Faced with spiralling energy bills, businesses are being forced to make changes to the way they heat their spaces. This tech startup is helping them to make changes that not only save money but are also positive for the environment.
Around 25% of final energy consumption in the European Union is currently used for space heating, according to Science Direct. Yet, poor energy efficiency in buildings means that much of that heat is lost through floors, ceilings, walls and windows.
Renovations can be costly, forcing landlords to choose between saving money on heating or other factors. Valère Lawson, owner and CEO of Lawstar believes that his technology offers a compelling case for the former.
A surveying engineer with 20+ years’ experience, the French national has developed a 3D VR scanner which helps identify the places where energy is lost. Using infrared, the device detects the places with the highest or differing temperatures to indicate where insulation can have an immediate effect.
Lawson founded the company almost three years to use his skillset to pursue his eco-responsible values. He said: “We want to popularise the service in the sense that it’s not that we just want to do business, we want to do something with added value. The more that we address the loss of heat, the better it is for the environment and for the people and communities we work for.”
A tenant at the greentech Innovation Hub in Dudelange, Lawson has shared his expertise with Dudelange commune by giving street readings for traffic improvement applications, among others. Outside of the commune, his core customers are mostly architects and developers.
“I worked in an old factory where we did a complete 3D scan to have a 3D model for the architect helping them to do the renovation works,” Lawson recounted.
Depending on the action taken to insulate a building, Lawson estimated that in normal times, insulation could halve bills, and that’s a moderate estimate. “I saw a TV programme where in one instance the energy bills went from €2000 to €300,” he said.
The energy crisis is expected to push companies and individuals to seek out solutions to cut energy bills. Lawson believes that his technology can have the greatest impact when used in industrial and public buildings. “If the commune leads by example, then the residents will follow,” he said.
