{"id":1841,"date":"2012-10-26T11:00:20","date_gmt":"2012-10-26T15:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/?p=1841"},"modified":"2012-10-26T12:27:59","modified_gmt":"2012-10-26T16:27:59","slug":"programmable-thermostats-commercial-applications-have-unique-needs-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/programmable-thermostats-commercial-applications-have-unique-needs-part-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Programmable Thermostats: Commercial Applications Have Unique Needs (Part 4)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Programmable thermostats provide a range of money-saving benefits to commercial (non-residential) buildings, but their energy management needs are uniquely different than those of homeowners.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 This article — the last in a four-part series on programmable thermostats \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 will address non-residential applications and discuss how advanced off-the-shelf programmable thermostats can reduce both energy and man power costs for commercial operations.\"Programmable<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Energy Management a Challenge in Commercial Buildings<\/h3>\n

In commercial buildings like schools, stores, offices, rental properties, churches and government buildings, managing and controlling energy to heat and cool can be challenging. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Energy management is often compounded by a number of factors, including:<\/p>\n

-\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Size of the building<\/p>\n

-\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Number of buildings<\/p>\n

-\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Geographic location<\/p>\n

-\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Ability of occupants to adjust temperature<\/p>\n

-\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Variations in weekly\/annual usage<\/p>\n

-\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Type and age of the HVAC equipment<\/p>\n

These factors can make centralized energy management difficult, but it’s not an insurmountable task for today\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s programmable thermostats.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 In fact, there are now off-the-shelf programmable thermostats that are as efficient and multi-functional as custom-designed energy management systems and much more affordable, priced at under $300 per unit.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Small Buildings — Residential Thermostats Do the Job<\/h3>\n

In a small commercial building with a single zone, energy management can be handled satisfactorily with a residential programmable thermostat.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Even though they\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2re designed for home use, a feature-rich programmable residential thermostat typically provides 7-day, 4-period programming along with detailed energy usage data and runtime graphs that are useful for making energy conservation decisions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Venstar<\/a>\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u20ac\u201c\u00c2\u00ba TIP:\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>Some residential thermostats, like the Venstar ColorTouch T5800<\/a>, also give you the ability to monitor and control temperature from anywhere via a smartphone, tablet or computer.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Choose one that is compatible with the communications connections available at your location<\/a> (phone, Internet or WiFi).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u20ac\u201c\u00c2\u00ba TIP:\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>If heating and cooling is uneven in your one-zone building, opt for a programmable thermostat that accepts temperature<\/a> and\/or duct sensors<\/a> that can be placed in hot or cold spots to help balance overall temperature.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 The BAYWeb Professional Internet Thermostat<\/a> has this capability.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Multiple Locations — Cloud Technology is the Answer<\/h3>\n

For commercial operations with multiple buildings, or multiple thermostats in one or more buildings, having the ability to monitor and control temperature from one central location<\/em> saves on energy consumption and eliminates the expense of sending a person to each site to make changes.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 With the advent of \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201ccloud technology,\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d<\/a> controlling temperature in multiple geographic locations is easy to do with certain advanced programmable thermostats.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u20ac\u201c\u00c2\u00ba TIP:\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>The BAYWeb Professional Internet Thermostat<\/a> is an affordable off-the-shelf solution that allows you to set up location groupings for over 1,000 buildings and control temperature in each from one \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201cmaster\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d thermostat.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 You can also have multiple master thermostats and create thermostat groupings for each.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 (Of course, you can always control any BAYWeb thermostat individually.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"ViewWith the BAYWeb Pro, you can view all thermostat locations on a Google Map screen to quickly and easily make scheduling changes. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0BAYWeb thermostats use Cloud-EMS\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u20ac\u017e\u00c2\u00a2 software<\/a> that you access through a web browser or an app<\/a> on your smartphone or tablet. There are no initial or ongoing costs for this service.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Other Energy Management Needs<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Limiting Occupants\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2 Ability to Change Temperature<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whether you are a landlord of office suites or rental apartments, limiting the ability of occupants to adjust the thermostat is critical to effective energy conservation.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 The solution is a programmable thermostat that allows you to program high and low temperature set-points so occupants can\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2t change the temperature above or below the levels you program.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u20ac\u201c\u00c2\u00ba TIP<\/strong>:\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 To totally<\/em> restrict workers or tenants from changing temperature, use a programmable thermostat (like those by Bay Controls<\/a>) that have a keypad \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201clockout\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d feature so only an administrator or other authorized persons can make temperature changes via the Internet.<\/p>\n

\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"BAYWeb<\/a>Advance Temperature Scheduling<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many commercial operations \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 like schools — want the ability to do long-term temperature scheduling so they can plan ahead for holiday closings and vacations. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0A programmable thermostat like the BAYWeb Professional<\/a> lets you schedule temperature in your buildings for months in advance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Automatically Adjust Temperature Based on Occupancy<\/strong>\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

To increase the efficiency of your programmable thermostat so it automatically adjusts temperature based on whether or not someone is present, choose a model that accepts motion detectors<\/a> (also called \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c5\u201coccupancy sensors\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00c2\u009d<\/a>).\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 If the motion detector senses inactivity after a certain amount of time, it will over-ride the schedule and adjust temperature accordingly to save energy.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Conversely, if the detector senses activity at an unscheduled time (such as when employees need to work on the weekend), a comfortable room temperature will be provided without having to reprogram the thermostat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Summary<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

With the rising cost of electricity and fuel, energy management is of increasing importance to commercial building owners.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Today\u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s advanced off-the-shelf programmable thermostats, which cost between $175 and $300, are a viable alternative to expensive custom energy management systems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Programmable thermostats provide a range of money-saving benefits to commercial (non-residential) buildings, but their energy management needs are uniquely different than those of homeowners.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 This article — the last in a four-part series on programmable thermostats \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 will address non-residential applications and discuss how advanced… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1845,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[165,8,155,157,197],"class_list":["post-1841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-internet-thermostats","tag-digital-programmable-thermostat","tag-internet-thermostat","tag-phone-thermostat","tag-programmable-thermostat","tag-wifi-thermostat","clearfix"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1841"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1841\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1882,"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1841\/revisions\/1882"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}