TLJ Access Control, in partnership with Nido, was shortlisted as a finalist for the Smart Sustainability Initiative award for the development and implementation of the EcoBolt. This initiative addresses a specific unintended consequence of the digital transition in the hospitality and student housing sectors: the loss of energy-saving mechanisms as physical key cards are replaced by mobile keys. Without a card to trigger a room’s power supply, lighting and HVAC systems often remain active in unoccupied rooms. The EcoBolt reintroduces intelligent energy management by integrating a Bluetooth-enabled device directly into the door’s deadbolt mechanism, automatically controlling the room's power state based on whether the door is locked or unlocked.

In the short term, the objective is to provide a seamless, hardware-based solution that reduces unnecessary electricity consumption without requiring manual intervention from residents. By linking power activation to the physical act of locking the door, the system ensures that utilities are only consumed when a room is in use. Early pilot results at a PBSA development have already demonstrated the scale of this impact, delivering energy reductions equivalent to approximately £188 in electricity costs per room per year. This immediate financial and environmental saving highlights the efficiency of the "EcoBolt" in addressing the sustainability gap created by modern access control technologies.

‍

Looking toward the future, the long-term goal is to scale this technology across large residential portfolios to drive building-wide energy efficiency and support global "net zero" targets. For operators managing hundreds or thousands of beds, the cumulative impact of these modest per-room savings represents a significant reduction in a building’s overall carbon footprint. The initiative aims to set a new industry standard for smart buildings, proving that security and sustainability can be integrated into a single, automated infrastructure. Ultimately, TLJ Access Control seeks to demonstrate that the future of student living lies in "invisible" technology that protects both the asset and the environment while maintaining a frictionless experience for the resident.

‍