg /m²/a)

*only including reduction of energy emissions

Measures & Achievements

To optimize building operations at Quartermile 3, an office property of the KanAm Grund Group, the aedifion platform was deployed with the .controls and .dynamics modules. The objective was to unlock energy savings while enhancing user comfort. The building automation system is based on a Trend system using the BACnet/IP protocol, encompassing over 11 000 data points. The key focus of the measures was the implementation of AI-based, adaptive room automation and intelligent demand side management designed to strategically leverage the building’s electricity tariff structure, taking advantage of lower night-time prices. Through predictive preconditioning of spaces during night hours, daytime energy demand was reduced while user comfort improved.
The results speak for themselves:
221 MWh/y of energy saved (equivalent to 11.5 % of annual consumption), 3.4 t CO₂/a in avoided emissions and 50 830 €/a in operating cost savings
These outcomes highlight the added value of digital building technologies and underscore the significant potential for sustainable efficiency gains in existing buildings.

Conclusion & Outlook

The successful implementation of AI-based room automation and demand side management at Quartermile 3 demonstrates the vast potential of data-driven building operations: lower energy costs, enhanced comfort, and future-proof performance. Building on these results, the remaining part of the property is now also being equipped with the .controls apps, including the scheduling function, as well as intelligent load management – paving the way for fully optimize integrated building control.

Customer Feedback

“Working with aedifion on the Quartermile 3 project was a complete success – not only due to the active operational optimization. Thanks to intelligent energy management, we were able to calibrate our time-of-use tariff effectively, reduce energy consumption, and actively benefit from electricity price fluctuations. This has allowed us to make building operations at Quartermile 3 significantly more efficient.”

Nicolas Vollmer | Asset Management Europe | KanAm Grund Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH

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