Seed& reduces electricity bills by 14% through leaf temperature management

- Solving the Climate Crisis, Reducing Electricity Bills, and ESG Simultaneously... Expanding Demand for B2B Companies
- Customized Control to Eco-Friendly Spaces by AI Without Human Intervention

This year experienced unprecedented heatwaves due to abnormal climate phenomena. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the nationwide average temperature during the summer of 2024 was 25.6°C, marking the hottest day since 1973. The increased use of air conditioners due to the heatwave and the Korea Electric Power Corporation's electricity rate hike are expected to increase the economic burden on businesses and small merchants. Amid forecasts of a record-breaking cold wave this winter, the temperature management service "Leaf" by SeedN (CEO Choi Hyun-woong), a building energy management solutions company, is gaining attention for helping reduce heating and cooling energy consumption.

The Leaf temperature management service can be used anywhere temperature control is needed, such as franchise stores and office spaces, which are usually managed with excessive cooling or heating. According to officials, "Leaf provides an effect similar to using one month’s worth of electricity for free in a year and greatly helps reduce store operating costs."

In fact, according to SeedN, a comparison between about 50 stores that adopted the temperature management service and those that did not showed that the average electricity bill for one summer month differed by more than 300,000 KRW compared to the previous year’s same period, with total savings amounting to 21 million KRW. SeedN CEO Choi Hyun-woong said, "Stores that recently adopted the service showed a very strong will to save energy," adding, "It is planned to be sequentially applied to about 1,000 stores nationwide, with a goal of reducing electricity bills by more than 100 million KRW per month."

They were also very confident about savings in winter. Among the Leaf-operated stores, there was a case of reducing electricity usage by an average of 13% compared to the same month of the previous year, with the best-managed store saving about 2 million KRW in electricity costs. A client stated, "Through Leaf, we reduced heating and cooling costs and energy consumption, easing operational burdens," and added, "We also experienced ESG benefits through carbon emission reductions resulting from energy savings."

SeedN CEO Choi Hyun-woong said, "With electricity rate hikes and unprecedented heatwaves and cold waves due to the climate crisis, ESG management has become a key issue, leading to a surge in B2B companies seeking the AI temperature management solution Leaf," adding, "Companies and small merchants adopting Leaf have felt the energy-saving effects, and product sales increased by 800% compared to the previous year, achieving remarkable growth. Going forward, we aim to improve overall building energy management efficiency by developing additional saving points such as lighting, switches, and outlets, hoping to provide great help during difficult times."

SeedN is currently raising a Series A round investment worth 10 billion KRW. Riding this momentum, they plan to accelerate global expansion into Japan and Southeast Asia. Next year, they are preparing to supply Leaf to large franchises in overseas markets such as Taiwan and Singapore. Additionally, they were recently selected as an excellent company in the Shinsegae ESG support project and chosen for the 1000+ Super Gap Startup project conducted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, currently carrying out related tasks.