The History of Encycle

Energy saving technology inspired by nature’s intelligence

When visionaries think of innovative ways to solve problems, it’s not unusual for them to take their cues from nature. That’s because there is much to be gained by adopting the practice of biomimicry. By studying and mimicking the strategies that organisms and natural systems have used for billions of years to evolve, companies can find valuable insights and proven ideas that translate into intelligent solutions for today’s world.

That was the case for Mark Kerbel and Roman Kulyk, two innovators who knew commercial HVAC energy efficiency lacked optimization and understood how to improve it. Armed with computer science and computer engineering backgrounds – and inspired by the knowledge that honeybees use swarm intelligence to harmoniously conduct their daily tasks – Kerbel and Kulyk set out to create Encycle (previously known as REGEN Energy) in 2005.

They knew exactly what kind of company it should be: a transformative one that would apply swarm intelligence principles to energy management, creating a synchronized and autonomous way to reduce energy consumption and demand in commercial buildings by coordinating the operation of HVAC rooftop units (RTUs). Their concept led to the development of Swarm Logic®, Encycle’s data-driven energy management technology.

Now, over 15 years later, Encycle has grown to an international company with thousands of sites using Swarm Logic energy management with cumulative energy cost savings of over $10 million. We are providing customers with a data-driven and AI-enhanced solution to achieve dramatic energy savings and reach sustainability goals with little to no capital expense required.

rooftop units
  • 2005

    REGEN Energy Founded

    Mark Kerbel and Roman Kulyk found REGEN Energy on the concept of biomimicry and the swarm-based intelligence of honeybees. Applying these nature-based principles resulted in an energy management technology that reduces energy consumption and demand in commercial buildings by synchronizing the operation of HVAC equipment.

  • 2009

    REGEN Energy Awarded First Patent

    REGEN Energy is awarded its first technology patent centered on reducing energy consumption and peak demand.

  • 2010

    REGEN Energy Ranked Top 10 Smart Grid Company

    REGEN Energy is ranked in the Top 10 Smart Grid Companies to Watch Out For in Smart Grid News and is an award-winner in Canada’s Top 10 Competition.

  • 2011

    Swarm Energy Management™ Solution Launched

    The company launches its OpenADR Swarm Energy Management™ solution and completes nearly 60 installations across the U.S. and Canada. The cloud-based technology is proven to reduce HVAC-related energy costs and consumption by 10%-20%.

  • 2015

    Company Changes Name to Encycle

    The company changes its name to Encycle Corporation.

  • 2015

    Swarm Logic Installs Reach 300-Site Milestone

    Encycle’s data-driven Swarm Logic® energy management technology is adopted by more than 300 sites in North America.

  • 2016

    SwarmStat™ Offering Introduced

    Encycle launches its SwarmStat™ thermostat solution, bringing the power of Swarm Logic technology to customers using compatible smart thermostats.

  • 2016

    New Carrier & Resideo Partnerships Formed

    New partnerships are created with Carrier and Honeywell (Resideo) to integrate Swarm Logic into their thermostat lines.

  • 2016

    New Enbala Partnership Formed

    Encycle enters into a partnership agreement with Enbala (Generac), allowing Encycle’s technology to support customer sites through Enbala’s distributed energy resource management platform.

  • 2016

    Install Base Exceeds 35-Million Square Feet

    Encycle’s install base exceeds 35 million square-feet of commercial and industrial space.

  • 2016
  • 2017

    Encycle Loses Founder & Friend Mark Kerbel

    Encycle loses its chief technology officer, founder and highly respected friend, Mark Kerbel, to a valiant battle with cancer. Mark was an intellectual visionary and a believer in environmental capitalism who made a deep and positive impact on Encycle and the world.

  • 2018

    Swarm Service™ Offering Introduced

    Encycle introduces Swarm Service™. The cloud-based, enterprise-level solution delivers the benefits of Encycle’s Swarm Logic technology without the need for additional hardware.

  • 2018

    New Lightstat Partnership Formed

    Encycle forms a strategic partnership with Lightstat, an innovative HVAC and lighting control solutions provider, to integrate Swarm Logic software with Lightstat’s programmable thermostats to deliver packaged HVAC energy costs savings.

  • 2019

    Tridium Technology Integration Announced

    Encycle announces a technology integration with Tridium, making its Swarm Logic software available on Tridium’s Niagara Framework®. The agreement provides C&I customers with greater access to the AI-enhanced technology to reduce their HVAC energy consumption and spend.

  • 2020

    New Honewell Multisite Partnership Formed

    Encycle and Honeywell Multisite form a commercial partnership agreement that integrates Swarm Logic energy management software into Honeywell Multisite’s building automation system (BAS) platforms. The integration is aimed at helping retailers and grocery store customers save an additional 10%-20% on HVAC-related and energy costs.

  • 2020

    Encycle and ENTOUCH Partnership

    Encycle enters into commercial partnership agreement with ENTOUCH, integrating Swarm Logic into ENTOUCH’S smart building enablement platform to optimize the leading energy management system and provide additional energy reductions for multi-site customers.

  • 2020

    Encycle Celebrates $10 Million Energy Savings Mark

    Encycle celebrates its customers’ milestone success, helping them save over $10 million in energy costs across their U.S. sites!

  • 2021

    Swarm Logic Installs Reach 1,000 Site Milestone

    Encycle enters the new decade with its Swarm Logic® technology installed at over 1,000 sites across North America and a total of 20 active technology patents.

  • 2021

    Encycle and Enersponse Partnership

    Encycle and Enersponse announce a partnership to provide specialized demand management (DM) solutions for retailers. The partnership will bring each company’s unique technology offerings together as a cohesive approach to reducing HVAC energy consumption without compromising comfort for retail customers or employees.

  • 2021

    Swarm IQ™ RTU Fault Detection Tool Introduced

    This powerful new functionality provides Encycle customers subscribed to Swarm Logic® with actionable intelligence, enabling them to be more proactive with their HVAC maintenance activities and more efficient in budget spending.

  • 2021

    Swarm Logic for Heating

    Encycle expands its Swarm Logic® technology offering to include HVAC system optimization for commercial building heating. Its unveiling comes at an opportunistic time for Encycle’s current and potential customers who, like everyone else, are bracing for exponentially higher electric and gas utility bills this heating season, with natural gas prices jumping 112% since January 2021.

  • 2021

    Encycle Partners with NV Energy

    Encycle’s Swarm Logic® software will be integrated into commercial connected thermostats offered by NV Energy under its PowerShift portfolio for business customers with 6 or more thermostats. Adding Swarm Logic to the commercial thermostat PowerShift service follows an evaluation in 2020, which demonstrated the unique technology could help participating customers achieve as much as a 12% reduction in HVAC electric consumption.

  • 2021

    Encycle Partners with Lime Energy

    Encycle’s Swarm Logic® software will be integrated into smart thermostats for SMB customers participating in the Duke Energy Small Business Energy Saver program. This program is managed by Lime Energy and features several energy efficiency solutions designed to improve the bottom line for SMB customers. Adding Swarm Logic to the Small Business Energy Saver program follows an extensive evaluation, during which time Duke Energy customers achieved as much as 12% reductions in HVAC electric consumption.

  • 2022

    Steve Alexander Promoted to President and CEO

    As Encycle’s President and CFO since 2015, Steve Alexander is named President and CEO. Steve succeeds Robert Chiste, who joins Encycle’s Board as Executive Chairman. The seamless transition provides continuity for the company to deliver on its transformative approach to energy management.

  • 2022

    Swarm Sentinel™ RTU Fault Detection Notification Tool Introduced

    This unique, value-added function of Swarm Logic software provides straight-through processing of HVAC system fault analysis results directly to customers’ work order solutions platforms, helping increase the availability and performance of equipment and boosting maintenance efficiency.

  • 2022

    Encycle Joins Distech Controls’ Digital Partner Program

    Participation in the program will help link Encycle’s Swarm Logic® energy-saving software with commercial and industrial customers looking to reduce HVAC-related energy consumption, costs, and emissions through trusted, best-in-class solutions.

U.S.Canada
+1 760-481-7878+1 416-934-1040
+1 855-875-4031

Stay informed, sign-up:

Newsletter
Share This