[Climate Tech Battle⑦] Seed& Leads 'Energy Innovation' Through Indoor Temperature Management

Interview with Choi Hyun-woong, CEO of Seed&
AI autonomously finds optimal temperature to control HVAC
Goal is to become a comprehensive energy management company

In summer, you can see people covering themselves with blankets in cafes or offices because the air conditioner wind feels too strong. In winter, turning off the heater makes it cold, while turning it on can feel stuffy. This happens because each person perceives temperature differently. SeedN is a startup that has stepped up to solve this problem of energy loss occurring in daily life. It does so through intelligent Internet of Things (AIoT) technology that finds the optimal indoor temperature based on real-time collected temperature and humidity data.

Choi Hyun-woong, CEO of Seed& (left), is checking the 'Leaf' sensor, hub, etc. with Hong Won-jin, Vice President. Photo by Seed&

On the 29th, Choi Hyun-woong, CEO of SeedN, said, “Among building energy consumption, heating and cooling systems account for the largest share, so we first created a platform to optimize their operation and management,” adding, “Proper temperature management is essential to ultimately create the good world we want.” Choi, who majored in architectural engineering at university, founded SeedN in 2015 after wanting to apply his research in energy to real-world situations while working at an energy research company.

SeedN’s temperature management solution, ‘Leaf,’ consists of sensors, hubs, and controllers. Wireless temperature and humidity sensors are attached throughout the building to collect data on temperature, humidity, air quality, and the actual thermal energy perceived by people in the space. The sensors are positioned about 130 to 150 cm above the floor. While conventional HVAC temperature and humidity sensors measure temperature based on the installation area such as ceilings or corners, Leaf manages temperature centered on the ‘people’ actually active in the space.

When data collected by the sensors is transmitted to the server via the hub, Leaf independently analyzes which heating or cooling units to turn on or off and the appropriate wind strength, and the controller executes the results accordingly. Leaf updates the optimal temperature range every 10 minutes by reflecting real-time variables. CEO Choi explained, “Even if you drive the same model car the same distance, think about which uses more fuel: the one that frequently accelerates and brakes without navigation, or the one that follows the navigation for the shortest route. Leaf can simultaneously control multiple heating and cooling units, automatically manage operation schedules by setting operating hours by day, and operate only during desired times using a timer function.”

What SeedN aims to achieve through temperature management is an ‘energy revolution.’ It seeks to gather wasted energy from excessive heating and cooling to create significant energy savings. CEO Choi said, “When viewing heating and cooling costs as 100, places that have adopted Leaf have achieved savings ranging from 37-38% up to 52%. Although it is difficult to unify due to different environments such as marts, clothing stores, and cafes, we want to reduce differences by field and reach up to 60% savings compared to before.”

Seed&'s 'Leaf' sensor is attached to the wall.
[Photo by Seed&]

SeedN also contributes to reducing carbon emissions. After introducing Leaf to a global clothing brand’s stores, the carbon emissions reduced over 12 months amounted to 41.63 tons, equivalent to planting 10,152 pine trees. As of last year, SeedN provided Leaf services to over 300 locations.

This year, SeedN is developing local system infrastructure compatibility to enter the Taiwanese and Japanese markets. Through expanding domestic services and overseas expansion, the company plans to increase its sales from 1 billion KRW last year to the 10 billion KRW range this year.

The goal is to become a ‘comprehensive energy management company.’ This means managing not only heating and cooling systems but also other electrical power within buildings, such as lighting. CEO Choi said, “If we move toward a total solution, it will have a more positive impact on carbon neutrality,” adding, “We want to practice the slogan ‘Better for Us, Better for Earth.’”

The air conditioner equipped with the Seed& 'Leaf' controller
[Photo provided by Seed&]

Editor's NoteThe ‘carbon war’ has begun. From the distant goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 to the immediate necessity of responding to the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) ? a mandatory export requirement ? our economy has been thrown into the battlefield of technological innovation. The amount of carbon emissions reducible with currently commercialized technology is less than half of the projected global emissions in 2050. Rapid and bold climate tech innovation is urgently needed. Here, we listen to the stories of those who have stepped up to this challenge.