KARUS takes a major step forward in modernizing and digitalizing its energy management. Thanks to the integration of a central Building Management System (BMS) by Jansen Smart Solutions, separate heating plants and controls are being integrated. Together with the rollout of a heating network, this leads to significant energy savings. Since 2021, gas consumption across all sites has decreased by an impressive 33% or 2,500 MWh.
KARUS is a well-known name in the East Flanders healthcare landscape. The non-profit organization offers a broad spectrum of treatment programs for children, young people, and adults with psychological problems and their environment. Currently spread across 2 campuses and 24 buildings, they ultimately aim to organize alls residential care on the 32-hectare site in Merelbeke-Melle. Since 2020, KARUS has been systematically working on improving the sustainability and efficiency of its energy supply. An important milestone was reached at the end of 2024 with the rollout of a local heating network that now provides heat to 8 buildings and will later be expanded to 14 buildings. Hot water preparation in summer will be done using decentralized air-to-water heat pump boilers, allowing the central heating plant and heating network to be switched off. Jansen Smart Solutions plays a crucial role in integrating all separate heating plants and technical installations within a centralized BMS (building management system).
“This BMS ensures that all heating, ventilation, and control systems work together seamlessly. This allows us to optimize energy consumption and control processes more efficiently. This smart digitalization not only helps KARUS reduce operational costs but also contributes to its sustainability goals,” opens Jo Deceuninck, COO business & solutions at Jansen Smart Solutions.
Energy Savings up to 33%
The impact of this digitalization is remarkable. In some buildings, such as PVT De Wadi, energy consumption decreased by 22% in just one year. “Without major structural changes to the installations or building envelope, purely through smart control and visualization,” explains Dirk Focquet, infrastructure staff member at KARUS. “Across all buildings, gas consumption has even decreased by 33% since 2021, from 8,400 MWh to 5,900 MWh.”
Not only at the Merelbeke-Melle campus but also in Ghent, a uniform system is applied. This ensures consistent monitoring and simpler management. Important functions such as urgent alarms, DECT integration, and consumption measurement of water, gas, and electricity are configured in the same way everywhere. This increases efficiency and makes future expansions easier.
Quick Response and Thorough Knowledge
“The central building management system is a real game-changer. For each building, we seamlessly align the heating curves and time regimes with the thermal performance of the building envelope and occupancy rate. This results in a dual benefit: optimized consumption and more comfort for our care seekers and employees,” says Dirk.
Reliability and expertise played a major role in choosing a partner. Dirk emphasizes: “We had worked with Jansen Smart Solutions before and were always satisfied with their quick response and thorough knowledge. The short communication lines and their solution-oriented thinking were decisive factors for us. The collaboration with Dries, Jo, and their team runs very smoothly.”
EMS and DALI Integration: the Next Steps
The combination of a modern BMS, a smartly controlled heating network, and advanced monitoring tools prepares KARUS’s campuses for the future. Thanks to Jansen Smart Solutions, it optimizes its energy management, reduces costs, and achieves more efficient and sustainable buildings.
However, the digitalization effort at KARUS doesn’t stop here. “We are continuing to work on implementing an Energy Management System (EMS). This system will provide even deeper insights into energy consumption and optimization possibilities. Additionally, the campus outdoor lighting will be integrated into the BMS using DALI technology. This enables smart lighting control, which also contributes to energy savings,” concludes Dries De Groote, COO projects at Jansen Smart Solutions.
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