Rooftop units (RTUs) withstand a lion’s share of the burden, when it comes to heating and cooling commercial buildings, and they also represent a big portion of a building’s impact on global warming. Traditional low-tech approaches to controlling RTUs have failed to address global warming concerns, and these units, operating independently, may not even deliver sufficiently on the climate demands of a building.
Intelligent approach to managing energy demand
Providing an intelligent approach to managing energy demand and consumption of RTUs, Encycle Inc. enables multiple RTUs in a large building to operate as a coordinated system. Encycle’s Swarm Logic cloud-based control system also enables RTUs to operate more efficiently, using less energy and minimizing their impact on sustainability. Performance improves in the process.
“When you look at RTUs today, they are not the smartest things in the world,” said Ana-Paula Issa, Encycle’s Executive Vice President (EVP) of Sales, adding “The building is an environment, and RTUs need to work together. If we want to maintain 72 degrees in the building, what is the most efficient amount of energy we can use to get there and to run the units as a coordinated system?”
Swarm Logic cloud system
The intelligent approach offers more flexibility and provides the ability to lower costs
The Swarm Logic cloud system collects data from a building’s automation system (BAS), analyzes the data, and operates the building’s RTUs in response to that analysis. The system operates 24/7 and makes independent considerations every five minutes to fine-tune the path to greater efficiency and less energy usage. The operation happens behind the scenes without impacting occupancy comfort. Ana-Paula Issa adds, “For customers, the whole thing is autonomous, they just wait for the savings.”
The intelligent approach offers more flexibility and provides the ability to lower costs without impacting occupant comfort. The proposition is especially desirable when compared to processes such as load limiting and load shedding, which can impact occupant comfort.
Driven by artificial intelligence (AI)
“It’s a more intelligent way to lower consumption,” said Ana-Paula Issa, adding “If you are trying to affect building load profile 24/7, we bring an intelligence factor that looks at set points and analyzes how long RTUs will take to get there.”
Swarm Logic considers data points, such as temperature set points, energy draw, run time, the weather, and the thermal load. Driven by artificial intelligence (AI), the system learns and adjusts on the fly to maximize operational efficiency.
Similar approach to Google Maps
Ana-Paula Issa compares the approach to Google Maps: You plug in a destination (in this comparison, a desired climate control target), and the system creates the quickest, easiest, shortest way to get to the destination. In effect, it provides an intelligent approach to demand and consumption management for RTUs.
“We help customers with demand response to help alleviate grid stress and to generate revenue,” said Ana-Paula Issa. The system considers ‘peak demand costs’ in addition to kilowatt hour (kWh) charges and drives operation to minimize the expensive electricity rates, during high demand periods and to maximize use of lower-cost energy when demand is lower.
Meeting carbon reduction and sustainability goals
The system calculates energy savings and utility base charges, in addition to targeting sustainability goals, primarily carbon reduction. Reducing energy usage during peak demand times can earn a utility customer a lower billing rate.
Encycle was founded with an environmental mission, focused on climate change and to manage the impact of general business prospects on climate. Because commercial buildings make up the largest share of energy demand on the grid, it provided a logical place to start.
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| The system calculates energy savings and utility base charges |
Helping energy managers’ report on carbon reduction
“A lot of commercial buildings have made a commitment to sustainability, including a reduction in kWh and carbon,” said Ana-Paula Issa, adding “We are helping energy managers to report on carbon reductions, as well as reducing them. For everything we do on the reduction side, we provide carbon reporting information.”
Encycle’s system is applicable to any application that uses RTUs, including large retail stores, and entertainment venues such as movie theatres, arcades, and restaurants. In the education market, they have had a couple of schools sign up.
Swarm Stat program
The Swarm Stat program provides customers the benefits of the Swarm Logic cloud system
The Swarm Stat program provides customers the benefits of the Swarm Logic cloud system, using data from smart thermostats, provided by manufacturers, such as Carrier and Honeywell.
The Swarm Logic system works well with buildings in the range of 10,000 to 15,000 square feet, which might have 5 to 7 RTUs, and for commercial buildings that might have 20 or 30 RTUs. Energy savings are achieved with any system that has three RTUs or more.
Swarm Logic includes a customer portal providing information on energy costs, RTU performance (including individual RTU operation data), and the overall building profile.
Swarm IQ module analyzes data from the BAS
An add-on module, Swarm IQ, analyzes data from the BAS, in order to provide additional insight, including trouble-shooting on thousands of units controlled by a typical end-user (such as a large retailer).
Historically, problematic buildings or units were only identified when they developed an outage. In contrast, Swarm IQ can see the energy profile of a building and unit, and how long it takes to get to a temperature set point (which might suggest an imminent problem).
System-wide analysis
System-wide analysis of a large enterprise’s various locations can target the ‘10 worst-performing sites’, for example. In effect, the system creates actionable data that promotes a proactive approach to maintaining the efficient operation of RTUs.
“We work with customers to enable them to be more predictive about their maintenance and avoid expensive truck rolls, which include additional charges in case of an emergency,” said Ana-Paula Issa, adding “If you know a unit is going to fail, you can take care of the issue as part of maintenance.” Swarm IQ also enables customers to spend their maintenance dollars more efficiently. A key to Encycle’s success is a close partnership with customers.”
Ana-Paula Issa concludes, “When it comes to customers, we want to be a good partner. We’re not just trying to drive energy savings and carbonization goals. We listen to customers; we are driven by customer requests. We have developed the tools we have working with customers and respond to their requests. We have a happy relationship with customers who come on board.”
