Panasonic and Chulalongkorn University are advancing research on the 'Home IoT System Demonstration to Experiment Comfortable Environment and Energy Efficiency in Residential Projects' with SENA, N.C. Housing, and Sathaporn Estate. The project installs and tests Home IoT Systems in sample houses to identify comfortable living conditions and reduce energy costs for Thai residents. Additionally, the Thai government's DEDE and Japan's NEDO joined in to express a joint intention to enhance energy security. Support from both organizations will help expand the research findings and develop future designs for energy-saving homes in Thailand.
Panasonic Accelerates Home IoT Research to Identify Comfortable Living and Reduce Energy Costs
Mr. Masaaki Isoda, Chief Technology Officer of Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd., Japan, said, "Inspired by the long-term global environmental mission, 'Panasonic GREEN IMPACT,' Panasonic aims to achieve both a better life and a sustainable global environment. The focus is on developing user-friendly innovations, building on existing products to create new solutions that address quality-of-life issues in homes. The first solution in this initiative utilizes Home IoT technology and algorithms to enhance control. The findings from this research project are expected to lead to the discovery of 'Indoor Comfortable Living Conditions' specifically for Thai residents, guiding the development of future housing technology suited to the living environment in Thailand."
Mr. Hidekazu Ito, Managing Director of Panasonic Solutions (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said, "Panasonic is dedicated to creating solutions that enhance sustainable quality of life. Recognizing the significance of homes as the foundation for improving various aspects of human well-being, we believe that when homes provide residents with physical and mental comfort, they contribute to reducing the burden on the Earth and fostering sustainable living. This idea sparked a research project focused on creating comfortable living conditions for Thai residents in co-research with the Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn University. The goal is to develop a system that enhances comfort by leveraging technology.
This research project was initiated in 2022 by constructing an experiment unit called the Zen Model at the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University. This model simulated comfortable environment conditions, and the data collected was applied for demonstrating to the first actual house at the SENA Grand Home Bangna KM.29 in late 2023 through collaboration with Sena Development Public Company Limited and Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp.
This year, Panasonic will focus on demonstrating the system's ability to help reduce home energy use. We will test the system in 12 actual residences from leading real estate developers, namely, SENA Development Pcl, N.C. Housing Pcl, and Sathaporn Estate Co., Ltd. Each of Panasonic's long-standing customer have unique building designs in different settings, making this an exciting challenge for demonstration. Additionally, we receive cooperation from the International Projects Department under the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in Japan, which provides financial backing to accelerate the completion of the project. We also receive cooperation from the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) under the Ministry of Energy, which supports us with information and plans to advance this idea into future energy-saving home policies."
Thailand and Japan Express Joint Intention to Enhance Energy Security
Mr. Takashi Naruse, Director-General of the International Projects Department, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan, said, "NEDO is one of Japan's largest public management organizations, promoting research and development under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). NEDO actively engages in developing new energy, environmental technologies, and industrial technologies to contribute to the resolution of social issues. The organization extends collaborations to many countries, including those in ASEAN, China, India, the United States, and the European Union. In Thailand, NEDO collaborates with various government agencies, such as the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. These collaborations carry out demonstration projects in energy conservation technology, new energy, carbon reduction, environmental quality improvement, and industrial development.
The 'Home IoT System Demonstration to Experiment Comfortable Environment and Energy Efficiency in Residential Projects,' conducted by Panasonic Solutions (Thailand) Co., Ltd., and Chulalongkorn University, is an important initiative aimed at achieving sustainable energy efficiency in Thailand's residential sector. Therefore, NEDO provides financial support to accelerate testing and verify the system's success, driving Thai society towards the goal of NET ZERO society at a faster pace."
Mr. Watthanaphong Kurovat, Director-General of the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy, said, "This project is key to driving energy security as it demonstrates energy conservation in Thailand's household sector. It specifically targets air conditioning systems, which are among the appliances that use the most energy. By leveraging IoT technology to control and reduce air conditioner usage and incorporating appropriate space design, the project aims to maintain a comfortable living condition tailored to residents' lifestyles, the location, and the style of the house. The Department will offer policy advice, coordinate with other agencies, provide various facilities, and use the project's results to promote further expansion and related measures.
This demonstration project serves as a showroom. Commercializing the technologies featured in this demonstration project will stimulate the economy and strengthen energy security for the country, benefiting both Thailand and Japan. The well-timed project aims to reduce expensive household electricity consumption while aligning with the Ministry of Energy's Energy Efficiency Plan 2022. This blueprint promotes the use of IoT to save energy in the household sector. Additionally, the project encourages energy innovations in the Thai real estate industry, supporting the creation of a low-carbon society in Thailand that aligns with global trends."
CU Leverages BIM and Home IoT to Discover Achievable Comfort Environment and Energy Savings
Assistant Professor Sarayut Supsook, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn University, said, "This project is based on the hypothesis that setting the air conditioner to 25 degrees Celsius may not be the most energy-efficient or comfortable temperature for Thai people. Therefore, since 2022, we have been conducting experiments to determine the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) or comfortable environment conditions for Thai residents. We use the ZEN Model, a simulated residential model designed with Building Information Modeling (BIM), and control the various systems within the houses through the Home IoT system.
The experimental design to determine the PMV for Thai people is a key focus of Chulalongkorn University in collaboration with Panasonic's research team. This information is used to establish experimental conditions in various residential settings and proves the feasibility of achieving energy efficiency while maintaining comfortable environment conditions. Preliminary PMV experiments have shown that it is possible to manage an indoor space to ensure resident comfort while also saving electricity. Additionally, the data collection and indoor environmental management, utilizing IoT devices through the BIM Platform and Digital Twin, is another effort by the research team to achieve sustainability under conditions that can maintain such conditions.
To manage indoor space for residents, air conditioning equipment, fans, switches, and temperature and humidity sensors will be installed. These systems will operate through Panasonic's Comfort Air and Home IoT technologies. The experiment will take place in two-story reinforced concrete houses, each approximately 140-180 square meters in size. Experimental equipment will be installed based on designs tailored to different types of houses, with adjustments made through data analysis using Panasonic's software. Therefore, each house may have different numbers and equipment placements. The experiment will be conducted for one year to assess efficiency throughout the different seasons in Thailand. Measurements and data collection will focus on the system's energy efficiency by observing changes in factors such as temperature and wind speed."
SENA, N.C. Housing, and Sathaporn Estate Provide 12 Houses for Joint Research on Comfort environment and Energy Savings
Dr. Kessara Thanyalakpark, Managing Director, SENA Development Public Company Limited, said, "SENA has been supporting research to identify comfortable living conditions since the project's outset, enabling Panasonic to test its system in a sample house at the SENA Grand Home Bangna KM. 29 in late 2023. Recognizing the value of developing sustainable housing aligned with company's 'SENA Low Carbon' concept, which promotes a decarbonized lifestyle and emphasizes attention to every aspect of living, the company's commitment extends beyond developing quality housing to creating new products, services, and businesses that enhance the quality of life for all ages. Residents can easily adopt a green lifestyle and contribute to reducing environmental impact.
For this collaboration, SENA Development provides four sample houses from the SENA Village Bangna KM.29 project for research purposes. These houses include two THANN+ twin houses, each with an area of approximately 35 square wah and a usable area of 165 square meters, and two THEE+ townhouses, each with an area of approximately 27 square wah and a usable area of 140 square meters. The goal is to develop technology for efficient living according to the SENA Low Carbon concept, enhancing both energy savings and convenience for a better quality of life for residents."
Mr. Somnuek, Tanthathoedtham, Managing Director, N.C. Housing Public Company Limited, said, "N.C. Housing is a real estate operator that has been alongside Thai people for over three decades. Guided by our 'Home Expert Living Care' concept, the company focuses on meeting customer needs, integrating cutting-edge technology to enhance project value and convenience, and committing to environmental sustainability. Leveraging innovative design and seamlessly integrating technology, our product roadmap with the concept of NCXT (NC Cross Innovation & Home Technology) empowers residents with comfort and security (Smart Eco), promotes well-being (Smart Care), and enhances long-term quality of life, fostering overall wellness (Well-Living). Our collaboration with Panasonic represents a significant step forward in developing innovative, sustainable, and energy-saving housing solutions for Thai residents. The company provides four sample houses in the Baan Fah Greenery NEOLA Rangsit Khlong 2 project for research. These include two Modish twin houses, each with an area of 39 square wah and a usable area of 140 square meters, and two Louis detached houses, each with an area of 57 square wah and a usable area of 155 square meters. Embracing the concept of 'An Environment Designed for Better Living,' these homes emphasize the Active Green approach, connecting to comfortable living conditions within the home and aligning with N.C. Housing's vision for sustainable project development."
Meanwhile, Mr. Soonthorn Sathaporn, CEO, Sathaporn Estate Company Limited, said, "Sathaporn is a real estate brand that prioritizes development toward sustainability in all aspects, encompassing business, society, the environment, and energy conservation. The entire Sathaporn team embraces this concept as a guiding principle for developing residential projects in every location and across all our portfolios.
In this collaboration, the company is providing four fully constructed houses from THE ETERNITY GREENWOOD Rangsit - Wongwaen project, which has received four Thailand Energy Awards from the Ministry of Energy. These houses include one Companion single-detached house with 53.7 square wah and 220 square meters of usable area and three Beloved single-detached houses, each with 50.6 square wah and 185 square meters of usable area. Panasonic will conduct independent research in these houses to gather insights on good living conditions, comfort, and energy management through technology. The goal is to develop innovative housing solutions suitable for Thailand. The company hopes to use the research findings to integrate architectural, engineering, and technological advancements seamlessly, creating more sustainable homes for future generations of Sathaporn Estate."