US Energy Group, Special AI work to improve building efficiency

US Energy Group and Special Applied Intelligence (Special AI) plan to deliver wireless 4G services to buildings with US Energy’s building energy management systems (BEMS).

Last fall, US Energy began a five-building trial of Special AI’s ManagedGrid.net service, running on the Sprint 4G network. US Energy now uses ManagedGrid.net for connectivity to over 120 critical locations in New York City, with more being installed daily.

According to the US Green Buildings Council, residential and commercial buildings account for 39 percent of carbon emissions, with the Department of Energy citing commercial buildings as responsible for 15 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. BEMS are aimed at making buildings more energy efficient.

US Energy says its Controller BEMS reduces fuel use by 15 to 35 percent, with payback in less than two years. In its five-building trial, it found that fuel use decreased by 22 percent. It also found tenants said they were much more comfortable with building temperatures and no longer had to open windows to vent excess heat.

ManagedGrid.net is an internet access solution designed specifically for use in building applications such as US Energy’s BEMS. Other common uses of ManagedGrid.net include building security systems, video surveillance, key-fob entrances and virtual doorman systems.