After joining the Ento platform in summer 2024, Kim Hansen, energy manager at AAB Aarhus, quickly identified significant potential energy savings within the organisation’s building portfolio, as well as an opportunity to avoid substantial district heating penalties. High return temperatures, a common issue in district heating systems, can trigger these penalties, which incentivise efficient energy usage and ensure the stability of the heating network.

“There were apartments that had significant issues with the return temperature, but we had no way of detecting which ones. We could only see from the main meter that the return temperature was too high, without being able to pinpoint the source," explains Kim Hansen. 

AAB realised that not taking action would lead to expenses of 1,6 million DKK.Thus, a project group was put together and Kim Hansen started experimenting with different software programs. When he finally started using Ento, he quickly realised how the platform could help him see the bigger picture and identify which buildings are contributing to the problem and take action accordingly.

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Optimised resource allocation for more impact

Before using Ento, Kim Hansen spent considerable time searching for savings opportunities without a clear view of which ones offered the greatest potential. This resulted in resources being allocated to projects that were ultimately not worthwhile. With the help of Ento’s AI, Kim Hansen now receives a prioritised list of suggested measures that tells him what optimisations to focus on.

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“I check Ento daily. It helps me to prioritise my tasks for the day and tells me where it is easiest to save money.”
Kim Hansen, Energy Manager, AAB Aarhus

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Six months in, Kim Hansen has implemented 20 actions, with 15 of them specifically targeting district heating tariffs. These measures alone have contributed to the majority of ABB's total savings. One such example is adjusting the circuit temperature in one building. The action significantly reduced return temperatures and led to verified savings of over 112,000 DKK annually, demonstrating how small, targeted optimisations – when guided by data – can lead to huge financial benefits.

Ento further allows him to track cumulative savings over time, providing a clear overview of the financial impact of the energy optimisation measures. As a result, his workflow has become significantly more efficient compared to using other systems.

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AI-powered troubleshooting: A smarter way to identify issues

To diagnose heating system inefficiencies more effectively, Kim Hansen uses Ento’s AI Suggestions feature. When he notices that a heating system isn't running optimally, he consults the AI, which generates a list of potential causes – such as pump speed issues, faulty heat exchangers or motor valves, or problems with system controls.

Instead of blindly searching for the issue, he can forward this list to the building managers or technicians. That way, when a HVAC technician arrives on site, they already have a clear idea of what to check instead of starting from scratch. This targeted approach not only saves time but also increases the chances of resolving issues quickly, reducing energy waste and unnecessary costs.

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Motivating the building managers with tangible results

As Kim Hansen is not able to visit all of AAB’s sites himself, he works together closely with the building managers. With Ento, he can easily measure the impact of the actions they are taking in buildings by registering their actions and verifying the savings achieved. “Once in a while I screenshot a graph and forward it to the building managers to show them the positive impact their work has on our consumption. After all, it’s fun to save energy,” Kim Hansen says.

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Ensuring efficient and well-maintained mechanical rooms

For his latest project, Kim Hansen put together a 20-point to-do list for the building managers to ensure that mechanical rooms in all buildings are well-maintained and fully functional. The checklist includes tasks such as replacing old pumps, cleaning or replacing heat exchangers, removing outdated pipes and electrical installations, and optimising system automation (BMS) for better control.

With Ento, the implemented actions taken by the building managers can be tracked and measure the resulting energy savings.

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Future focus: smarter energy use and water conservation

As Kim Hansen continues to optimise AAB’s energy use, his next focus will be on identifying potential electricity savings across their building portfolio. By leveraging Ento’s data insights, he aims to pinpoint inefficiencies and reduce unnecessary energy consumption.

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“In the past, undetected water leaks cost us twice as much as paying for Ento’s software.”
Kim Hansen, Energy Manager, AAB Aarhus

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At the same time, AAB is rolling out a large-scale project to track and analyse water usage. With all water meters being replaced with new remotely read smart meters Ento will help monitor usage patterns and detect leaks more efficiently. Given past incidents of major water waste, this initiative is expected to bring significant cost savings.

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