Support FAQ

What happens if the Internet connection goes down?
The system goes back to its default configuration which is programmed into the controllers.

Will the engineer still have control of the system?
Yes. We install a small app on the BMS which, with one click, stops the SL service.

Do I have to pay for the vendor’s object oriented language tools?
This comes as a package with the BMS software.

Are specs and manuals available for these tools?
Yes, they are supposed to come with the BMS package. They are also available and downloadable online.

What exactly does this object oriented language do?
Each vendor has similar to each other kit which was specifically developed for 3rd party software applications. We ARE the third party application.

I can give you the data from my system. Why install a plug-in?
The typical BMS provides only trending data which might be limited to temperature. These data are normally acquired over a one hour time interval. The SL system requires multi-parameter data over a very granular 5-10 minute time interval.

Where do you install the plug-in?
We install it on the same computer where the BMS resides.

Are you compatible with all types of BACnet?
Yes. We operate at the IP (Internet Protocol) level which is a higher level than BACnet. Thus, we are compatible.

How do you define “comfort level”?
The information from the suite thermostats which are manipulated by the tenants provides the guidance for choosing the most appropriate comfort level.

What do you actually monitor?
We take as many readings as a controller can provide. One of the brands we work with provides up to 24 different readings from each VAV terminal and 70 readings from the central plant. We have all the data that a building manager can possibly use and it can be visualized according to a specific customers’ requirements.

What is the mechanism of zone vs plant control?
The best comparison is that of a truck. One can tune the engine and achieve certain level of savings but ultimately the less the truck is loaded, the less gasoline the truck uses. The same is true for zone control. The central plant can be compared to the engine whereas the zones are equivalent to the truck’s load. The lighter the load the less energy that is used at the plant level.

Is there any risk in deploying your system?
If something happens at the plant level it has a risk of shutting down the entire building. Since the SL system operates at the zone level, if something happens, the building management may get a complaint, but only from a single tenant.

I already have a very optimized system. I don’t think you can deliver any additional savings.
This is a false belief. Just because individual zones are optimized doesn’t mean that this optimization willdeliver savings. This is simply because the zones affect each other. In fact, in some cases, the energy usage may increase in an optimized system. SL uses a “black box” approach: the engine optimizes each zone under the consideration of how it affects the others while using additional information such as weather, occupancy, etc.

What do people usually want to see from the SmartInsights product?
It depends on the individual client’s needs. We’ve seen requests from energy managers to see detailed energy distribution in the building, historical sensor data, comparison plots to track down energy leaks, information for equipment going on and off-line, and other requests. What is important is that we have the data and we can deliver customized visualizations of it according to unique requests.