New study reveals SmartTank cuts energy use by 26% in PBSA property

Prefect Controls has long known that it's revolutionary SmartTank saves energy and reduces water waste.

Now, an extensive yearlong study of accurate consumption data, from a 393-bed property, has been benchmarked against sites where SmartTank has been operating for several years. The analysis presents a compelling investment case by revealing SmartTank consumes 1.5 x less energy than conventional cylinders!

The monitored site recorded hot water energy use of 501 kWh per bed per year, compared with a benchmarked achievable level of 369 kWh, representing a 26% reduction per bed. Across a building of this scale, that equates to tens of thousands of kilowatt-hours saved annually, delivering meaningful cost and carbon reductions.

SmartTank integrates a high-performance cylinder with intelligent controls that continuously monitor system performance. This enables real-time optimisation of heating, reduces unnecessary energy use, and identifies inefficiencies across multi-occupancy environments.

The system also plays a critical role in reducing water waste. Using an array of sensors, SmartTank can detect leaks, faulty valves, pressure imbalance through Tundish flow, and other abnormal discharge early, allowing maintenance teams to intervene before issues escalate. Based on occupancy-adjusted benchmarking, typical annual savings are calculated to be:

52,000 kWh electricity saved (£13,280)

12,800 m³ water saved (£32,198)

19+ tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided

Beyond utility savings, SmartTank enhances compliance and operational efficiency. Automated temperature monitoring and reporting reduce the need for manual inspections, enabling exception-based maintenance and lowering labour costs across large residential portfolios.

Additional benefits include demand-side flexibility, peak-load shifting, and granular data insights to support portfolio-wide energy management and ESG reporting.

Designed for straightforward installation, SmartTank is built on the proven Gledhill platform and comes pre-plumbed, pre-wired, and integrated with Prefect’s Irus controls, offering a fast-payback upgrade for buildings with immersion-based hot water systems.

With verifiable performance improvements and minimal disruption to install, SmartTank presents a compelling opportunity for PBSA operators seeking to cut costs, improve sustainability, and future-proof their assets.