ecoPhaser @ Bcombinator
energy efficiency at it's best
Intelligent Passive Cooling in Action
Our objective is to showcase the performance of the ecoPhaser passive suspended ceiling cooling system, powered by advanced phase change technology, in a fully operational office environment featuring both open-plan and private offices.
The selected test site allows us to implement and compare multiple control strategies and mechanical configurations with exceptional accuracy. Thanks to separate energy consumption monitoring on each building floor, we can precisely evaluate system performance and clearly quantify its impact on energy efficiency and overall cost savings.
THE SITE
Home to the Bcombinator headquarters in Barcelona, this dynamic building blends community and productivity across every level.
The ground floor brings people together with a vibrant bar, lecture hall, and shared spaces. Above, flexible office floors combine private offices with coworking areas to support growing teams. The rooftop offers communal zones, terraces, and technical facilities.
Identical architectural layouts on the upper floors provide two dedicated reference levels for pilot testing—allowing precise, floor-by-floor energy consumption measurements and performance evaluation.
MEASUREMENT METHODOLOGY
During the discussions with potential customers and users, dual expectations emerged regarding the product. From the owner and operator side, electricity consumption savings and operating time
reduction were the most important benchmarks, while from the user side, convenience and comfort requirements were the most important. Since the measurement site allows for measuring energy
consumption savings through separate outdoor units per level, we could measure the electricity consumption of the outdoor units of the PCM level and the reference levels. The difference in
consumption between the PCM and reference levels provides an accurate picture of the daily savings, which is one of the most important metrics of the system.
COOLING CONCEPT
Our chilled PCM climate ceiling works in sync with the day. At night, phase-change material (PCM) pouches are cooled and “charged.” During the day, they absorb excess heat from the office, maintaining a stable, comfortable indoor temperature — without drafts or air fluctuation.
CONSUMPTION OPTIMIZATION
The PCM climate ceiling is intelligently managed to minimize energy use. Charging is optimized each night based on forecasted outdoor temperatures, expected occupancy for the next day, and real-time electricity prices. By cooling only when conditions and tariffs are most favorable, the system reduces peak demand, lowers operating costs, and delivers efficient, demand-responsive comfort.
Seamless Comfort.
Significant Energy Savings.
Our measurement scenarios demonstrate the perfect balance between comfort and efficiency. Across both coastal and inland conditions, the PCM climate ceiling maintains a stable, pleasant indoor temperature, ensuring a seamless user experience without drafts or fluctuations. At the same time, the system delivers significant energy and cost savings proving that high comfort and smart energy management can go hand in hand.
HOT DAY - WARM NIGHT SCENARIO
This scenario reflects typical Mediterranean coastal conditions, such as in Barcelona, where the difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures remains relatively small. Even with limited night-time cooling potential, the system maintains strong performance and delivers measurable savings.
Under these conditions, daily energy consumption was reduced by 42.4%, resulting in 48.4% cost savings.
HOT DAY - COOL NIGHT SCENARIO
This scenario highlights the impact of temperature swing. In Barcelona, the typical Mediterranean coastal climate brings only a small difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures. In inland cities such as Madrid, however, larger temperature drops at night significantly improve system efficiency.
The data clearly demonstrates the potential for inland locations: daily energy consumption was reduced by 58.3%, delivering 62.7% in cost savings.
USER EXPERIENCE
Users report an outstanding experience with the PCM climate ceiling. Feedback highlights exceptional thermal comfort, with the passive surface cooling creating a consistently pleasant indoor temperature. Acoustic performance also exceeded expectations — employees didn’t notice any changes to the suspended ceiling, even in an office without sound-absorbing surfaces, confirming the system delivers comfort without compromising the workspace environment.
