Case Study

The size of the customers’ retail stores ranged from 15,000 – 25,000 square feet and included a typical configuration of four to six RTUs to cool the spaces. Swarm Logic® added a new set of capabilities to existing building controls by leveraging recent developments in IoT technology and cloud-based software applications. Swarm Control provided a synchronized staggered startup function that allowed cooling to occur gradually rather than forcing all rooftop (RTU) units to work all at once at the start of business. During peak demand hours, Swarm Logic enabled the facilities’ RTUs to operate as a networked system, responding more efficiently to changing conditions such as outdoor temperature and building occupancy, thereby apportioning energy consumption more logically.

The customer had already installed an energy management system (EMS) in all their locations. Swarm Logic worked seamlessly with the EMS to provide savings on top of those already achieved from the EMS. Swarm Logic also enabled the customer to take advantage of demand response programs, which generate a revenue stream to help offset energy costs.

By capturing operational data in the Swarm Portal, Encycle’s Customer Success team found that several sites had some RTUs that were compensating for other RTUs that were unable to meet their cooling requirements. Encycle collaborated with the customer team to easily deploy control schemes tailored to each site to mitigate the impact of issues such as underperforming RTUs.

Deploying Swarm Logic helped the stores lower energy demand and associated utility demand charges. In fact, the retail pet stores achieved annual reductions of 16% in HVAC peak energy demand and 17% in HVAC energy consumption. The customer started achieving these results almost instantaneously after activating Swarm Logic all while maintaining the consistent environment needed for store shoppers and animals.