NEW YORK—GridNavigator, a manufacturer of smart devices for the commercial market, has announced the availability of an industry-first automated energy budgeting and demand reduction service to help small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) to proactively cap their monthly building energy bills. The service works with GridNavigator lighting and HVAC controls and sub-meters and can deliver a 5 to 10 percent reduction in monthly energy bills with no significant impact on facility performance or comfort.
The power budgeting service predicts periods of high electrical demand in real time before they occur, allowing GridNavigator’s smart controller to automatically adjust thermostat set points and light levels. The smart forecasting system allows customers to minimize the peak demand charges levied by their electrical supplier with a minimum of manual monitoring and intervention. The system is available to electrical contractors and resellers as part of a complete GridNavigator solution.
“Control equals savings. GridNavigator helps us to deliver solutions to our clients that take advantage of the latest technology trends in building automation,” said Leo Rioseco, President, Gables Grove Construction. “This is a sophisticated system that is easy to install and use and can quickly lower overall total cost of ownership.”
The GridNavigator service creates a customized demand response program, which is different than utility automated demand response (ADR) programs that control customer power consumption in response to peak demand. The service integrates with GridNavigator-branded lighting and HVAC control systems including the company’s inside fixture controller (IFC), LED ballast, occupancy sensor, all-in-one sensor, smart thermostat, wall switch, bridge controller and sub-meter, and can be managed from a smartphone app. Business-critical devices such as motors, grills and other industrial equipment are not affected.
“Budgeting and reduction of monthly demand can save thousands of dollars for businesses without compromising operation and comfort,” said Al Cabrini, Founder and CEO, GridNavigator. “This new service is like a continuous demand response initiated by the customer and not the utility company—it is more sophisticated than simply rationing electricity usage.”
