DigiFed - Touch&Heat
NFC-Enhanced Heating Appliances for Sustainable Energy Consumption
Best User Experience from Manufacturing to Daily Use
To meet sustainability objectives, 2018 EU directives require programmable features on even the simplest electric radiators. These programable features can reduce energy consumption of heaters by up to 15%. However, fewer than 20% of owners set programmable features when they are required to use traditional LCD / push-button interfaces, which are tedious and inefficient to use.
Touch&Heat solves this problem with new electric heaters that improve energy efficiency by using Near Field Communication (NFC) and mobile apps to make the configuration of advanced energy saving features easier and more efficient for installers and owners. These new products connect easily and directly to users' mobile phones. No permanent network connection is required. The products are programmed from the mobile app. With this app, the features are much easier to understand and to configure. The app also simplifies user training and eliminates the need for printed user instructions.
These products promote a new use of Near Field Communication called "NFC 3-Stroke Configuration" - a process for connecting a mobile to an appliance and changing its parameters without being connected to a network. Through this project NFC 3-Stroke Configuration has caught the attention of the NFC community, media, and appliance manufacturers as an intuitive and cost-effective way of configuring any appliance. And, NFC does this without the cost, complexity and security risks of 'always-connected' wireless solutions (Wi-Fi, LPWAN, etc.).
The project has resulted in field-testing of a new generation of NFC-enabled electric radiators that are being launched in Germany, Austria, the UK, France and the Netherlands in 2022.
For installers and owners, NFC-enabled heating appliances promise dramatic improvements in ease-of-use and efficiency when programming these products. Mobile apps improve both visibility and the user's understanding of parameters. The graphical displays and controls that are familiar to all users, eliminating the need for user notices. Near Field Communication allows these users to connect to appliances with the 'touch' of the mobile to an NFC tag. NFC takes away the need for security codes and addresses, and replaces them with a simple, intuitive gesture.
Touch&Heat Brings NFC Innovations to Market
To bring these NFC features to market in Europe, Touch&Heat unites three companies specialized in all aspects of this digital solution and its use in home heating appliances. By uniting complementary actors in a cross-border collaboration, Touch&Heat will rapidly bring to market products that addresses multiple needs and ensure a durable digital transition for the three participants and their customers.
IoTize SAS – a French start up designing wireless and NFC solutions for connecting appliances to mobiles and networks.
Steve Gussenhoven
Marketing Communications Manager
contact@iotize.com
+33 6 62 78 09 66
Cotherm SAS – a French SME designing electronic thermostatic controls.
Bertrand Buttin
Sales Director
b.buttin@cotherm.com
+33 4 76 36 94 47
Lucht LHZ Elektroheizungen – a German group designing and manufacturing home, commercial and industrial heating appliances.
Rafael Frommhold
Project & E-Commerce Manager
r.frommhold@lucht-lhz.de
+49 3724 66869 19
Touch&Heat News
NFC-enabled radiators promise to reduce heating costs through ease-of-use and efficiency.
New NFC-enabled radiators will improve ease of use and energy savings in first EU field tests.
DigiFed Promotes Durable Digital Transformations
DigiFed funding for Touch&Heat is part of their European initiative encouraging the digital transition of SMEs through identification of market needs and the technological solutions to fulfill them.
Touch&Heat was selected from a field of more than 70 applicants in the DigiFed 2nd Open Call Digital Challenge. Digital Challenges are match funding opportunities for SMEs that highlight attractive market needs, which can be addressed through the adoption of advanced technologies such as networking, virtual reality and artificial intelligence.