Encycle - Experts & Thought Leaders

Encycle Corporation, a software technology company focused on helping commercial and industrial customers dramatically improve the efficiency of their HVAC systems and energy efficiency programs using IoT-enabled services, is pleased to announce the expansion of its SwarmLogic™energy management technology to the heating side of HVAC system optimization. Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) offering Swarm Logic deployed on cooling systems has been the mainstay of Encycle’s autonomous Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) offering until now. The development and testing of Swarm Logic for heating have been underway for over a year. Its unveiling comes at an opportunistic time for Encycle’s current and potential customers who, like everyone else, are bracing for exponentially higher electric and gas utility bills this heating season, with natural gas prices jumping 112% since January 2021. The alarming price increase will directly affect customers with gas-fired furnaces and electric heating customers whose electricity is supplied by gas-fired power plants. energy management solution Customers save 10% to 30% on HVAC energy consumption, spending, and emissions with verified results Swarm Logic is a proven energy management solution that has been successfully deployed at over 1,000 sites with 10,000 rooftop units (RTUs). Typical Encycle customers save 10% to 30% on HVAC energy consumption, spending, and emissions with results verified by independent third-party reviews. “Facing the burden of much higher heating bills this winter, companies already struggling from the economic and labor effects of the COVID-19 pandemic now have a new financial threat to contend with,” said Steve Alexander, Encycle President, and COO. reduce peak demand and consumption “With HVAC accounting for as much as 40% of a building’s overall energy consumption and spend, customers will be scrambling to find new opportunities to reduce peak demand and consumption,” Alexander added. “Swarm Logic provides a compelling and low-risk solution, requiring little to no capital expenditures and delivering 2X to 5X returns on program fees almost immediately after deployment.” AI-enhanced technology RTUs become part of a closed-loop system that coordinates RTU activity, balancing energy consumption more logically Swarm Logic can be integrated with a building automation system (BAS), connected thermostats, and IoT-enabled equipment to dynamically synergize power-hungry HVAC rooftop units (RTUs). The AI-enhanced technology enables RTUs to operate most efficiently in response to changing conditions such as outdoor temperature, building occupancy levels, and RTU performance. Instead of operating in isolation, the RTUs become part of a closed-loop system that coordinates RTU activity, balancing energy consumption more logically among the individual RTUs. This approach maximizes efficiency while maintaining desired building comfort levels. Using energy efficiently “Encycle is committed to helping large enterprise-scale companies and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) use energy wisely and efficiently," said Ana-Paula Issa, Encycle’s Executive Vice President of Sales. “We offer different cloud-based solutions that integrate seamlessly with our customers’ existing hardware and equipment, allowing for swift and affordable deployment. There’s no need for extensive site studies, and our Swarm Logic software is highly scalable across portfolios containing one site or hundreds of sites.”   Benefits of Swarm Logic technology Encycle serves a broad range of markets, including retail stores, grocery stores, shopping centers, restaurants, entertainment venues, offices, schools, distribution centers, and light/medium manufacturing. Customers whose buildings range from 7,500 square feet to 2 million square feet or more realize the greatest benefit from Encycle’s Swarm Logic technology.

Encycle Corporation, a software technology company focused on helping commercial enterprise and utility customers dramatically improve the efficiency of their HVAC systems using IoT-enabled services announced a new set of patented data-driven tools that allow facility managers to gain unprecedented visibility into the maintenance and efficiency of their HVAC assets. easy-to-use platform With Swarm IQ, Encycle customers subscribed to the company’s Swarm Logic® energy management technology have access to automated fault detection of HVAC rooftop units (RTUs) across their entire building and enterprise-wide portfolios. Swarm IQ provides actionable intelligence that helps companies become more proactive with their HVAC maintenance activities and more efficient in budget spending. The unique value-added technology is visualized through Swarm Portal™, which leverages Encycle’s web-based reporting and analytics capabilities. The easy-to-use platform provides intuitive insights into Swarm Logic performance, energy savings, and the health and operations of HVAC assets. preventive maintenance scheduling Swarm IQ’s fault detection benefits include: Automated detection of HVAC issues Moves customers into proactive, preventive maintenance More efficient facilities management and budgetary spend We are enhancing our autonomous suite of offerings developed for enterprise-level customers to reduce costs" “Swarm IQ’s powerful new functionality helps Encycle customers go one step further with their preventive maintenance scheduling, identifying equipment issues early on so they can be remedied before they become an even costlier problem,” said Steve Alexander, Encycle President, and COO. “We are continually enhancing our autonomous suite of offerings developed for enterprise-level customers and utility customers to help them reduce their operational costs and meet sustainability goals,” Alexander added.  game-changing transformational technology Encycle’s Executive Vice President of Sales, Ana-Paula Issa, notes that Swarm IQ differentiates Encycle from other HVAC energy management service companies. “Our Swarm Logic technology is unique in itself, providing commercial and industrial customers with unprecedented HVAC energy savings,” Issa remarked. “Swarm IQ adds a crucial layer of actionable intelligence that removes yet another burden for facility staff while empowering them to reduce their energy consumption and related emissions autonomously. Swarm Logic is truly a game-changing transformational technology that’s pushing buildings to become smarter while requiring little or no capital investment to enjoy substantial rewards,” Issa continued. energy management solution The AI-enhanced technology enables RTUs to operate most efficiently in response to changing conditions Swarm Logic is a multi-patented, proven energy management solution that has been successfully deployed at over 1,000 sites and 10,000 rooftop units (RTUs). Typical Encycle customers save 10% to 20% on HVAC energy consumption, spending, and emissions with results verified by independent third-party reviews. Swarm Logic can be integrated with a building automation system (BAS), connected thermostats, and IoT-enabled equipment to dynamically synergize power-hungry HVAC rooftop units (RTUs). The AI-enhanced technology enables RTUs to operate most efficiently in response to changing conditions such as outdoor temperature, building occupancy levels, and RTU performance. Maximizing energy and comfort Instead of operating in isolation, the RTUs become part of a closed-loop system that coordinates RTU activity, balancing energy consumption more logically among the individual RTUs. This approach maximizes efficiency while maintaining desired building comfort levels. Encycle serves a broad range of markets, including retail stores, grocery stores, shopping centers, restaurants, entertainment venues, offices, schools, distribution centers, and light/medium manufacturing. Customers whose buildings range from 7,500 square feet to 2 million square feet or more realize the greatest benefit from Encycle’s Swarm Logic technology.

Encycle Corporation (Encycle), a software technology company focused on helping commercial and industrial customers dramatically improve the efficiency of their HVAC systems and energy efficiency programs, using IoT-enabled services, has officially introduced its SwarmStat Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) offering, which is aimed at Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs).  SwarmStat, cloud-based Solution SwarmStat is a cloud-based, enterprise-level solution that delivers Encycle’s multi-patented Swarm Logic energy management software to customers via connected thermostats. The technology integrates with several thermostat manufacturers’ product lines, in order to provide a unique value proposition and add a new suite of next-generation control and reporting capabilities. With SwarmStat, customers can create a ‘Virtual BAS’ and realize many of the same features of a complex and expensive building automation system (BAS) for a fraction of the cost. Remote management of setpoints and group scheduling SMB customers who deploy SwarmStat typically reduce their HVAC electricity costs and emissions by 10% to 30% These features include remote management of setpoints and group scheduling, plus easy-to-understand energy and HVAC unit operational reporting and analytics, which shift maintenance activities from reactive to proactive, in order to help preserve HVAC equipment investments. SMB customers who deploy SwarmStat typically reduce their HVAC electricity costs and emissions by 10% to 30%. Following a soft launch of SwarmStat, the service has already been deployed across thousands of HVAC systems. Third-party independent reviews confirm that SwarmStat nearly doubles the energy savings of a connected thermostat.  Increased use of cloud deployment Robert Chiste, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Encycle Corporation, said “Traditional approaches to HVAC energy efficiency in the SMB market have had limited success, as they required significant capital expenditures, increased complexity in operating and maintaining HVAC systems, and delivered inadequate returns on investment.” Robert Chiste adds, “With the increased use of cloud deployment, Encycle allows building managers to coordinate their automation strategies with compatible connected thermostats for swift deployment and scalable operation.” Swarm Logic integrates with building automation system Swarm Logic can be integrated with a building automation system (BAS), connected thermostats, and IoT-enabled equipment, in order to dynamically synergize power-hungry HVAC rooftop units (RTUs). The AI-enhanced technology enables RTUs to operate most efficiently, in response to changing conditions, such as outdoor temperature, building occupancy levels, and RTU performance. Instead of operating in isolation, the RTUs become part of a closed-loop system that coordinates RTU activity, balancing energy consumption more logically among the individual RTUs. This approach maximizes efficiency while maintaining desired building comfort levels. Autonomous solutions help meet ESG goals Encycle’s Swarm Logic technology is transforming the HVAC industry, providing building owners with autonomous solutions" Robert Chiste stated, “Encycle’s Swarm Logic technology is transforming the HVAC industry, providing building owners with autonomous solutions that help them meet their energy-based sustainability goals.” He adds, “Many SMB companies and utility energy efficiency programs have already substantially reduced their energy costs, by embracing the emergence of LED lighting technology over the past five to ten years. These entities are now looking for the ‘next big thing’ in energy efficiency, with HVAC being a natural target given that it accounts for as much as 40% of a building’s overall energy consumption and spend.” Economically feasible energy efficiency solutions Ana-Paula Issa, the Executive Vice President of Sales at Encycle, said “The SMB market has been very underserved, mostly because it’s been difficult to offer economically feasible energy efficiency solutions in the past.” Ana-Paula Issa adds, “SwarmStat dramatically changes the status quo, providing SMB companies with significant energy efficiency gains that are affordable and meet critical requirements such as desired comfort environments for customers and employees.” Encycle Encycle serves a broad range of industries, including retail stores, grocery stores, shopping centers, restaurants, entertainment venues, offices, schools, distribution centers, and light/medium manufacturing. Customers, whose buildings range from 7,500 square feet to 2 million square feet or more inland space, realize the greatest benefit from Encycle’s Swarm Logic technology.

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. 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.”