Revolutionizing Energy Management: Honeywell’s Connected Power Transforms Building Efficiency

In a bold move to tackle energy waste and enhance asset protection, Honeywell has unveiled Connected Power, an innovative solution designed to monitor, manage, and automate power usage at the plug level. This cutting-edge technology provides deep insights into energy consumption and wastage, offering a transformative tool for building managers across North America.

The Urgent Need for Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Buildings are a significant contributor to global CO2 emissions, accounting for approximately 37%. This staggering figure places immense pressure on building owners and managers to cut down energy usage. Everyday devices like vending machines, copiers, and coffee machines are significant energy consumers, often operating continuously even when spaces are unoccupied. With the rise of hybrid work schedules, the wastage has only amplified, making it crucial to address plug loads that can represent 25% to 50% of a building’s energy consumption.

A recent survey by Honeywell highlights the challenge: most employees rarely unplug their devices, with only a small fraction doing so for reasons like troubleshooting or vacations. Alarmingly, less than 20% unplug devices when not in use, while over 80% believe their employer shares the responsibility for managing power usage.

Introducing Connected Power: A Game-Changer for Building Management

Connected Power empowers building managers to autonomously power down unused outlets based on space usage schedules or occupancy data, significantly improving energy efficiency and safety. The solution utilizes existing wiring infrastructure and connects to a digital dashboard, enabling managers to monitor and control energy consumption for individual outlets or entire areas with ease.

“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,” explained 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.”

Real-World Impact: Accu-Temp’s Success Story

Accu-Temp, a building automation contractor in Ontario, adopted Connected Power in early May 2024 and experienced immediate energy savings. “Our installation was seamless, and the anticipated energy savings were realized immediately,” said Alex Voll, Accu-Temp’s president. “Efficient energy management is a critical focus for building owners today, and having a system that allows centralized scheduling and control of power at the outlet level helps take our efficiency to the next level.”

Seamless Integration and Enhanced Safety Features

Connected Power is designed to integrate seamlessly into most existing building management systems (BMS) using open standards, offering centralized site scheduling and control while providing a detailed view of total energy use. It can also function as a stand-alone portal managing up to 2,500 outlets directly.

Beyond energy savings, Connected Power enhances workplace safety by ensuring equipment is powered down when not needed and detecting elevated outlet temperatures to identify potential issues. The system sends remote alerts if a critical device shuts off unexpectedly, allowing for immediate action to prevent disruptions.

Future-Proofing with Honeywell Forge Suite

For those seeking advanced capabilities, Connected Power offers optional cloud-based integration with the Honeywell Forge Suite, including Remote Building Manager. This feature allows for the monitoring and management of multiple properties from anywhere, providing a comprehensive view of energy use and carbon emissions across an entire portfolio.

This launch builds on the momentum of Honeywell’s Advance Control for Buildings, marking a significant leap in building controls innovation. Together, these solutions provide the data, insight, and control needed to enhance building operations and energy efficiency, aligning with Honeywell’s focus on automation and energy transition.

About Honeywell

Honeywell is an integrated operating company serving diverse industries worldwide. Focused on automation, the future of aviation, and energy transition, Honeywell leverages its Honeywell Accelerator operating system and Honeywell Connected Enterprise integrated software platform. Through its Aerospace Technologies, Industrial Automation, Building Automation, and Energy and Sustainability Solutions business segments, Honeywell delivers actionable solutions and innovations to make the world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more information, visit Honeywell Newsroom.

Sources: Honeywell