Honeywell has introduced its Connected Power solution that helps monitor, manage and automate buildings’ power usage at the plug level. The company claims it will provide facility managers with the ability to see where energy is being used and wasted across North America.

According to the 2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction, buildings’ energy usage and related processes account for approximately 37 percent of global CO2 emissions. Common devices such as vending, copy, and coffee machines are significant energy consumers. Much of this power is consumed even when no one is working, which has become more common due to hybrid work schedules. Plug loads can account for between 25 percent and 50 percent of energy consumption according to the U.S. General Services Administration.

According to a recent Honeywell survey, most employees either never unplug their devices or only do so for reasons such as troubleshooting or going on vacation. The survey found that fewer than one in five employees unplug devices when they are not using them. More than 80 percent of employees say their employer is equally as responsible as they are for controlling power usage on devices.

Connected Power allows North American building managers to autonomously power down unused outlets based on space usage schedules or occupancy data, while also improving safety. The solution’s connected outlets use existing wiring infrastructure and link to a digital dashboard, making it possible for building managers to monitor and control the energy consumption of each power outlet, or an entire area, from one screen with a few clicks, Honeywell claims.

“Unplugging a modern electronic device is different from simply turning it off. Many people do not realize how much energy is being wasted by devices that are plugged in and then forgotten. For buildings, this energy waste adds up quickly,” said Billal Hammoud, president and CEO of Honeywell’s Building Automation, in a press release. “With Connected Power, Honeywell is empowering building decision makers to address the invisible energy waste at the device level by helping to ensure energy is only used when it is really needed.”   

Connected Power can be integrated into most existing building management systems (BMS) using open standards to provide centralized site scheduling and control, while also creating a more detailed view of total energy use, according to Honeywell. It can also be used as a standalone portal that will directly manage and control up to 2,500 outlets.