Laure Foerier
julie Hardy
Lore Fagard
Quinten Menten
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Ruveyda Kelleci
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The Energy Circle designs and implements smart energy installations that help organizations significantly reduce the CO₂ emissions of their buildings. By combining predictive monitoring, digitalization and automation, they enable companies to optimize energy usage and thus make their buildings more future-proof. In this way, the company directly contributes to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
The Energy Circle focuses on one clear mission: reducing CO₂ emissions from buildings. Their innovative approach covers the entire process, from designing and building installations to measuring, controlling, and maintaining energy consumption. By innovating in the field of software and hardware, the company can remotely monitor installations, solve problems, and accurately measure and reduce CO₂ emissions from buildings. This not only ensures that installations last longer but also makes the entire process more sustainable.
The Energy Circle's mission to reduce CO₂ emissions is in line with the European climate targets of the European Green Deal, which aims to make Europe climate neutral by 2050. In addition, the company wants to create not only economic value but also social value: a positive impact on the environment, people's well-being, and society as a whole. They want to make not only energy related to buildings more sustainable but also create energy for people. As Sophie Hayen, managing director of The Energy Circle, says, “A happy employee is a happy employer.”
An important part of their innovation is the “TechBox,” a system developed by The Energy Circle itself that consists of software and hardware that is installed on technical installations in buildings, such as ventilation, heating, and cooling systems. The TechBox makes it possible to log in remotely to any type of building management system, regardless of the brand or supplier, in order to monitor, analyze and adjust the system where necessary. In this way, the system prevents energy waste, reduces CO₂ emissions, and contributes to more efficient and sustainable energy management.
The innovation at Energy Circle was born from a deep internal need and a broader society shift. Originally three separate companies, the organization faced a challenge: “We operated alongside each other without sharing knowledge or bundling strengths.” Despite having all the expertise to offer integrated energy solutions, cross-company collaboration was lacking. This realization sparked the decision to merge and rethink their approach.
Technological complexity added urgency. As Sophie explains,“Systems became increasingly intricate. Materials evolved - steel is no longer just steel. Each variant reacts differently to water, causing new forms of corrosion.” Technicians trained decades ago couldn’t keep up with these changes, prompting the creation of a knowledge database and a push toward digitalization.
External pressures also played a role. As management points out,“European and Flemish regulations are steering us toward lower CO₂ emissions. You can only achieve that with well-designed and continuously optimized installations.” This convergence of internal and external drivers led Energy Circle to embrace data, automation, and holistic energy management.
A pivotal moment came when a new employee from a competitor saw their digital communication gateway. As Sophie remarked, “It’s so simple, no one else has it and everyone wants it.” That validation confirmed they were solving a real problem in a unique way.
Their guiding mantra captures the spirit. As they emphasize, “Full of energy for energy” reflects both their human drive and their mission to help clients save kilowatt-hours. As they further explain: “We believe an organization has a duty to serve its people and society. If we do that with full energy, we’re working holistically - and that’s our foundation.”
The innovation at Energy Circle has led to measurable improvements across environmental, operational, and human dimensions. By merging three previously separate companies into one integrated entity, Energy Circle now offers clients a unified solution for design, maintenance, and energy management. This shirt has significantly reduced complexity for customers, who previously had to coordinate between multiple providers. Today, they benefit from one point of contact and a streamlined process that enhances trust and efficiency.
Environmentally, the company tracks its impact through reductions in CO₂ emissions, measured year-over-year after renovation projects. These assessments require a full seasonal cycle to compare performance accurately. In addition, Energy Circle is developing new KPIs to monitor avoided travel distances, faster issue resolution, and improved diagnostics. These indicators reflect not only ecological gains but also smarter logistics and better customer service.
Such environmental progress is illustrated by the case of JBC. By refining the HVAC systems, adjusting the lighting hours, and raising employee awareness about energy consumption, JBC was able to achieve energy savings of 20% within a year. This also resulted in a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions and energy consumption.
Importantly, The Energy Circle emphasizes that “the embodied carbon associated with a new building is equivalent to 20 years of operational CO₂ emissions: renovation and retrofitting is almost always the greener option.” This principle underlines why their focus on upgrading existing infrastructure delivers both immediate and long-term sustainability gains.
Beyond ecological benefits, the innovation has also begun to show financial returns. Monthly and annual reviews reveal growing value from energy-related services, both for new and existing clients. The company helps customers reduce energy consumption through tailored studies, while internally it learns to quantify the added value of its expertise. Long-term, Energy Circle is committed to evolving toward smart building - intelligent systems that comply with future regulations and allow clients to focus on their core business. The holistic approach, combining sustainability, profitability, and customer value, positions the company as a future-proof partner in a rapidly changing world.
The clear common thread between the offering, internal operations, and communication with employees and customers has strengthened the company's sustainable approach. Thanks to a clear mission, vision, and guiding principles, the company now operates more process-oriented and purposefully.
By focusing on customers with energy potential, new opportunities and partnerships arise. Simultaneously, by making conscious choices (for example, steering clear of the residential market), employees are given a clear direction. Through these process-oriented and targeted focuses, the company aims to create value and sustain gross profit, ultimately leading to volume growth. Currently, there is already a balance between the cost structure and customer demand, so the innovation has already led to profitability.
Innovation also reveals new internal strengths: clear internal communication and giving employees the opportunity to collaborate on a new and innovative project brings unexpected competencies to the surface. People become motivated and engaged. Or how innovation creates a mindset shift from a "good enough" mentality to a "continuous desire to improve."
The long-term benefits are there for the taking: innovation creates a new predictive and data-driven organization, a profitable cost structure, and a motivating work environment that fosters employee loyalty. Moreover, investing in digitalization and automation allows us to serve more customers and grows our entrepreneurial capacity.
The Energy Circle’s innovation benefits society and the environment by making energy systems smarter, cleaner, and more cooperative. Through predictive maintenance and remote problem solving, made possible by their self-developed TechBox, they extend the lifespan of installations and reduce unnecessary energy use. This leads to lower CO₂ emissions and less material waste. For example, by solving issues remotely, they avoid extra travel, saving fuel and reducing emissions. Their approach also simplifies the customer experience. Instead of working with three separate companies for design, maintenance, and energy control, clients now have one point of contact. This not only saves time but also improves communication and trust.
Additionally, The Energy Circle supports governments in making public buildings more sustainable and helps private clients reduce energy consumption through tailored studies. They measure impact not only through CO₂ reduction but also by tracking avoided kilometers, faster problem-solving, and better service. By combining smart technology with a clear mission, they create healthier indoor environments, help clients meet climate regulations, and contribute to a future-proof infrastructure. In doing so, The Energy Circle delivers more than just energy; they create long-term value for people, the planet, and society.
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Sophie Hayen, managing director of The Energy Circle
The Energy Circle designs and implements smart energy installations that help organizations significantly reduce the CO₂ emissions of their buildings. By combining predictive monitoring, digitalization and automation, they enable companies to optimize energy usage and thus make their buildings more future-proof. In this way, the company directly contributes to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).