It has long been a dream for corporate building managers to prevent energy loss from equipment that is not in use – also known as “energy vampires”.
According to Environment + Energy Leader, Honeywell’s Connected Power solution does just that. It allows corporate building managers to automatically turn off certain outlets at specific times. They can align this schedule with the anticipated use of the spaces.
According to the U.S. General Services Administration, 25 to 50 percent of a company building’s total energy use comes from its electrical outlets. That number increases as the building becomes more efficient, since electrical outlets have always been difficult to manufacture and the devices that use them use less power.
It might be tempting to blame individual employees. They could simply unplug appliances when they are not in use. After all, that is what they have to do at home if they want to save money.
However, when Honeywell commissioned Wakefield Research to conduct a study on the subject, it turned out that employees disagree. More than 80% of employees believe that their employer is just as responsible as they are when it comes to the power consumption of appliances and plugs.
While employees still need to do their part, employers can use Connected Power to help them reduce the company’s electricity consumption. Even the most responsible employees sometimes forget to unplug devices or are called away in an emergency situation. In such a case, Connected Power can ensure that their devices are not left on as energy guzzlers until they return.
Connected Power also has some emergency provisions. Users of devices that are about to lose power will receive messages informing them of the impending shutdown so they can take necessary action beforehand.
Honeywell has already introduced Connected Power options in some buildings. Those who have implemented it and reported on it say it is easy to install and that they saw the benefits immediately.
Buildings don’t need to use Honeywell for anything else, as Connected Power can be integrated into many of the existing building management systems. It can also work independently of those systems, but can only manage up to 2,500 outlets this way.
According to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, commercial buildings use 35% of all electricity in the U.S. and produce 16% of total carbon dioxide emissions. Reducing their electricity use would reduce their dependence on dirty energy.
Integrated systems like Honeywell’s, which allow targeted control of sockets, could be a first step towards significantly reducing the planet-warming pollution caused by energy consumption.
If you work in a corporate building, try talking to your building manager. Ask if they have heard of the Connected Power system and ask if they would be willing to learn more about it. You can help your company save a lot of money on electricity costs and reduce its environmental impact.
Subscribe to our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations Improving our lives And Shaping our futureand don’t miss this cool list of simple ways you can help yourself and the planet at the same time.
