A comprehensive central plant controls retrofit project at a large hospitality complex demonstrated the power of analytics-driven project scoping, commissioning, and ongoing Measurement & Verification.
SkySpark® analytics were in place at the facility prior to the retrofit, greatly enhancing the quality and effectiveness of the project design and bid documents. The SkySpark® analytics platform was also used during construction and subsequent operations to demonstrate performance against both the historical and commissioned baselines.
Since the project’s completion, the owner has saved a total of 18 million kWh, valued at $1.375 million. Thanks to Altura Associates for this great case study.
We are excited to announce the latest issue of the SkyFoundry Insider newsletter – The Technology Issue. SkyFoundry continues to advance the capabilities of the SkySpark platform to address the diverse needs of its worldwide community.
This issue highlights SkySpark’s new integration with Python to advance Machine Learning capabilities, the all new Schedule App, enhancements to the GhG App, new features for Cloning records across SkySpark nodes distributed architecture systems, and the release of SkySpark’s SAML-based Single Sign On features. Also included are an updated review of the Haxall open-source initiative, through which SkyFoundry is open sourcing core SkySpark code to help accelerate the development and reduce the cost of creating IoT devices for the built environment, and a quick review of the highly successful in-person SkyPosium event.
We are excited to share that the January 2022 issue of Project Haystack’s Connections magazine is now available! Inspired by the challenges faced over the past two years and how the industry has learned to move forward with an increased focus on what matters most, the theme of this edition is “Data. Our New Asset.”
This 10th issue of the magazine contains a remarkable 73 pages of relevant content, including articles on Haystack 4, new Haystack Essentials Training, Project Haystack’s Role in ESG, Automated Functional Testing, and much more. We hope you will take the time to explore this valuable resource.
Earlier in 2021, SkyFoundry introduced the all new GhG App as a standard SkySpark feature. The GhG App integrates with online data resources to make it easy to quickly configure location-specific emission factors to accurately turn energy consumption data into GhG equivalents which are then available for use in visualizations, reports, KPI’s and analytics. The App presents GhG performance in a wide range of engineering and “societal” metrics, i.e., miles driven, trees planted, smartphones charged, and many more.
We received quick and positive response to the GhG App and now, after input from energy and sustainability professionals, we are excited to announce a new release of the App that captures that valuable input from our worldwide user community.
Key new features include:
We are excited to announce that SkySpark has received a 2021 IoT Platform Leadership Award from IoT Evolution World, a leading magazine and website covering IoT technologies. This new award honors those platforms that are enabling the mass proliferation of IoT devices, networks and services.
“The advances we are seeing in platform systems is providing better services and enabling enterprises to achieve quick process improvements,” said Moe Nagle, editorial director for IoT Evolution. Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC, co-publishers of IoT Evolution added that, “Every company recognized has become a leader in the space based on their true innovation."
Advanced analytics can offer a unique opportunity for ongoing commissioning of complex systems. We are excited to share a new case study by kW Engineering that describes how their team uses SkySpark at Berkeley Lab National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) to track performance, discover anomalies and inform system improvements.
We are excited to publish a new case study by the Energy Twin team demonstrating how they applied machine learning in SkySpark to detect and analyze the energy use impact of Covid related changes to building operations. During the pandemic, buildings were exposed to nonstandard regimes (reduced number of occupants, non-stop ventilation, total lockdown, etc.). Valuable data were measured by BMS systems. Analysis of these data provide valuable knowledge about the effectiveness of setback regimes.
It's a timely and informative application of SkySpark and ML techniques to support improved facility operations.
It's been a very busy and productive spring and summer here at SkyFoundry. You’re going to want to see these important product additions, case studies, white papers and announcements.
SkyFoundry is excited to announce a comprehensive new case study - Analytics in Action at the University of British Columbia, UBC’s Pathway to Driving Value from Big Data
The case study, based on recent presentation by UBC on a webinar hosted by Yorkland Controls, highlights the multi-year deployment of SkySpark to the energy, control, and equipment systems across the UBC campus.
The case study provides detailed examples of analytics use cases and the technical and financial results achieved. SkySpark has become an invaluable part of the UBC conservation group’s efforts, generating more than $10 million per year in recurring savings*. It’s truly an exciting and informative read. Find the UBC Case Study here
Machine Learning and other AI-based techniques continue to gain attention as they are applied to real world challenges. In the field of analytics in the built environment, SkySpark has employed a range of AI techniques since its introduction – well before the terms were hot. The foundation of SkySpark is its pattern recognition capability and technology to manage and interpret “graph” relationships between data, devices and equipment systems.
Real world examples are the best way to highlight how these technologies actually deliver value to facility operators and we are excited to publish a case study, Energy Twin: SkySpark-based Machine Learning for Monitoring-Based Commissioning. Developed and implemented fully in SkySpark, Energy Twin, is a machine learning application for energy consumption analysis that reveals areas for energy use reductions and system optimization.
In this case study, the Energy Twin team, a SkyFoundry partner, showcases their work in applying these advanced techniques to monitoring based commissioning. Access the Energy Twin case study here