_ESG: Knight Frank working with LightFi to create green, energy efficient buildings using smart tech

Since 2020, Knight Frank has been trialling LightFi’s innovative climate technology that helps give buildings what they need, when they need it, for half the energy. Like us, LightFi is on a mission to improve people’s lives and environments – creating buildings which are good for the planet and for the people who work in them.

February 03, 2022

Here, we take a look at what LightFi has achieved so far, why it's so important for the real estate sector, and how Knight Frank is working with them towards a greener future.

What is LightFi?

LightFi is a Proptech SME that uses real-time occupancy data to save energy, optimise space & provide a healthy working environment - in line with the race to net zero.

In 2021, The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) invested in the tech, and commented: ''The investment will see projects across the country develop new technologies that increase energy efficiency in homes and buildings, reduce carbon emissions, boost the UK’s energy security and provide cleaner ways to generate power and heat. The investment will see the projects play a key part in the UK’s green industrial revolution, putting British business at the forefront of green innovation - helping to generate green jobs and kick-start millions of pounds of private sector investment'’.

How does their technology work?

LightFi designs hardware and software tech to help users achieve their energy and resource reduction goals and allows them to monitor their buildings remotely via a dashboard with detailed insights.

Their easy-to-install solution can be retrofitted or installed in new-builds, and uses Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to measure in-room conditions such as air quality, pollution and occupancy.

A single LightFi Base sensor in a building can save as much carbon as planting 500 trees.

Why is this technology important for real estate?

Buildings account for 40% of global emissions and in the UK, 30% of emissions come from the building industry, mainly through operational in-use from: heating, cooling and electricity usage (UKGBC, 2019).

LightFi’s ultimate goal of this project is to deliver energy savings and significant carbon emission reductions – which all feeds into the sector’s drive to become net-zero by 2030. The more buildings this technology is installed in the better – as a variety of commercial building and occupancy types can benefit from the savings.

How does it help reduce energy consumption in practice?

By knowing how many people are using a particular space, LightFi can ensure that the building is only using the resources it needs – no more, no less. For example, when occupancy levels are low, LightFi automatically reduces energy consumption when not needed.

LightFi's IoT technology and its integration for specific building automation and control strategies has the potential to reduce a building's HVAC energy consumption by up to 50% (depending on the HVAC infrastructure and exactly how the building is controlled).

While reducing energy use, LightFi technology also has the potential to improve indoor air quality and thermal comfort during times of high occupancy, contributing to improved wellbeing & productivity of occupants.

How will Knight Frank be working with LightFi?

We’re strong believers that with technology and natural solutions we can combat climate change. We've been trialling the solution in our global headquarters for over 12 months, and so far are impressed with the insights and importantly, the potential savings of circa £50,000 in the building's south wing alone.

Our goal is to utilise the relationships we have internally with clients, facility/building managers and surveyors, facilitating access to receptive commercial real estate owners and occupiers prepared to enable the LightFi technology to be deployed in their assets and portfolios. This will inform future strategies around mass deployment of the innovation through the UK (and global) existing building stock.

For 2022, we will be working with LightFi to install the technology into as many varied building typologies as possible, to contribute towards the net zero goals that many of our clients, customers and peers share.

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