A partnership between Bromford and Senze is helping customers, and us as their landlord better understand their homes and improve energy efficiency.
More than 100 homes are now fitted with discreet Senze smart sensors that track data points including temperature and humidity. Customers gain insights into how their home performs and simple actions they can take to improve comfort and reduce bills.
The data also helps Bromford plan retrofit work more efficiently. Stacey Ellis and Courtney Brindley, two customers taking part, shared their experiences of the quick and non-disruptive installation process.
Courtney also shared that one room often feels colder, and she’s keen to see if the data can help improve it.
As part of the sensor installation, each home is also digitally “twinned” using LiDAR scanning. The primary aim is to capture precise room-level measurements that, when paired with sensor data, provide a clearer and more accurate picture of how energy is used throughout the property. This enables smarter, data-driven decisions around energy performance and retrofit priorities.
A further benefit is that these detailed measurements reduce the need for surveyors to take manual readings. This allows them to focus on higher-value tasks, while also minimising disruption for customers.
“Using real data means we aren’t relying on assumptions," said Michael Craggs, Development & Asset Management Innovation Lead at Bromford. "We can make smarter decisions that are genuinely based on how the home is performing, avoiding unintended consequences from traditional retrofit methods.”
For customers like Stacey Ellis, the main goal is simple: lower bills and a warmer, more efficient home.
Senze, the technology provider supporting the project, supplies the sensors and software platform that combine digital twin models with real-time environmental data. This approach enables housing providers like Bromford to monitor building performance, assess energy use, and plan retrofit measures with greater accuracy.
“This partnership is all about empowering decisions with evidence,” said Tom Fenton, CEO of Senze. “By combining digital twins and real-time sensor data, we’re moving away from assumptions and towards precise, efficient retrofit planning. The end result is a better experience for customers with warmer homes, lower bills, and fewer disruptions along the way.”
With installations well underway, the next phase will focus on analysing the data to shape future retrofit plans and improve energy performance. This will involve examining trends in temperature, humidity, and energy usage captured by the sensors.
The insights gained will help prioritise retrofit projects where they’re most needed, and plan upgrades more effectively. At the same time, customers will be better equipped to understand their energy use and take simple, informed steps to improve comfort and reduce costs.
