SMARTCIM · Project

Smart IoT Valves That Cut Building Heating and Cooling Waste

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Imagine the water valves in your building's heating and cooling system are dumb — they just open and close, with no idea how much hot or cold water each room actually needs. SMARTCIM turned those dumb valves into smart ones packed with sensors and internet connectivity. They measure exactly what's flowing, talk to the rest of the system, and let building managers monitor everything from their phone. Think of it like upgrading from a basic thermostat to a Nest — but for the entire water-based heating and cooling network in a commercial building.

By the numbers

EUR 1,611,400

EU contribution to smart valve development

Industrial partner (100% industry consortium)

M12

Operating pilot plant delivered

M22

Product certification completed

The business problem

What needed solving

Commercial and office buildings waste significant energy through inefficient HVAC water distribution — valves open and close without knowing how much heating or cooling each zone actually needs, resulting in overuse of water, energy waste, and uneven comfort. Retrofitting old buildings is especially painful because traditional upgrades require shutting down the whole system and replacing most components at once.

The solution

What was built

SMARTCIM built a smart electronic active valve with integrated sensors, actuators, and IoT connectivity that controls water flow in HVAC systems with zone-level precision. The project delivered an operating pilot plant and completed product certification with commissioning procedures.

Audience

Who needs this

Commercial building owners with high energy costs from aging HVAC systemsHVAC system integrators looking for smart retrofit solutionsHotel and hospital facility managers needing zone-by-zone climate controlProperty developers planning energy-efficient renovationsEnergy service companies (ESCOs) offering building performance contracts

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Commercial Real Estate & Facility Management

enterprise

Target: Building owners and facility managers operating large commercial or office buildings with aging HVAC systems

If you are a facility manager dealing with high energy bills and inconsistent room temperatures across your building — this project developed a smart valve with IoT monitoring that controls water flow with high precision in each zone. The system is designed specifically for retrofit, meaning you can upgrade floor by floor without shutting down the whole building. CAPEX pays back quickly, especially in cooling-heavy buildings.

HVAC Equipment Distribution & Installation

any

Target: HVAC distributors, installers, and system integrators looking for next-generation valve products

If you are an HVAC installer or distributor competing on technology — this project created the first valve with built-in IoT features including mobile device monitoring and feedback. It interoperates with third-party hydronic components, so you can offer it as an upgrade to existing systems without requiring full plant replacement. The modular installation approach means shorter lead times for commissioning.

Hotel & Hospitality

mid-size

Target: Hotel chains and resort operators with high cooling and heating costs across multiple zones

If you are a hotel operator spending heavily on guest room climate control with uneven comfort across floors — this project developed smart active valves that deliver exact amounts of heating or cooling to each zone with minimal water waste. The system was piloted and certified, and its retrofit-friendly design means rooms can be upgraded gradually without closing the entire property for renovation.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this system actually cost, and what's the payback period?

The project states that CAPEX pays back shortly, especially for cooling applications. Exact pricing per valve is not disclosed in the project data, but the system was designed by CIMBERIO, an established valve manufacturer, for commercial viability. Based on available project data, the quick payback is driven by reduced water flow, lower pumping energy, and precise zone-level control.

Can this work at industrial scale across large buildings?

Yes. The system was designed for commercial-scale HVAC plants. An operating pilot plant was delivered at month 12 of the project, and product certification with commissioning procedures was completed by month 22. The modular design means it scales from single zones to entire buildings.

What's the IP situation — can I license or resell this technology?

The technology was developed entirely by Cav. Uff. Giacomo Cimberio SPA, an Italian SME that is the sole consortium partner. All IP likely resides with CIMBERIO. Any licensing, distribution, or integration partnership would need to be negotiated directly with them. They have an established global presence in the valve market.

Does this work with my existing HVAC system or do I need to replace everything?

The system was specifically designed for retrofit and renovation. It interoperates with third-party hydronic components — meaning it does not require upgrading the rest of your plant. Installation can be modular, allowing gradual renovations without stopping service in the entire building.

Is this actually certified and ready to install?

The project delivered a certification of product and commissioning procedure by month 22. Combined with the operating pilot plant delivered at month 12, this indicates the product went through formal certification processes. The project closed in July 2017, so the technology has had years to mature further.

What makes this different from other smart HVAC controls on the market?

According to the project data, SMARTCIM is described as the first valve with IoT features including monitoring and user feedback on mobile devices. The key differentiator is deep integration of sensors and actuators directly into the valve body, combined with a software ecosystem that enables interoperability with other hydronic components like coils, thermostats, and pumps.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project — Cav. Uff. Giacomo Cimberio SPA is the sole partner, an Italian SME and private company with a stated global presence and solid brand reputation in the valve market. The 100% industry composition with zero academic partners signals this was a pure product development effort, not exploratory research. For a business buyer, this means the technology was built by people who manufacture and sell valves commercially, not by a university lab. The EUR 1,611,400 EU contribution funded a company that already had the manufacturing capacity and market channels to bring the product to customers.

How to reach the team

Cav. Uff. Giacomo Cimberio SPA (Italy) — established HVAC valve manufacturer with global distribution

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the SMARTCIM team to discuss integration or distribution? SciTransfer connects businesses with EU research teams — contact us for a briefing.

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