Saint-Gobain – Upgrading obsolete heating controls to cut costs and reduce carbon
Saint-Gobain wanted to modernise their heating controls to reduce gas use, improve reliability, and support long-term sustainability targets. After installation, we replaced an obsolete system, eliminated wasted energy, and achieved 34% savings with a payback period of 22 months.
34 %
Savings delivered
22
Month payback period
Context
Saint-Gobain design, manufacture and distribute materials and solutions that improve comfort and sustainability in buildings and industry. Operating in more than 80 countries, the company is driven by its purpose of “making the world a better home.”
At one of their UK manufacturing sites, the existing heating controls had been in place for over 15 years and could no longer meet operational needs. Several heaters weren’t connected to the system, sensors were poorly positioned, and roller shutter doors had no link to the heating, leading to significant heat loss.
The site relied on a mix of outdated energy controls and simple time clocks, with no ability to replace parts when they failed. With gas prices rising, Saint-Gobain needed a modern control system that could reduce costs, cut carbon, and protect temperature-sensitive products stored on site.
Solution
We replaced the ageing system with a new energy control platform that brought all heaters under one central point of control. The new setup provided local and remote access, allowing authorised users to monitor and adjust settings from any internet-enabled device.
Each heating zone was fitted with a dedicated temperature sensor to improve accuracy, supported by an external sensor on the north side of the building to enable weather compensation. The system used a self-learning algorithm to manage pre-heat times automatically, switching heaters on only when needed to meet target temperatures.
Residual heat circulation allowed heaters to switch off burners while fans continued to recirculate warm air, maintaining comfort while reducing gas use. We also fitted door sensors to link roller shutter doors to the heating system, automatically pausing operation when doors were open to prevent heat loss.
Impact
The new control system gave Saint-Gobain reliable, efficient management of their heating equipment with full visibility of performance. It eliminated the risk of breakdown from obsolete components and reduced wasted energy across the site.
We initially forecasted savings of around 30% with a 22-month payback. After a full winter season, analysis showed energy use had fallen by 34%, with some months achieving reductions of up to 67%. The savings were equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 11 homes.
The upgrade provided a stable, long-term solution that improved control, reduced costs, and supported Saint-Gobain’s wider environmental objectives.
Get in touch
Ready to power possibility, together?