Smarter energy use with real-time data

Koole Controls, a specialist in automation hardware for holiday parks, supplies the devices that manage heating inside each accommodation. Maxxton, Europe’s leading property management platform, connects that hardware to your live booking data.

When the PMS marks a unit as empty, the system drops the temperature to 14 degrees. On the day of arrival, Maxxton signals Koole’s system to begin warming in time for check-in. Guests step into a comfortable space, while you avoid the cost of round-the-clock heating. Unlike consumer tools such as Nest, which only react once someone is inside, this setup pre-heats in advance because it knows the booking schedule.

The system also predicts how long it takes to reach the target temperature. If a bungalow needs six hours to warm by six degrees, it will begin at 9 a.m. to ensure 20 degrees by 3 p.m. That calculation can be adjusted per unit, taking into account layout or insulation.

You can also set sensible limits. Some guests turn thermostats up too high in search of cosiness, but that drives energy use far beyond what’s needed. With climate control, you cap the maximum at 25 degrees. Guests still enjoy warmth and comfort, but your resources are protected.

The savings add up

Energy savings aren’t abstract. The results from Koole’s pilots show exactly what operators can expect in practice.

• Accommodation 1 (6-person): Energy use fell by around 10–15%, with savings of up to 280 kWh over the test period.
  
  
• Accommodation 2 (8-person): Savings reached 16–22%, translating to more than 400 kWh avoided.
  
  
• Accommodation 3 (14-person): The largest unit delivered the biggest gains, with savings climbing to 37% . equal to almost 1,000 kWh less energy consumed compared to the reference home.

The reason for this is scale. The bigger the unit, the more energy is wasted on unnecessary heating when no one is inside. Smart setback during nights and changeovers makes a measurable difference, and those gains grow with the size of the accommodation.

Even when units were fully occupied, the savings came through. Night-time setback lowered temperatures to 18 degrees, then raised them again before morning. Changeovers added another layer of efficiency: the system cut heating as soon as one guest checked out, then restarted just in time for the next arrival.

That’s money back in your budget without guests ever noticing a dip in comfort. But the impact isn’t only financial. Smooth operations matter just as much, and this is where the system also cuts down on staff labour. With fewer complaints reaching reception and maintenance tasks created automatically, your team spends less time firefighting and more time keeping the park running smoothly.

And that shift opens the door to an even greater benefit: identifying and resolving issues before they ever reach your guests.

Predicting problems before they arise

The system does more than regulate temperatures. By monitoring performance, Koole can flag issues before they become complaints. When that data is pushed into Maxxton’s Operations Manager, a work order is created automatically. Maintenance staff view the task in the same app they already use for housekeeping and repairs, rather than switching to a separate tool.

This predictive maintenance reduces energy waste and removes the cycle of complaints, logging and callouts. Staff spend less time reacting and more time maintaining smooth operations. As one example, engineers have been able to repair a boiler while the guest is still enjoying hot water, preventing the dreaded cold shower moment. Once you’ve seen the impact on energy use and guest satisfaction, the next step is scale.

Pilot to park-wide rollout

Koole’s approach is simple: start small, then scale up. A pilot doesn’t just measure saving; it shows how well the hardware integrates with Maxxton’s software in your daily workflows. Your staff learn to trust the dashboards and alerts. Once the process is proven, you can roll it out across dozens of units with confidence. In many cases, entire parks of 150 or more accommodations have been fitted after a successful test.

This focus on onboarding matters. Guests expect sustainability not to mean inconvenience. A system that saves energy but leaves people feeling cold won’t succeed. Climate control works because it balances both goals: it lowers costs without lowering comfort. And those results don’t just stay in your systems. They provide the proof that today’s travellers are asking to see.

Turning data into guest trust

Travellers say they want sustainable options, yet nearly half admit they can’t tell which accommodations genuinely deliver. At the same time, 43 per cent are willing to pay more when they see proof. That puts the advantage firmly with parks that can show measurable results.

Climate control provides that proof. The data is clear: six-person units save up to 15%, eight-person units over 20%, and the largest accommodations more than a third. Those reductions translate into lower energy bills, fewer emissions, and smoother daily operations. Guests feel the comfort, while operators see the difference in both reviews and budgets.

Nearly three-quarters of travellers say action on sustainability can’t wait. For operators, that urgency is an opening. Invest now, and you lead on cost savings, on guest trust, and on impact. Delay, and the gap will only grow.

Climate control shows that efficiency and experience don’t compete; they strengthen each other. For your park, that means higher margins and a clearer sustainability story. For your guests, it means a holiday where the welcome stays warm, and the footprint stays small.