Honeywell has introduced Connected Power, a solution that helps monitor, manage and automate buildings' power usage at the plug level. The solution offers insights into where energy is being used – and wasted – across North America.
According to a recent Honeywell survey, fewer than 1-in-5 employees unplug devices when they are not using them, and more than 80% of employees say their employer is equally as responsible as they are for controlling power usage on devices.
With Connected Power, building managers across North America can autonomously power down unused outlets based on space usage schedules or occupancy data, while also improving safety. The solution's connected outlets use existing wiring infrastructure and link to a digital dashboard, making it possible for building managers to monitor and control the energy consumption of each power outlet, or an entire area, from one screen with a few clicks.
"Unplugging a modern electronic device is different from simply turning it off. Many people do not realize how much energy is being wasted by devices that are plugged in and then forgotten. For buildings, this energy waste adds up quickly," said Billal Hammoud, president and CEO of Honeywell's Building Automation.
"With Connected Power, Honeywell is empowering building decision makers to address the invisible energy waste at the device level by helping to ensure energy is only used when it is really needed."
Connected Power can be integrated into most existing building management systems (BMS) using open standards to provide centralized site scheduling and control, while also creating a more detailed view of total energy use. It can also be used as a stand-alone portal that will directly manage and control up to 2,500 outlets.
The solution also addresses workplace safety by keeping equipment powered down when not needed and by detecting elevated outlet temperatures to identify potential issues that could interrupt power for an entire work area. With Connected Power, users can receive remote alerts if a business-critical device, such as equipment used in a research laboratory, shuts off unexpectedly, enabling immediate action to be taken.
Connected Power offers optional cloud-based integration using the Honeywell Forge Suite, including Remote Building Manager. This integration allows monitoring and managing multiple properties from anywhere and creating a complete view of energy use and carbon emissions across the portfolio.
