Kropman is building a sustainable future

According to the Paris climate agreement, buildings must increasingly focus on consumption per m2. In addition, we are allowed to return generated energy less and less and we must become increasingly better at storing energy sources. Sustainable building is therefore the trend. Kropman Installation Technology specializes in this and combines building-related installations with machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). Mark Lambert, who works at Kropman, tells us more about it.  

Smart systems

“When we make a building more sustainable, we first look at its data. What are the energy flows and how is it designed. From there, we discuss with the customer what is possible with the current installation and what improvements we see in, for example, optimizing the mechanical installation or the control technology. We adapt the current control system and ensure that it can communicate with a higher system such as an EMS. With this, we can better coordinate the energy flows and use data via the internet (API)”, says Lambert. Kropman uses InsiteSuite for this, among other things. Companies are increasingly using such an energy management system (EMS). “Many companies are switching to a climate-neutral building. An EMS makes that process easier and more efficient. All sustainable installations in a building are then automated. In this way, companies take a big step towards smart building.”  

Largest charging point in the Netherlands

In 2021, Kropman built the largest charging plaza in the Netherlands for asr insurance. “We installed charging stations, battery storage and solar panels on the insurance company's parking lot. asr now uses the generated energy for the office building and the charging points.” For example, Kropman built a smart city on a small scale. “The charging plaza is ultimately suitable for four hundred and fifty cars, but you can also supply the building with electricity using the solar panels. With smart digitalisation, we know when we need energy and when there is a lot of generation. This is, for example, when the sun is shining brightly. We see it in our system and we stimulate devices to draw more power. In this way, we ensure that all energy is used. At low-energy times, we ensure that the electric cars wait to draw power. With our smart software, we predict how many cars will come to charge tomorrow and how much energy is needed for this,” says Lambert.  

“We can use power more and more intelligently. For example, you can charge a car at peak power and discharge it at another location to run the washing machine. The next day you have enough battery power left to drive to work again. These types of technologies allow us to live energy-neutrally more quickly,” says Lambert. 

Sustainable future

Lambert has been working at the company for ten years. He once took a year-long excursion, but discovered that his heart lies in sustainability. “Technology and sustainability are interesting subjects. Due to the current developments in our industry, we are taking great steps towards a green future every day.” Yet Lambert is often asked what exactly he does. “I think some people do not understand what technology can mean for our world. Perhaps mainly because the field is not that sexy, while it offers so many adventures.”  

Meanwhile, the Netherlands is becoming increasingly energy neutral thanks to Kropman. “I am currently working on a project for a large government institution. We are looking at how we can redesign the building with smart installations, so that we can smart building can create. Of course, you don't see those smart controls when you walk through the building. People often don't think about it anymore, but technology is everywhere," says Lambert. 

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