“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it!” Whether it is the quest to save the planet from energy inefficiencies, or just to find a great way for a building to save money, it all starts with one thing.  MEASURE it!  How can Stromquist, as a leading distributor of HVAC and lighting controls, help you in your quest? Take a minute today to think about your current projects, and make sure that you’ve covered these three important steps.

Now remember that I, Sarah Connor, being female, love to control everything.  Control success always follows three steps.  Digress for a minute, and imagine that instead of controlling energy consumption, you are trying to control your weight.  (You know, Spring Break is almost here!)  The same three-step plan that works for weight loss will also work for controlling energy inefficiencies!

Step 1 – MEASURE it!  If you want to lose weight, you need to measure your current weight regularly, then measure caloric intake and usage.  The same thing applies for energy management.  Measure electrical consumption: install energy sub meters,like those from Honeywell, on all larger electrical loads. Then measure water and gas consumption with meters you can get from your local control pro at Stromquist & Company. View these measurements regularly in one easy-to-reference dashboard. I really like the Prophet Suites dashboard.  Stromquist can help you identify the best products for handling this critical function.

Step 2 – MANAGE it!  Just like in weight loss, you have to use the measurements in order to create a plan for managing the opportunities for improvement.  Too many calories consumed and too little energy spent means too much excess fat storage.  To lose weight, you have to enact a diet and exercise plan.  To reduce a building’s energy consumption, you need to manage not only the total energy used, but also manage efficiencies for that necessary energy.  Look at using controls technology so excess energy isn’t wasted, but also remember to consider natural efficiencies such as daylighting.  Integrating security systems may provide the on-demand control necessary so that only occupied areas of the building are kept lighted and comfortable. Turn to Stromquist when you need just the right control for every situation.

Step 3 – MEASURE IT AGAIN, and report it!  And how will you know if your diet plan is working?  You step on the scales. You try on the jeans.  Constant measurement is the critical feedback that reinforces what is working, and identifies further opportunities for improvement.  Real-time data reporting shows the CFO that the bottom line is affected by controls implementation.  Again, Stromquist knows the products available for this real-time reporting, and the best experts in the control industry are ready to help.

Measure, Manage, Measure to Report.  With great products and expert Stromquist support, now is the time to go and take control!!

For those of you who read Controltrends, you know I think the new Nest thermostat is one of the coolest devices to hit the HVAC market. In an early post I question the Nest distribution model, which created quite a bit of controversy and lots of comments.

Most of the arguments revolved around the questions: do HVAC contractors gouged consumers when installing programable thermostats and are homeowners qualified to install thermostats in their homes without paying a HVAC contractor. The answer to both questions is yes and no.

In any business, some companies take advantage of customers and some do not. Just like in any other business, companies that gouge customers do not survive for long. Word of mouth, the internet, and a surplus of quality HVAC contractors make sure that HVAC companies that do not create value do not survive.

Installing a programable thermostat or any thermostat can be very easy or in some cases very difficult. It just depends on your system and the power requirements of the thermostats.

To understand the power issue I refer to a comment posted by Stuart Lombard. Stuart is the founder of Ecobee Thermostat. Ecobee is a super cool, quality thermostat. It has several years on the Nest so the bugs that come with launching a new product have been worked out.

Stuart, is one of the truly “good guys’ in the HVAC industry. He is a nuts and bolts guy that really understands HVAC equipment. Like Tony Fadell, Stuart is passionate about saving energy and creating easy to use thermostats. Stuart is accessible and generous with his time. He has responded to numerous questions on Controltrends. The following is a response from Stuart regarding issues that can arise from improperly powering a thermostat:

“I would add a few comments. Thermostats like Ecobee and Nest are really a different kind of thermostat than a traditional programmable thermostat because of their CPU/memory architecture and their wifi radios. Because of this, they require more power. While a traditional thermostat can operate on a few double A batteries, a wifi enabled thermostat cannot. Therefore, in order to operate reliably, you need to (in ecobee’s case – and I believe nest would also agree if you wanted maximum reliability) provide 24 VAC to the thermostat from your furnace or air-handler control board. This generally requires removing the cover of your furnace or air-handler control board and connecting some wires, which, while not difficult for an HVAC technician, is beyond what most homeowners are willing to do. Therefore, we recommend that you get your Ecobee professionally installed – you will end up with a great result and you can enjoy the comfort of your couch while it is being installed .
Nest does have an option to install their thermostat without connecting 24 VAC which simplifies the installation but, in our (admittedly biased opinion), comes at the cost of reliability and safety of your equipment. For this reason, ecobee decided not to implement that option. You can read about some of the reliability issues of not connecting the C wire as reported by Nest customers here:
One on short cycling:
http://www.marco.org/2011/12/17/nest-incompatibility-without-c-wire
and on running out of battery power here:
http://www.wiredprairie.us/blog/index.php/archives/1508
to quote one of the comments:
“I lost WiFi connectivity for 5+ hours, came home and my Nest said it is going to shut down due to drained battery. It shut the entire heating system for ~0.5 hr. Then the heat started to work but battery would take 4+ hours to charge enough to support WiFi.”.
In terms of price, we believe that there is great value in having your thermostat professionally installed and working properly. There is a cost to send a professional to your home and to install it. Not everyone will appreciate this, but many will. If you want to install it yourself, that is OK – not everything is one size fits all.
We believe that the Ecobee Smart Thermostat provides great value to our customers – our average customer is saving 26% on their heating and cooling costs versus leaving their thermostat in hold at 72 F. Over 70% of our customers use the web portal or mobile apps weekly and over 80% run a program and are therefore getting energy savings, about 4x the industry average.
ecobee is coming out with a new thermostat in April, the Ecobee Smart SI which is a streamlined version of the Ecobee Smart Thermostat and will be about half the cost while featuring all of the great mobile and web portal applications.
I hope that helps. We would be happy to answer any questions you have, you can contact me directly or our tech support team at support@ecobee.com.”

Congratulations to these Starbucks gift card winners from last week!   If you want a Starbucks card and a chance at winning an ipod, start ordering online from Stromquist.  The promotion ends on February 29, so get your online orders entered soon!  For full promotion details and to place an order, go to www.stromquist.com.

February 13 – Lewis Prentice

February 14 – Aaron Schmidt

February 15 – Chad Erwin

February 16 – Renee Dye

February 17 – Bob White

Thanks for the orders!

Having sold several of the Honeywell E3 point systems in the past I find this toxic/combustible gas monitor is one of the most versatile systems in the industry.

Available in both wall and duct mounted models the E3 Point can be configured as a standalone device with single or dual gas (via remote sensor) for monitoring or a fully addressable,networked system that can be included with a building automation system using Modbus or BACnet. When networked,up to 96 E3 Point unit can be linked, or daisy-chained,on a 301C controller to other building systems.

So if you are working with a new project or reto-fitting a current project call Stromquist and Company for you toxic/combustibale

The E³Point uses self-testing diagnostics and an accurate, reliable electrochemical and catalytic bead sensor technology that reduces false alarms. The Honeywell E³Point Gas Monitor features an audible alarm greater than 85 dBA at 3m (10 ft) and has an accuracy of ± 3% of full-scale at 25°C. Gas concentration values, sensor data and other diagnostic information can be viewed on the Honeywell E³Point Gas Monitor main unit’s LCD display. Interchangeable sensors are pre-calibrated at the factory and can be exchanged quickly and easily.

So if you are working with a new project or retofitting a current project call Stromquist and Company @ 1-800-241-9471 for you toxic/combustible gas monitoring needs. We can help.

Sarah Connor here, and it’s a Chronicles entry that I like to call “WOW on Wednesday,” featuring a new product or a new perspective. During last week’s Event, Dave Molin, VP General Manager of Honeywell Building Controls Systems, revealed current trends and future outlooks in energy.  Seeing that I am Sarah Connor, sent to save the world from the predicted invasion of Energy Inefficient Machines, I listened attentively.

U.S. Energy consumption can be divided into three categories; 32% industrial, 28% transportation, 40% buildings.  Yes!  The largest category of energy consumption is spent on buildings.  And what part of that consumption can we control? HVAC and lighting!  In the past, spikes in energy pricing due to natural disasters and supply limitations have caused ripples in our economy.  Generally, these interruptions are considered “episodes” from which we recover without lasting impact.  But in the future, this will be completely different.  Real-time pricing and demand-response implementation is here to stay.  There is new awareness in energy conservation.  Legislative mandates and elevated social awareness are at an all-time high.   At Honeywell, 60% of their products are related to energy efficiency and conservation, so the tools are available.  Your goal, as you partner with Sarah Connor to save the planet, is to understand those tools, and to effectively communicate solutions to those energy-hungry facilities managers.

While pondering this ominous task, I stopped by Target pick up a few things.  As I pulled out the cart, I remembered those shopping trips with my toddler-aged son, John.  (You remember him… the one that the Terminator sought to kill.)  I’m sure that you have experienced this, too.  The minute a toddler spots a toy, they want it, and they want it now.  There is no reasoning with them.  The toddler has no comprehension of a budget or what is necessary or what is prudent.  All they know is that it looks good, and they will scream and holler until they get it.  Is this the way some facilities managers consider their energy consumption?  “I need heat and air and lights and I want as much as I can have and I want it now.”  These are the toddlers of energy consumption.

Then that toddler grows up a little and gets an allowance.  Suddenly, the child needs to reason, “Do I want this or this? But regardless, I’m spending all of my allowance before I leave the store, because who really needs to think about saving for tomorrow?”  Maybe you know some facilities managers who are growing up a little in their energy consumption, and while they understand the concept of saving and how controls can play a part, they are still not thinking about the big picture.

What about the young adult Target shopper?  This is the person who now has to live from paycheck to paycheck.  Suddenly, making every dollar stretch is the force that drives buying decisions.  This penny-pincher really has to learn how to be the most frugal consumer.

This is your goal.  You need to arm yourself with the knowledge about emerging control technology so that you can grow these energy-hungry buildings from the toddler stage, through the child-with-an-allowance stage, to the mature energy-conserving consumer of the future.

While I move to the checkout, I hope that you will think about this little analogy when you are proposing your next energy-saving control plan.  Utilizing energy-saving controls requires discipline and product knowledge.  Visit Control Trends regularly for the information you need, because the future of the planet depends upon you!

Automation Componets, Inc (ACI) has intoduced 2 new CO2 sensors for 2012.

A/ASENSE SERIES:

A/ASENSE room and duct transmitters monitor the carbon dioxide
(CO2) levels in industrial, school, and office type environments. The
concentration of CO2 is a good indication of the overall indoor air quality.

The A/ASENSE Series is based on a single beam non-dispersive infrared
technology and is a cost-optimized solution for the climate control of
buildings and other processes. In addition, ABC software eliminates
the need for manual calibration.

The A/ASENSE Series measures the CO2 concentration in the ambient air
up to 2,000 ppm and converts the data into an analog output. This data can
be used in conjunction with a Building Automation or Demand Control
Ventilation System to decrease energy consumption while creating a
healthier indoor climate.

Units come with combined outputs of 0-5VDC and 4 to 20mA or 0-10VDC
and 4 to 20mA. A relay option is also available for this series.

A/ESENCE SERIES:

Same specifications as the A/ASENCE series without Temperature outputs and a relay option.

Features:

Internal automatic self dianostics

Multiple outputs 0-5 VDC, 0-10 VDC, 4-20mA

15 year life expectancy

No field calibration necessary

LCD option

Relay Option A/ASENSE SERIES

CO2 and Temperature Outputs A/ASENCE SERIES

Call Stromquist and Company for all your sensor needs at 1-800-241-9471.

In your world, it may be 2012, but I’m Sarah Connor, and I have seen the future!  Last week, I was transported into the Controls Industry, and I infiltrated the Event at the Georgia Aquarium, hosted by Stromquist and Honeywell.  Like-minded controls professionals traded knowledge in their quest to save the planet from its pending demise at the hands of… Energy Inefficient Machines.

New energy saving controls technology, like Honeywell Webs AX, is being positioned to prevent the energy depleting doomsday.  I, Sarah Connor, seek understand and preserve this information in my Chronicles. And with your help, together we will save the future, (but beware of the Terminator).

Seriously… Why am I here, and how did I land in the Control Trends blog?  Maybe I can offer a fresh perspective.  If you get too close to a painting, you can never fully grasp the way that the colors and textures combine to create the image.  These products are exciting and new to me.  I love innovatation.  And controls? Well, as a female, I love to control everything, so this industry is right up my alley. I hope that as I learn, and then blog about control trends, that you, too, will see things in a new light.

And we are not running away from innovation. Together we are going on the offense to take charge of control trends! Thanks for adopting me, and I look forward to becoming a part of this world that you call the controls industry.

Look for The Sarah Connor Control Trends Chronicles coming every Monday and Wednesday to www.controltrends.org for the information and motivation you need to save our planet from Energy Inefficient Machines!

Congratulations to these Starbucks gift card winners!   If you want one and a chance at winning an ipod, start ordering online from Stromquist.  For full promotion details and to place an order, go to www.stromquist.com.  

Feb 6 – Ray Smyth

Feb 7 – Robert Stanley

Feb 8 – Randy Sanford

Feb 9 – Cheryl Jones

Feb 10 – Boogie Persaud

Thanks for the online orders!

As part of last week’s Event at the Georgia Aquarium, Stromquist and Honeywell recognized several local contracting companies who have proven to be leaders in the field of building automation. These companies have partnered with Stromquist and Honeywell to stay on the forefront of building technology and offer the latest developments while providing excellent service.  To show our appreciation for their dedication, we presented these companies with Awards of Excellence in the field of Building Automation. Here are your amazing local controls soltiuon providers:

Comfort Systems USA

Shumate Mechanical

WayPoint Systems

McKenneys Automation

Entek

Hamlin Air Conditioning

Padgett Services

Rogers Mechanical Contractors

HVAC Environmental Solutions

Hill Company

A & A Electric

United Maintenance

Midatech

Southeast Automtated Systems

The Building Momentum Event Yesterday at the Georgia Aquarium was a huge success. Details to follow, but for now check the Controltrends twitter feed and these pictures to get a feel for just how cool it was to be at the The Event !

Check out more pictures from the event at the Stromquist & Company Facebook page. Please be sure to hit The Like button on our Facebook page.