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IoT connectivity and savings on operational expenses

Through connectivity with the Property Management System (PMS), INTEREL’s Energy Management System (EMS) can save energy in guest rooms that are not checked into, and also ensure that a room is pre-conditioned for personalized comfort automatically as soon as the next guest checks in.

By incorporating a built-in motion sensor into thermostats or light switches, and combining these sensors with a wireless door lock, the guest room can save additional energy when it is accurately determined that the room is unoccupied.

INTEREL systems can achieve 25% to 35% savings on guest room utility usage through these best practices.

Systems That Are Easier to Maintain

One challenge with older Energy Management Systems is that they leveraged separate Zigbee networks on a property – many of which were not managed by anyone. Engineering departments were told to manage the HVAC system, but these networks were often overlooked. The result? After a couple of years, it is possible that many, if not most of the guest rooms are offline and not saving energy, or worse still, causing guest discomfort and complaints.

INTEREL incorporates devices and Wi-Fi networking to minimize the complexity of installation, networking, and maintenance of a system. A property IT department can manage the established HSIA network while Engineering can focus on maintaining guest room HVAC and not a network.

Advancements in Energy Management

While Energy Management Systems have existed in hotel guest rooms for years, they unfortunately are often met with guest complaints and challenges for the facility. Guests complain that poorly designed systems shut off at night or cause a room to become uncomfortable.

INTEREL is leveraging its connectBsmart™ infrastructure to build a platform for future solutions and predictive analytics to achieve a better balance between maximizing energy savings, while never sacrificing guest comfort.

Focus on Air Quality Management

Typical Energy Management Systems from thermostat companies will shut off the HVAC unit based only on the temperature of the room. Some may even monitor the relative humidity that could lead to mold or poor air quality. These systems save energy, but could cause more problems for guest comfort and health.

INTEREL is focused on providing solutions that monitor a room for temperature, humidity (optional), and Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs). If any of these measured levels are too high, the system will use the HVAC system to address the issue.

Through data analytics, the monitoring of the guest rooms can provide alerts for predictive maintenance and air filter changes.