The Nieuwe Dokken is an ambitious and innovative building project on Schipperskaai in Ghent, where sustainable and comfortable living take centre stage. Thanks to OpenMotics automation, every residence in The Nieuwe Dokken is connected to a heat distribution grid that is fed by residual heat from the neighbouring firm, Christeyns. The heat consumption of the company is therefore optimised for the benefit of the residents.
OpenMotics makes it possible to control and monitor every action of a house, a building or even the entire district. What’s more, the data is used to fine-tune and optimise the consumption and production of local renewable energy.
Individual aspects
To start with, OpenMotics makes it possible to automate each apartment on an individual level (Smart Living). Every resident can participate in the smart energy district by signing up for OpenMotics services. Via a smartphone or tablet, the heating, sun blinds, lighting and ventilation can thus be controlled and monitored from one central platform.
Collective aspects
At a collective level too, OpenMotics plays an important role in the creation of a sustainable district (Smart Community). For example, every home is connected to the heating network, which uses residual heat from the nearby company Christeyns. In the past, that residual heat had to be actively cooled and represented pure energy loss; now, however, it is a source of energy for the district.
In addition to heating consumption, water consumption has been optimised. Wastewater and toilet water are collected centrally. The heat still present in the water is recovered via a heat pump, and the water is purified and returned to Christeyns as an input for its production activity.
Moreover, OpenMotics’ intelligent software is self-learning. This has two benefits: all energy management in the district is continuously optimised and the emission of greenhouse gases is minimised.
A true Smart Community
OpenMotics’ affordable, flexible and open system thus contributes in several ways to the creation of a Smart Community in which efficient energy management and the convenience and comfort of residents and owners are central.
