Author: April (Genius Hub)

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Are electric Far Infrared panels better than wet radiators?

Are electric Far Infrared panels better than wet radiators?

By: Alasdair Woodbridge

Managing Director at Genius Hub

Today I visited the beautiful Avenue Baptist Church in Southend-on-Sea. This is a church providing vital services to the local community, from playgroups for young families, to football clubs for the youth, to meals for the vulnerable and elderly, Avenue Baptist Church cater for all in the local community. 

The church have the environment in their sights as well, and feel passionately about reducing their carbon footprint, improving their environmental credentials and reducing energy costs, allowing them to channel the money saved into front line services.

With an antiquated and expensive to run gas heating system connected to wet radiators heating tall rooms, this meant that the cost of keeping the church warm for the various activities was mounting up. Using traditional radiators was not right for the tall rooms where all of the heat (hot air) would rise up to the top of the building leaving those using the rooms cold and the cost of heating astronomically high.

The solution was to swap to Far Infrared panels from Whytelight Solutions. These heating panels being Infrared mean that they heat the people and the objects in the room and not the air. Because they don’t heat the air this saves a lot of energy as in tall buildings the hot air simply rises up into the high ceilings and is no use to anyone up there!

The environmental credentials of these Far Infrared heating panels comes from the upwards of 50% reduction in energy required to heat the building to the same comfort levels, and purchasing the electricity from a green and renewable electricity tariff. Also, they now have little in the way of maintenance costs for the church for at least the next 15 years. Some similar sites also offset some of the electricity used for the heating by installing solar PV, and feeding it back into the grid in the summer months making the site as a whole carbon neutral.

 

Genius Hub are providing the control of these new electric heating panels. We not only offer zoned control of each room from an app, but also occupancy detection, so any zone can easily be set up so it only comes on when people are using the room. This is done with a little occupancy sensor in the room and this automatically turns the heating off when the room is left, giving peace of mind to the Deacons (management) of the church that energy will not be wasted heating empty rooms and saving the church a lot of money.

After the installation I interviewed Dr. Terence Lewis (project manager), proprietor of Energyst Consulting and also a member of the congregation, about why he went down the Far Infrared route and why he chose smart controls. This is what he had to say:

'Having used smart heating controls previously it was clearly the only way forward. I believe it is the future, offering maximum savings for minimum cost.

We chose Genius Hub because they came highly recommended by Whytelight, the specifiers of the Far Infrared panels. I was not concerned about this "new" technology because I did a lot of research before I started. There is a lot of information and proof now that this sort of technology is both reliable and future proof.

Designing the new heating system was easy, I designed it in partnership with Peter Whyte from Whytelight who did a thorough design of the lighting and also the heating. From what I’ve seen so far, my first impressions of Genius Hub have impressed me, especially with its ease of use and flexibility. It can control the church's new electric heating and we may be able to expand it to control the underfloor and radiators in the rest of the church if budgets allow.

We’re aiming for in excess of 45% savings on the energy bills because we are combining the Far Infrared technology with the better control and LED lighting. We know that Genius Hub alone can save upwards of 30% so that, with swapping the old wet radiators to Far Infrared heaters the savings will all stack up quickly. Another important consideration is we are very motivated to look after God's planet, reducing the toxic emissions from the old gas boilers is all part of looking after the planet, as well as the cost savings being a benefit.

We were pleased that the installation has been done by local contractors (Green Energy Electrical) who we knew, they have worked very well considering access challenges on the site within a busy occupied building.

One of the things that we particularly liked about the Far Infrared is the air in the building will be healthier, we suffer from terrible over heating issues in the church, and it can often feel stuffy and too hot, because Far Infrared does not heat the air it heats the people and the objects in the room this will no longer be an issue, it is going to be much easier to control it all with the Genius Hub too.

I'm also looking forward to integrating the Genius Hub into the online church booking management system using IFTTT, as I've heard that's what other churches that have the system do, thereby enabling the right heat in the right place at the right time - all automatically.

In conclusion, really, I'm already looking forward to next winter when we can give the system a really good trial and demonstrate the predicted savings and reduced carbon footprint!'

Genius Hub control both wet and electric heating in a number of churches around the UK. If this is of interest then please don't hesitate to get in touch with me directly or contact the office on: enquiry@geniushub.co.uk or 0121 667 8000.
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Genius Hub / EOGB with OpenTherm

Please note! This trial has now been completed. For further information on EOGB’s OpenTherm boiler please see their website: https://www.eogb.co.uk/domestic-applications/

 

Genius Hub has partnered with EOGB to bring to market the first OpenTherm controlled oil boiler. OpenTherm has the potential to bring our boilers into the 21st century providing more control than ever before.

EOGB have created the first and only OpenTherm controlled modulating oil boiler, and we have an exciting opportunity for 5 customers.

Would you like to test EOGB’s new boiler using an OpenTherm enabled Genius Hub?

Benefits of the new modulating boiler system:

  • Increased fuel efficiency of up to 13% (as shown by latest efficiency tests)
  • Great visibility of what your boiler is doing via OpenTherm
  • At the end of the trial, you can choose to purchase the boiler if you wish – 80% discount from the RRP
  • Free installation and removal if you choose not to keep the boiler
  • Free Genius Hub upgrade
In order to qualify, you must meet all of the following criteria:
  • MUST have a Oil boiler
  • Less than 3 hours travel time from Birmingham
  • Boiler load requirement between 15kW and 32kW (3+ bedroom house)
  • Heat only boiler – no built in pump / expansion tank
  • Subject to site survey

If the above is of interest to you, please get in touch at beta@heatgenius.co.uk

Please note that the above is offered on ‘first come, first served’ basis.

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Genius Hub w/ Cornish Partner Channel

Cornish_Partner Channel We had Morecambe & Wise, The Two Ronnies, Cannon & Ball & now Mr. Electric has the 2 Al’s! The @Cornish_Partner Channel, @MrElectriccornw was proud to present Super QS Big Al Denham & Alasdair @HeatGenius Woodbridge.

Video is below!

https://www.facebook.com/CornishPartnerships/videos/356617641581432/

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Our MD speaks to Cornwall

It was a great pleasure to be speaking live on air with presenter Andy Coote on his Thank Source it’s Friday show last Friday (5th November) morning at around 11am.

Tune in to Source FM 96.1 each week to listen to topical discussions. When I was with Andy we discussed our award winning Genius Hub wireless heating control system, how it can cut your heating bills, reduce your carbon footprint and increase your comfort.

This is a great place to start if your thinking about installing heating controls. On the show I talk about the types of building that are suitable, the costs and payback, available grants (Genius Hub now has Carbon Trust Accreditation), how the Genius Hub system can save money for both Domestic and Commercial customers and how Genius Hub continues to support its customers post installation.

Andy, a writer from Penryn, is not only a presenter at Source FM, he is also Chair of Falmouth Business Club. He is heavily involved with networking with local businesses.

I thank Andy for the opportunity to join him and I look forward to spending more time in Cornwall over the coming months with the various projects that are soon to start.

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James Loden – Underfloor heating

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JAMES LODEN

CASE STUDY

Jamie  Loden spent 14 years in the Army and now works for Barclays Bank, currently in their operations and technology division, having previously spent 7 years heading up operations in Africa, where he was involved with their digital app products. Jamie enjoys running and recently completed the London Marathon in under 4 hours. When Jamie, his wife Sarah, 3 children and 4 dogs, returned to the UK they looked for a property, a family home that would suit their lifestyleie

They found and purchased a property that had only one previous owner. It was built in 1989 and had had no alterations made since. Downstairs was the original open fireplace providing the only heat, while upstairs had electric night storage heaters. 

This was not sufficient or efficient and was expensive to run, so everything was removed as part of an extensive renovation. This included under-floor heating (UFH) to the lower level, new radiators upstairs, new hot water system, triple glazing and heating controls to control the UFH and upstairs heating.

Why Underfloor Heating?
Jamie did not want radiators occupying the wall space – especially as there were none to start with and he knew UFH was an option. He started looking into it to understand how it works.

He had watched Grand Designs, but they could not dig up all of the floors as required. Also, there were lots of horror stories about digging up floors. They could have chosen another system that uses microbore pipe in concrete, but having to raise the floor level was also not possible in their case and would have resulted in slow warm-up times and lack of responsiveness.

Further research on renovation and trade websites led to them finding JK Floor Heating (JK). Their website had many pictures of the same type of house as his, so Jamie could see they had experience with his problem. JK had a strong presence in Europe, but were relatively new in the UK, however, they offered a new revolutionary UFH system that did not need floors to be dug up or raised. The pipes would be cut into the existing floor, then covered with the new floor covering.

Jamie sent off a set of floor plans and they returned a quote and offered to conduct a site visit to do a cut test – all free of charge. While at the house, JK staff listened to what the family wanted from the system and explained what would happen and how it would work. However, the flooring company expressed concern about putting flooring directly against the pipes of the UFH, with only glue between the pipes and the wood. A letter from JK confirming that it was a low-temperature system overcame these concerns. 

UFH was slightly more expensive, but taking into account the cost of putting in radiators downstairs instead, the additional benefits of UFH outweighed the minimal increase in cost. The enthusiasm and detailed information provided during the site visit helped Jamie take the decision to go ahead with the installation. He was confident that they knew what they were doing.

Which heating controls?
Adding a state-of-the-art  system was a necessity to achieve energy efficiencies, improve the running costs and to ensure that the family had control over the UFH system and the upstairs radiators. JK had a recognised partner for controls, so this was an obvious starting point. Genius Hub offers automatic room-by-room heating control at an affordable price, controllable through a simple app.

Jamie looked at comparative reviews, which were good and other reviews were excellent, so he had no concerns about the system that Genius Hub could provide. He had looked into alternative control systems, but having the UFH pipes much closer to the surface meant that the heating is much more responsive and therefore perfect for the Genius Hub occupancy detection control.

Genius Hub offered complete control of the whole house at room level, which was important for the family. The property is detached and a number of rooms have two external walls, so are quite different in the way they behave. Two bedrooms and the dining room face North. These require a higher level of heat.

The family dogs use a utility room to dry out after wet or winter walks, so they need the room control to raise the temperature in response to the extra demand. Jamie told us, “The overall trend in home automation is moving away from one central room thermostat, so zoning was the only way to go”.

What about the installer process?
The full scope of the renovation project took 11 weeks. The installation of the UFH system fitted in well and the installation team were at the property twice. They worked efficiently and professionally and the process was extremely unobtrusive. The manifold under the stairs had no impact on space or aesthetics and the second one, in the utility room, is housed alongside a standard boiler. Jamie told us that this has been a “retrofit with no compromises on the floor height and the issues around the doors”. The system was installed and ready to use straight away.

Jamie used his own boiler engineers to install the Genius Hub system. They looked at the parts and decided they would do it. They did find it to be harder than anticipated, having not installed a Genius Hub system before, but the installation manual was clear and there are plenty of online help videos. Jamie told us that on the one occasion they used the phone tech support, the service provided was “second to none”. The successful installation led to Jamie’s boiler engineers being taken on-board as part of Genius Hub Pro-Installers team.

Conclusion?
Responsiveness of the UFH was an important factor. Being able to raise and lower the temperature in specific rooms was key. In winter, there was a requirement to raise the temperature in the study at certain times. Jamie told us that the room that the dogs use is “phenomenally responsive”. People had told him that he would wait two hours to feel the difference when demanding more heat, but in reality it is more like 10-15 minutes with the tiled floors.

Installation of the Genius Hub is quick, easy and causes no disruption because it creates its own wireless network. Fixed wireless repeaters ensure the connection is rock-solid. He states, “You cannot go back once you have zonal control”, adding “Think of life before mobile phones, where there were only landlines – that is the difference. Initially people said that mobile phones would never catch on!”

Jamie and his family are happy with the outcomes of installing both the UFH and Genius Hub and have been making recommendations to friends.

Book your free Genius Hub survey here!

Take a look at other case studies and how our customers are saving 30% off their heating bills.
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Visit JK Floorheating

JK floorheating provides innovative underfloor heating solutions with a revolutionary installation method.
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Bossington Hall

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BOSSINGTON HALL

CASE STUDY

PORLOCK

Elevated high above the beautiful Vale of Porlock, Bossington Hall is an unusual property, where a beautiful and well-appointed stately home has been converted into very high-class self-catered accommodation with 15 guest rooms and 14 bathrooms. “The building pulls together modern comfort with 1920s elegance.”

Taking only exclusive-use bookings, the Hall has large public rooms as well as very generous bedrooms, making it a great venue for both family gatherings and corporate events alike. Owner Guy Dewdney purchased the Hall in 2016. He installed the Genius Hub in Spring 2017 to reduce the risk of guests leaving the heating on high all week, resulting in not only excessive costs but also the likelihood of unexpectedly running out of oil.

How did you hear about Genius Hub?
Bossington Hall actively researched their issue of lack of control and discussed it online with other owners of large homes. They found that their property was too large for the majority of domestic systems on the market, and yet they did not use enough fuel to warrant the expense of a large Building Energy Management System (BEMS).

They found that Genius Hub was recommended on forums including Money Savings Expert.

Why Genius Hub?
Genius Hub is unique – making it a market leader in what it can achieve. The system is designed to provide a solution even in the most complex buildings.

Working with the client at the design stage generates a comprehensive understanding of the building and the real requirements of the client. Genius Hub provides something that no other system offers: its USP is that all the historical data is recorded. Guy told us that, “With Genius Hub, you can see what it is actually doing”, adding, “The larger systems don’t seem to do the data recording at all!”

What were the main considerations before the purchase?
There were a number of factors considered.

Price was clearly one of them, but comparing the overall cost of other smaller systems, there was no great difference. Simplicity and speed of the installation process were important (it was installed in two days). Ease of use of the app was critical. Guy told us, “It is really good. All the stuff I need without the fluff.”

Bossington Hall wanted to make sure that communication and support would be clear and concise. They found from the outset that Genius Hub have highly trained support staff who understand the system. Guy also said, “A UK first response team was a real plus”.

What were your first impressions of the Genius Hub?

Genius Hub has been around for a long time and has established a good solid reputation. The knowledgeable staff, with a good understanding of the Genius Hub system, underpins this reputation. Guy told us that there are other companies which are either new to the market or do not offer the same level of expertise. He specified the system knowing that Genius Hub works well in buildings like his.

Guy said that he felt that, “The world of BEMS is very closed and you need to understand computer programming to be able to use it. The Genius Hub in comparison gives you more control and it is really easy to use.”

How much has Genius Hub cut their bills?
Having the historical data recorded means that Bossington Hall can evaluate the effectiveness of the Genius Hub at any given time.

At this stage, they report comfortable savings of 20% off their annual bill. However, Guy said, “More importantly, it’s not only the savings, but how guests comment about how warm the Hall is now, which was never the case before”. He believes he could be saving more, but this was as much about giving extra comfort to guests, as saving energy.

Have they benefited in any other way?
Bossington Hall enjoy receiving positive comments from guests about how nice it is to have individual controls in their rooms.

Guy told us he was concerned that guests would play with the controls and he initially watched the system “like a hawk” to see if the temperatures needed adjusting.

He can now see if the system is boosted by a guest but has discovered that, in the main, it is left alone. This suggests that he is getting the room temperatures near enough right from the start.

Book your free Genius Hub survey here!

Take a look at other case studies and how our customers are saving 30% off their heating bills.
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The magnificent country house is totally surrounded by National Trust land, and is elevated above the beautiful Vale of Porlock.
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Scottish Borders Council

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M&V REPORT PDF

SCOTTISH BORDERS COUNCIL

CASE STUDY

SCOTLAND

Scottish Borders Council is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. The Council is responsible for the provision of all local government services to approximately 115,000 people, living in around 1,800 square miles of South East Scotland. The Council headquarters are located in Newtown St Boswells and comprise open-plan office spaces, small cellular offices, council chambers

Jack Caldwell, Energy and Buildings Officer, is engaged to source and implement energy efficiency measures within budget throughout the Scottish Borders estate, with a view to reducing their carbon footprint.

Why did they choose Genius Hub?
Heating controls were needed to address the infrequent and unpredictable use of the rooms. There had been a number of complaints about the cellular offices being over and under-heated, and in addition, some offices were only being used for part of the day. The conference rooms had no heating controls at all.

Jack explained that the system would have to be integrated with existing infrastructure and it was important that it should be managed and maintained on-site and in-house. Additionally, the cost of the system had to be justified by the savings that would be achieved.

 

What was the main concern?
Genius Hub was seen as a new technology. Although the Council was aware of the system working within similar buildings, it had not previously used it in any of their estate.

What did they like about the system?
The Genius Hub system has occupancy detection which provides a new level of control based on the occupancy of the rooms.

Jack tells us that he did have discussions with other companies, but he felt that their solutions were cumbersome and very expensive. Other building control companies for example, offered a one- off bespoke system but that made it really expensive and needed engineers to be on-site to program it.

He adds, “The whole Genius Hub setup was done off-site and then the installation was really fast and easy.”

 

What were your first impressions of the Genius Hub?
Genius Hub is a comprehensive retrofit solution for creating energy efficiencies, reducing energy costs and reducing carbon footprint. The system is designed to work with existing systems seamlessly. Jack told us he was impressed that Genius Hub did not hide the fact that this was a new sector for them. Jack went on to say, “Wet radiators, electric heating, MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery) – in fact I don’t think there is much they (Genius Hub) can’t do!”

Jack recognised that not only were Genius Hub market leaders, but they were providing a unique solution.

The M&V (Monitoring and Verification) that Genius Hub offered meant that any tweaks needed were identified and constantly updated. This report found an average saving of 21% over the course of one year, since the installation of the Genius Hub system in April 2018. An additional 12% + 9% saving (totalling 42%) could be potentially achieved by controlling the boilers and pumps together, where as currently the Genius Hub is only controlling the main circulation pumps and the individual rooms.

How was the installation?
Jack explains to us, “New technologies can make people nervous, especially when there may be changes to how systems are managed. At no point during the installation process were our maintenance team nervous, as it was all very clearly explained and the interaction with our boilers and existing systems was very straightforward.”

The whole Genius Hub installation process was underpinned with clear, concise communication.

Jack continues, “The worst thing to happen during the install is when everyone goes… what do we do? Genius Hub went straight to the solution – which is just what we want. The installation teams themselves were excellent. Tidying up after themselves and at all times remaining quiet and respectful of the people around them.”

“Not everything went to plan, but this was not a bad thing. It showed us how Genius Hub dealt with problems and we were impressed and gained further confidence that we can give Genius Hub any building and they will be able to deal with it.”

What were your staffs impressions of the Genius Hub?
Genius Hub is user-friendly and keeps things simple. Staff find using and interacting with Genius Hub good and it is easy to use.

Jack concludes by saying, “To be honest – the fact that we’ve had very little feedback is a good thing.”

He continues, “People can be quick to pick up negatives, and for me as the energy manager always looking for ways to save energy across our estate, no comment is a good thing… so, the fact that it is saving us on our heating costs and no one has noticed is a really good thing in my view.”

In conclusion, installation of Genius Hub has been a successful pilot project, which has led to it being rolled out.

Book your free Genius Hub survey here!

Take a look at other case studies and how our customers are saving 30% off their heating bills.
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Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club

CM Golf Club Photo Caravan
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CM Golf Club Lodge

CLEOBURY MORTIMER GOLF CLUB

CASE STUDY

WEST MIDLANDS

Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club is found on the Shropshire and Worcestershire border. It has 27 holes split into three 9’s named the Deer Park, Badgers Sett and Foxes Run and is surrounded by scenic rural views. Founded in 1993 by Robert and Graham Pain and designed with Ray Baldwin, Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club is the perfect venue to host many events including the Worcestershire Open Pro AM and some of the biggest charity golf days in the West Midlands. The course continues to improve year on year, their website states it “provides just about everything to satisfy the modern day golfer, their families and their friends.”

The Clubhouse bears all the facilities that a traditional club has to offer including a bar, dining area and conservatory. Set in 200 acres of countryside with views of the Wyre Forest, the Wyre Suite Function Room can cater for Weddings, Exhibitions, Conferences and more. Additionally there are four 4 star self catering lodges available to rent that offer living and dining space with a comfortable, contemporary finish throughout.

The lodges sit next to the course and have views of the loch and course creating the perfect relaxing spot after a day of golf or visiting one of the many local attractions.

How did you hear about Genius Hub?
Genius Hub presented their zoned heating system at the Business Energy Efficiency Programme Conference in March this year.

Why smart heating controls?
The harsh winter that just past has cost considerably more than could have been expected for the golf club. A quarter of the usual annual spend was spent in one month. This cost left the company vulnerable. It led to them having the tank and boiler pressure tested as concerns arose that there may actually be a gas leak which was not the case.

One of the owners, Graham told us: “We thought that we’d get the rest of the year from the last fill of LPG and then it ended up only lasting a month!” They needed to keep guests happy but had no control in doing this.

Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club already have Biomass and other energy efficiency measures like solar thermal for the showers and increased insulation. They wanted to further improve their Green Credentials and decided that tackling the increased cost of the LPG was an opportunity to combine both.

Furthermore, the lodges are situated away from the main building and were either too hot or too cold. Staff would walk to the lodges to adjust the heating manually which itself is not efficient so adding state of the art zoned heating control ticked all of the boxes.

Was there anything to be concerned about?
Genius Hub offered the flexible control that Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club wanted and it was simple to use. Each of the 4 lodges is identical but they needed to control them individually and collectively. They thought that getting one system to cover all would be impossible.

“Businesses need to have control over their overheads” we were told by Graham, “this was difficult and the company feels that it is defenceless against the rising price of LPG.” Bing in a rural area they were limited to certain suppliers and were particularly vulnerable to getting deliveries of LPG in adverse weather conditions. 

Graham explains that “Freezing temperatures meant the delivery may not even arrive when we need it.” They needed to reduce the number of deliveries required to reduce this issue and become less susceptible to price hikes.

Why Genius Hub?
Graham told us, “he felt that Genius Hub was a technological system that offered all the flexibility we needed.” Genius Hub offered a room-by-room heating control with fixed wireless repeaters to ensure the connection is rock-solid and it is controlled by a simple app. Graham adds “Genius Hub were a local company with local installers and salesmen, which was important to us.”

What were your first impressions of the Genius Hub?
Installation of the Genius Hub system was completed within one or two days. It can be done as part of a normal room turn around causing no disruption to guests. Time and care is taken to carry out a free survey and to understand the needs and requirements of the business. The system is designed to provide a specifically tailored solution

Graham tells us, ”Installation was very smooth and well explained by the salesman.” he continues “We were only interested in someone who was willing to come by and see the buildings and survey them. Some other companies tried to quote over the phone and that simply wouldn’t work for are individual requirements.”

CM Golf Club Interior Bed

Can Genius Hub cut their bills?
Genius Hub can offer at least 30% energy savings, but it all depends how it’s used. Genius Hub can provide independent verification of these savings if required.

Have the lodges benefited in any other way?
The lodges have underfloor heating. As a result of guests not understanding it, they increase the temperature to max resulting in the lodge becoming overheated after a few hours, creating spikes in the temperature.

Windows would then be opened to cool the lodge back down. Graham said, “Now they can boost the system from the Genius Hub thermostat in the lodge and after 3 hours it will automatically go back to the settings that we set at reception.” 

Graham concludes, “this is so much better than what we had before, where all of that money that we’d spent on heating was far too often going straight out of the window!”

CM Golf Club Photo Caravan
CM Golf Club Interior

Book your free Genius Hub survey here!

Take a look at other case studies and how our customers are saving 30% off their heating bills.
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Book in to Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club

A friendly approach to golf, Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club provides just about everything to satisfy the modern day golfer.
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Genius Hub + IFTTT

IFTTT
IFTTT Banner

Genius Hub already gives you advanced control of your heating, but our new IFTTT functionality lets you go even further. For example, you can use our Genius Hub IFTTT applets to:

  • Use your Genius sensors to receive an alert whenever motion is detected
  • Turn on your heating when you get near your home, based on your phone’s location

No need to only use the applets we’ve provided, though! You can easily create your own applets to link your 

Genius Hub system with the thousands of other devices that are compatible with IFTTT. Here’s how:

  1. Sign up and log into ifttt.com and link your Genius Hub, if you’ve not done so already.
  2. Click on your username in the top right and select “New Applet”. You should be greeted with “if this then that” in big letters.
  3. Click “this”, search for your device/app (e.g. ‘Genius Hub’) and pick a trigger that will start your applet.
  4. Then click “that” and follow the steps to pick an action for your applet to carry out.
  5. Choose a name for your applet, and whether or not to receive mobile notifications when the trigger fires.
  6. Click “Finish” to make your applet live.

Note some fields may take a few seconds to load as they fetch data from your Hub. If you need any more information on how to set up IFTTT, have a look on the IFTTT web site or our support page.

Do more with Genius Hub...

Take control of your Hot Water, Underfloor Heating, Radiator Valves and even Lighting all from one central hub.
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Feel free to let us know on Facebook or Twitter which clever applets you’ve created!

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Moxhull Hall

MH Front
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MH Front

MOXHULL HALL HOTEL CASE STUDY

WEST MIDLANDS

Moxhull Hall is a stunning Victorian property built by Howard Ryland, Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire and Lord of the Manor of Moxhull and Wishaw, after the old hall burned down. It was a private home until it was converted into a hotel in 1969. More recently, the current owner, Andreas Kalavanas, who took it over in 2004 and carried out a major refurbishment of the property that is complimented by eight acres of beautifully landscaped gardens. They proudly claim that a trip to Moxhull Hall is not complete without “taking a trip outside”.

Moxhull Hall is the perfect venue for events, conferences, overnight stays and more specifically weddings. The hotel prides itself on what it has to offer – Accommodation that is grand and modern; achieving contemporary interior design and gardens with charming features, providing a feast for the senses and fantastic photo opportunities to capture the special day both by day and night. The Moxhull team are welcoming and experienced and are focused on offering a friendly, personal service ensuring that needs are catered for, and guests leave feeling well looked after.

How did you hear about Genius Hub?
Hotel and Catering magazine ran an article about the Genius Hub system, which was very well written.

Why smart heating controls?
Improving and maintaining individual guest experience is of paramount importance. The problem was with the heating in the Courtyard and Cottages which are separated from the main hotel by about 200 metres. The rooms were either too hot or too cold.

Why Genius Hub?
Moxhull Hall wanted heating controls that could cater for the specific needs of guests. They didn’t want staff to continue with constantly adjusting the heating or housekeepers switching it off and then forgetting to switch it back on. Having done research and been aware of other systems the decision was taken to have the free survey from Genius Hub. 

The subsequent proposal and language of the article seen previously was consistent, and showed that it “clearly looked like it would do the job well” said Andreas.

Was there anything to be concerned about?
There were no concerns. When talking about the technical knowledge of the engineer, Andreas said it was obvious that Genius Hub “knew what they were talking about.” 

The consistency in what was advertised, proposed and installed leads to a view that Genius Hub were clearly “experts in the field of smart heating.”

 

What were their first impressions of Genius Hub?
Installation of the Genius Hub is quick, easy and causes no disruption as it was done as part of a normal room changeover. It creates its own wireless network. Fixed wireless repeaters ensure the connection is rock-solid. Trained installers fitted the system in two days and even went to the trouble of installing a new consumer unit in one of the buildings, “solving a different issue we had with the electrics.” Says Andreas.

 

Housekeepers no longer control the heating. This had been a big problem, as they would forget to turn it back on when they had finished cleaning a room. Even though the reception team can see the temperature of every room and it can be monitored remotely, Andreas tells us “I like how the system has run itself and I’ve not even had to log onto it.” 

Complaints about heating were normal prior to installation, guests would complain about the rooms being cold. Since the installation there have been none.

MH Bedroom Valve

Can Genius Hub cut their bills?
Moxhull Hall have a Biomass heating system and as such, cost saving was not the priority for them, however Andreas tells us that they would “definitely recommend” the Genius Hub system as costs are a “massive burden on any business.” Genius Hub can offer at least 30% energy savings, but it all depends how it is used – savings are higher when rooms are left empty for several hours.

Previously, rooms would have been heated all day, even though they were empty, or left with the heating off and guests were then entering cold rooms. The system also identifies and automatically shuts off the radiator when the window is open, thus not wasting heat out of an open window.

Has the hotel benefitted in any other way?
Moxhull Hall is already a high-end wedding venue, guest perception is very important. Wedding guests are in and out of the rooms all day and they check in earlier than business guests do. The Genius Hub system means they can manage the individual zones turning the heating on and improving the guest experience in specific rooms, and of course also helps to reduce costs. 

Guest’s perception is important at Moxhull Hall. Andreas tells us “guests really appreciate it when you spend money on something that you don’t really need to” he continues, “They really appreciate the small touches, so we have tried to add things to make them as comfortable as we can.”

MH Reception

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