Energy Management

Smart Buildings and the Convergence of IoT, Cloud Computing and Big Data   Active There has been a lot of talk recently about the intersection of Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing and big data. According to a report from Frost & Sullivan, the convergence of IoT, cloud, and data analytics is opening up new business opportunities for building technology companies. Several other companies such as Intel and Oracle have talked about how data analytics and cloud computing are creating powerful competitive advantages, fueling innovation and driving new revenue streams. But amidst all the chatter and technical jargon, what do analytics and cloud computing mean for smart buildings and how do they fit in the IoT puzzle?

Internet of Things: The Next Step in the Smart Grid Evolution?   Active There’s been a lot of news regarding how the Internet of Things will change everything. From products like connected thermostats to connected cars and refrigerators, it seems that the Internet of Things has taken off. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a concept where objects is connected to the Internet framework and is able to identify themselves to other devices. There was a question whether we can ever design a high availability Internet of Things that can replace the smart grid.
April 28, 2014

Integrated Devices for Internet of Things Energy Measurement and Management   Active Just as the Internet has connected people and organizations, the Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to connect deeply embedded devices and sensors. With devices anticipated to number in the billions, however, the IoT represents a new kind of environment where devices continuously feed into streams of data for analysis by cloud-based "big data" applications and respond directly to control instructions from those applications and users. Between the devices and the cloud, IoT gateways work to aggregate, analyze, and control the data stream and the devices feeding it. At the same time, these gateways provide their users with a more immediate channel to manage diverse interconnected devices and their data through simple mobile interfaces running on smartphones and tablets.
January 22, 2014

Internet of Things and Building Energy Management – Hype or Reality?   Active Internet of Things (IoT) has certainly become a buzz term and just like the Cloud term was a popular item that everyone wanted to talk about a few years ago, IoT has become a hot commodity. Most technology companies are trying to force the term into their solutions even when it may not be a good fit. Clearly, there is some hype around it. But, there are a lot of pragmatic solutions for IoT that can result in massive efficiencies for enterprises.
January 01, 2014

Energy Harvesting Power for the Internet of Things   Active Energy is everywhere within reach; it just needs to be harvested. This is the principle of energy harvesting. Today, energy harvesting wireless solutions are already well established in the commercial building automation sector. But the technology is just getting started. New application fields for batteryless, wireless communication will be found to further enhance the world around us. Based on energy harvesting wireless technology, a wide range of energy-autonomous applications are currently available for connected buildings that use motion, light, or temperature differences as their energy source such as batteryless switches; intelligent window handles; temperature, moisture, and light sensors; presence detectors, heating valves; and smart home systems. However, building automation is by no means where energy harvesting wireless ends.
September 30, 2013

The Internet of Things and energy   Active       A A In the cleantech and utility worlds, it’s called “the smart grid” and “energy efficiency” tech. In the broader tech realm, it’s called the “Internet of Things,” or essentially, when every device can talk to each other. Let’s bring these two ideas together, because I think the so-called Internet of Things will play a crucial role in making systems and the consumption of resources much more efficient.
October 10, 2011