TOPAs European Consortium to End Power Hungry Buildings

Motorola Solutions leads TOPAs environmental project to reduce world’s energy consumption by buildings

• European Commission funds international academic and industrial consortium to create new cloud-based analytic tools and methodologies for auditing energy performance of buildings
• Targets up to 20 percent energy savings and improved living and working environments
• Supports development of the energy service companies market and creation of new jobs

An international consortium of academic and industrial partners led by Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) has been funded by the European Commission’s Horizon2020 program to create new ways for building owners, facility managers and energy service companies (ESCOs) to more effectively operate their sites. The goal of the project is to improve understanding and reduce to 10 percent the existing gap between predicted and actual energy performances in buildings and blocks of buildings.

The Tools for Continuous Building Performance Auditing (TOPAs) project will provide better visibility on how energy-related decisions impact management, cost, occupant comfort and environmental health.

The TOPAs analytic tools and methodologies use an open, cloud-based platform for continuous energy performance auditing. TOPAs monitor energy use, but also take into account how buildings are used and the state of their environmental and air quality. This will enable credible savings of up to 20 percent through better energy efficiency programs and contribute to existing and new standards. The intent is that this will not only help to drive the creation of new jobs in the ESCO market, but also lead to improved air quality, health and comfort of people in buildings.

“The TOPAs consortium will demonstrate how international collaboration can contribute to the improvement of environmental conditions on the planet, creating new business opportunities through the reduction of energy usage. By reducing costs and enhancing sustainability, the TOPAs encourage businesses to invest in positive social change that will make people’s lives better,” said Boris Kantsepolsky, business development manager, Motorola Solutions Israel, and TOPAs project coordinator.

The international consortium brings together multidisciplinary and complementary partners from academia, small- to medium-size enterprises and industry. Led by Motorola Solutions Israel, the TOPAs consortium consists of the Cork Institute of Technology, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Azimut Monitoring, Energy Solutions, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems , IBM Research Ireland, Technical University Dresden and EMBIX.

“The TOPAs consortium extends the prestigious H2020 research and innovation community, bringing together further academic and industrial experts to address a critical environmental issue,” said Sharon Barak, director strategic business development, Motorola Solutions Israel. “This collaborative effort will help address the untapped potential of energy efficiency solutions, with practical tools and new methods that can be positively exploited by businesses and communities throughout the European Union.”

For further information please visit: www.topas-eeb.eu