When Yves Desmet (55) had a new home built nine years ago, he opted for a future-proof home: superior insulation, underfloor heating, ventilation and smart controls. Yves explains: “I like to look to the future, and nine years later, it's clear – insulation has become even more important, just like renewable energy. An energy management system has since become just as indispensable as heating.” The focus of that smart system has been extended over the years from increasing comfort to saving energy and money. Thanks to software updates, Niko Home Control continues to adapt to new needs and circumstances.
No battery needed
Yves is now driving an electric car that he has charged up with free solar power all summer. “I don't need a home battery – I can just put the overflow power in my car. One tip: do choose a car charger that allows for load balancing.”
Yves pulls out his self-consumption charts. “In May, we covered 36% of our power consumption with our solar panels – in June, 52%, and in July, 56%. Sunday 28 July was the best day: the solar panels produced 43 kWh then, of which we consumed 88% ourselves, in particular for the car. The charts and energy flows give me ever greater insight, meaning my self-consumption percentage goes up by itself every month.”
The future
In roughly five years, when his wall-hung gas boiler is due for replacement, Yves is planning to invest in a heat pump, so he can also reduce his gas consumption to zero and consume even more of his own power. This is all thanks to his smart energy system, which is continuing to evolve.
