- Efficiency in old buildings – Smart heating solution without structural interventions.
- Less work for staff – no more manual thermostat control
- Occupancy-based heating – heat only when rooms are in use
- Simple implementation – installation by our own team, without disruption
- Full transparency – real-time data instead of a black box
- Reliable technology – smart, scalable, no frills
How KLVHS Petersberg is initiating a smart and sustainable heating revolution with better.energy
At the Katholische Landvolkshochschule Petersberg, heating is not just a question of comfort, but an expression of responsibility towards the environment, guests and employees. As a church-run educational institution, it is orientated towards the principle of responsibility for creation: sustainability is not seen as a trend here, but as a lived mission.
But how is it possible to heat an old listed building and a modern seminar centre efficiently, user-friendly and ecologically at the same time – without disrupting ongoing operations?
The answer: better.energy from Betterspace. In combination with smart hardware from our partner MClimate, the educational institution has introduced a digital heating management system that not only reveals potential heating costs, but also makes everyday life noticeably easier.
In the field report with Sascha Rotschiller, Deputy Director, it becomes clear: KLVHS Petersberg is well on the way to becoming a digital flagship institution in terms of energy management – without losing control, but with a good feeling and lots of practical benefits.
KLVHS Petersberg – an educational centre with heart and attitude
The Katholische Landvolkshochschule Petersberg is a church-run education and conference centre that is characterised by a strong foundation of values and a high level of social commitment. Situated in the idyllic Dachau countryside, the centre offers a special and natural place for encounters, education and contemplation, while at the same time being close to the city of Munich.
The target group are groups of all ages:
- Seminars and educational events
- Retreats and workshops
- Choir trips, community weekends and more
The KLVHS programme is aimed in particular at people in rural areas, providing them with impulses for sustainable action, social commitment and personal development. Sustainability and environmental awareness are firmly anchored in the organisation’s DNA. Two buildings – a historic old building from 1953 (listed) and a modern new building from 2000 – form the structural backbone. Together they offer:
| Building | Year of construction | Special feature |
|---|---|---|
| Main building | 1953 | Listed building, historical flair |
| New building | 2000 | Avant-garde sustainable project at the time (wood chip heating, ventilation, south-facing) |
With 50 rooms for up to 100 people and 12 conference and event rooms of different sizes, the KLVHS Petersberg is a place where education, hospitality and sustainability come together – underpinned by a strong church identity. And it is precisely this idea of sustainability that runs through all areas. It is therefore not surprising that the organisation has been EMAS-certified (EU environmental management system) for years and sees sustainability not just as a duty, but as a responsibility in terms of creation.
“We are committed to rural areas and take energy efficiency seriously in the sense of responsibility for creation – and for us, that also means operating sustainably.”
– Sascha Rotschiller, Deputy Director KLVHS Petersberg
The challenge: energy efficiency without sacrificing comfort
The two KLVHS buildings use wood chippings as their main energy source – the oil heating only serves as a backup on very cold winter nights. However, despite the sustainable approach, the heat supply was previously a black box:
- Checking the radiators was time-consuming and not economical
- Energy consumption could not be properly analysed
- Heating was often not occupancy-dependent, but flat-rate
- Staff had to regularly check and set thermostats manually
A smarter solution was needed – without cable clutter, without major conversions, without restricting daily operation.
The solution: better.energy + MClimate = heat revolution at Petersberg
The decision was made in favour of better.energy from Betterspace – a digital energy management system that intelligently controls radiators, heats depending on occupancy and creates complete transparency.
Installed hardware:
| Component | Quantity | Manufacturer | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vicki radiator thermostats | 322 pieces | MClimate | Control of individual radiators in conjunction with the better.energy software |
| Wall thermostats | 8 pieces | MClimate | Central temperature control in larger rooms with several radiators |
Table 2: Hardware used for energy management at KLVHS Petersberg
“The quality of the thermostats is impressive – robust, high-quality and they fit our requirements perfectly.“
– Sascha Rotschiller, Deputy Director KLVHS Petersberg
The wall thermostats play a special role in rooms with several radiators or places that are difficult to access. Here they ensure simple and centralised control. This is because some radiators are installed in such a way that the thermostats cannot be reached by staff or guests. The alternative here would be on or off, which is neither efficient nor effective when it comes to heating.
The advantages of better.energy for Deputy Director Sascha Rotschiller at a glance:
- Occupancy-dependent heating logic: rooms are warm when guests arrive
- Web dashboard with reporting: black box heating is a thing of the past
- Modes & rules: Automatic control for different usage scenarios
- Manual intervention possible both on site and via the web interface
- Enormous relief for staff: Nobody has to check and turn thermostats any more
- Independent installation by in-house technicians after a short briefing
- No restrictions during operation
From black box to insight: Digital transparency
“Thanks to better.energy, we finally have a precise insight into our heating behaviour. We can see exactly how warm it is in any room at any time thanks to the temperature curves and have a better overview. That wasn’t possible before.”
– Sascha Rotschiller, Deputy Director KLVHS Petersberg
The previous invisibility of heating behaviour gave way to a clearly structured overview. Occupancy data is imported directly and the system reacts automatically. As a result, rooms are only heated when they are actually being used. This not only provides more comfort for guests, but also a good feeling for those responsible:
“It was a strange feeling for guests and staff at first, a bit like losing control – the system takes care of everything on its own. But you quickly get used to it because it just works.”
– Sascha Rotschiller, Deputy Director KLVHS Petersberg
Implementation: quick, simple, based on partnership
A project of this size needs good support. And this is precisely what Mr Rotschiller emphasises:
“The collaboration with Betterspace was competent, goal-orientated and trusting right from the start. ou can just tell how much experience the team has.”
– Sascha Rotschiller, Deputy Director KLVHS Petersberg
The hardware was installed by the in-house team of technicians. There was a clear and understandable briefing on site, and the implementation went smoothly.
Why better.energy? Things that are better than other solutions
The decision in favour of better.energy was not made by chance. KLVHS had already been looking at various options for years – but none of them were convincing. Until a colleague gave the decisive tip.
Why better.energy, Mr Rotschiller?
- No wiring necessary
- No complicated integration into the network
- Works independently and reliably
- Modular and scalable
- Smart but uncomplicated technology
“The biggest difference to other providers? better.energy simply does what it’s supposed to – no frills, but with maximum benefit.”
– Sascha Rotschiller, Deputy Director KLVHS Petersberg
Conclusion: Heat revolutuion with heart and brain
The Katholische Landvolkshochschule Petersberg shows how digitalisation, sustainability and hospitality can go hand in hand. With better.energy, not only has energy consumption been made transparent, but everyday life has also been made noticeably easier – for guests and staff alike.
Whether it’s a workshop or a choir weekend, the reception is now always warm. Completely automatically. Completely smart.
“I would definitely recommend better.energy – precisely because the combination of software, hardware and support from Betterspace is just right.”
– Sascha Rotschiller, Deputy Director KLVHS Petersberg
Would you like to find out more about better.energy or make your building smarter? Then talk to us – we’ll show you how easy digital heating control really can be.
Want to find out more?
Further information and sources:
- KLVHS Petersberg: Overview
- Betterspace: better.energy
- MClimate: LoRaWAN radiator thermostat
- MClimate: LoRaWAN wall thermostat