The journey to a modern EMS/BMS: how it works…
Energy & facility managers are experiencing fast-paced business and technology changes that are redefining how properties can best be managed. Yet many find themselves still relying on legacy equipment and systems that have reached their limit to further increase efficiency and reduce cost. So, what can NexRev do to help? To find out, read on.
Facilities managers today are working in rapidly changing terrain. After a long period of generally established best practices, the underlying architecture of the industry is undergoing a revolution. In large part, that’s the result of sweeping advancements in technology, which have ushered in new and often better ways of managing portfolios.
The obvious example of these advances is the Internet of Things, which in many domains enables a degree control over various operational parameters that was previously out of reach. Another example is Artificial Intelligence, the incoming impact of which we read and hear about almost every day.
Fully leveraged, new technologies can provide a real benefit. The question is, what’s required to leverage them? It’s a critical question because one thing we know already is that relying on outdated, legacy systems to exploit advances in modern technology isn’t a recipe for success. Fine-tuning performance in today’s evolving landscape needs the latest technology that has room to grow into the future.
Out with the old?
Let’s demonstrate the point with proof, which in this case comes from the experiences of a US-based national chain that has over 1,500 outlets ranging from the smaller shop to the superstore, and sales that have exceeded $1 billion. It’s a big business with a lot of different floorplans to manage, a lot of HVAC systems to maintain, and a significant opportunity to optimize energy efficiency.
The company’s story begins with an increasing awareness that new technologies might help it improve its commercial performance and, simultaneously, a growing recognition that the legacy systems it was using to manage its properties simply no longer “met our needs.” After a period of assessment, the company concluded that a change was needed if it was to take advantage of the cost reduction opportunities new technologies offered. But it had to figure out the answer to two simple questions: “what systems?” and “what should we do”?
To make a long story short
Maintaining business as usual wasn’t considered an option as extensive research had made it clear that moving on from legacy systems would provide significant energy savings across its property portfolio. After investigations into all the alternatives in the field, the company decided on two solutions from NexRev as the best way to upgrade its technology infrastructure.
First, it would deploy DrivePak™, an energy-saving upgrade package for rooftop air conditioning units found in quantity on nearly all retail and commercial facilities. And second, it would install Freedom™, a multi-site cloud-based EMS/BMS for managing remote sensors, monitoring equipment, and providing a single view of energy consumption and other key metrics.
Process management
The company decided to first implement DrivePak to provide the most immediate cost reduction wins while tailoring and testing Freedom to achieve its precise requirements before deployment.
DrivePak delivered the anticipated quick win. That the relationship between speed and power in a motor can, when optimized, lead to energy savings of up to 50% when a fan’s speed is reduced by only 20% is well established and DrivePak resulted in this happening.
DrivePak was installed into all the company’s individual rooftop units, then programmed locally using precise measurements and proprietary NexRev configuration toolsets and software.
The transition to NexRev Freedom was both more involved and more interesting. The company housed several different subsidiary retail brands, each different in their nature and each with its own specific EMS programming requirements. The company wanted to be able to meet these individual needs while also duplicating its corporate policy standards for facilities across all its brands and divisions. NexRev Freedom provided the ability to easily integrate the portfolio within a single EMS that is instantly responsive and remotely controls facilities to reduce or remove the need to send technicians out to make basic changes to the system whenever issues arose.
It worked! (FIVE big wins)
If you want to know what happened next, please download the complete Case Study which covers the full extent of the work undertaken in some detail.
You can download it here.
But if you’re not already convinced that that’s worth reading, we’ll end by giving you an insight into the results the transformation achieved. They included:
- Reductions in power usage through NexRev Freedom & DrivePak have allowed the company to renegotiate utility contract demand rates with multiple energy providers.
- DrivePak alone reduced overall location energy costs by up to 28%.
- Equipment ROI has increased with DrivePak as asset life span has been extended due to smoother start. Maintenance has also been reduced with filter & belt replacements becoming less frequent as a result of better controlled air flow.
- Like-for-like savings accrued when Freedom’s performance is compared to that of the legacy EMS are in the range of 10%-15%.
- Truck rolls (service calls) have been reduced by 5%-10% since Freedom’s implementation because many actions can now be taken remotely.
Into the future
A summary? If you’re a portfolio manager wondering how to move into the future of facilities management, the full Case Study is can’t-miss reading (remember, you can download it HERE). Working with an outdated system infrastructure leaves you unable to fully leverage the benefits of the many technology advances that are now redefining your business. DrivePak and Freedom change the equation. And if you want to learn even more, talk to NexRev.
The company in this case has stressed that above all, NexRev acted as a team member, not a vendor and took the time to listen and develop an understanding of all the issues that needed to be addressed before offering its solution. Moving facilities management into the 21st century is, perhaps understandably, not only a question of choosing the right technology but also (as has always been the case) finding the right people and partners too.
About NexRev
At NexRev, we’ve been unlocking the power of facility and energy management data with over a million connected devices across North America. Our team of experts is focused on helping you deliver more with your budgets, infrastructure, and assets to create sustainable savings in operations and energy, reducing your risk and increasing operational confidence.
To begin a discussion on how we can help you to reduce energy waste please email us at