Listen to this articleThe commercial real estate and facilities management market is getting a breath of fresh air in the form of big savings and operational efficiencies, thanks to some enterprising startups in the IoT and building automation space. 75F is one hot company with cool technology in the HVAC world. We spoke with their VP of Marketing, Ben Wallace, for some perspective.
Q: Ben, 75F is listed as a Top 100 Global Disruptor. What’s driving the recognition?
A: We’re honored to be listed among game changers like Tesla and SpaceX in the “Top 100 Most Disruptive Companies in the World in 2017” list. Companies are seeing fast ROI from huge savings in energy efficiencies, while also improving workplace environments for employee comfort and productivity. Businesses are seeing value in new companies using an agile approach combining emerging technologies like IoT smart sensors, cloud computing and predictive analytics. 75F provides easily-installed wireless retrofit systems that offer unprecedented data capture and insights, scheduling and automation, paired with web and mobile remote monitoring and granular controls at the zone level. The 75F out-of-the box experience is a big change from traditional building controls systems, which often require extensive installation and commissioning work, plus specialized programming.
Looking with a bit more focus toward the commercial building industry, we’re also honored to be named one of “15 Startup Companies to Watch in 2017” as part of a comprehensive study “Start Ups and their Impact on Smart Buildings 2017” created by Memoori, a smart building research and analyst group. The report highlights startup companies serving commercial and industrial building owners/ operators with technology offerings in the Enterprise Energy Management and Building IoT (BIoT) categories. The study looks not just at reducing energy costs, but also improving facility management efficiency and real estate operations.
While 75F building automation solutions do disrupt outdated HVAC energy management system (EMS) and control systems, they truly benefit the broad range of organizations and individuals throughout the market ecosystem. We see impact widely across the “Triple Bottom Line,” benefitting people, planet and profit.
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Q: What’s the strongest business case for considering 75F building automation solutions?
A: It’s really a combination of the profit and people aspects of the triple bottom line. Consider the 2-20-200 model, where businesses spend approximately $2 per square foot on energy, $20 per square foot on real estate and $200 per square foot on the people or staff.
75F offers a strong ROI story in the first category alone, typically saving 30-50% on energy costs, with a payback under 3 years. That’s a compelling initial motivator for many of our customers. However, there’s a much larger value impact opportunity in the health, wellness and productivity of people – the employee occupants that comprise the workforce. That ROI can be realized in the 100x multiple of staffing investment over the already-impressive energy savings. Employers can’t afford the risk, cost and inefficiencies of sick or absent employees – or those distracted in “Thermostat Wars” – due to the building’s internal environment controls.
75F helps transform “Sick Buildings” into “Well Buildings” with both occupant comfort and air quality by delivering a wireless, easily-installed retrofit HVAC control system that works in existing office buildings with minimal cost and disruption. You don’t need a new building or HVAC system budget to realize these significant gains in energy efficiency and employee productivity.
Since we know that cleaner indoor air leads to heightened employee productivity, it was a no-brainer to include CO2 and NO2 sensors within our Outside Air Optimization solution. Predictive analytics and cloud computing allow 75F’s cutting edge technology to achieve the ideal level of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and mixed air temperatures. This allows for maximum comfort at all times. 75F’s system detects the levels of CO2 and NO2 in the building and proactively adjusts the outside air dampers to supply fresh air when needed. Leveraging fresh outside air can help businesses save up to 40% on their utility cost.
Any building management teams that have pursued LED lighting efficiency and savings should take a close look at the savings potential for their HVAC systems, which can offer and even higher ROI multiple compared to LED lighting efficiencies.
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Q: What programs and incentives can office building managers leverage for energy savings?
A: Energy incentives are available at global, national, state and city levels, in addition to regional utility company service areas and programs. As a U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) member, 75F helps companies achieve LEED credits; our Dynamic Airflow Balancing (DAB) solution can contribute up to 38 points and 11 credits for LEED v4.0.
Case in point, the Minnesota Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) recently created a One-Stop Efficiency Shop for HVAC upgrades around Xcel Energy, and 75F is the first partner company to help our customers take advantage of the incentive program. Light commercial businesses in Minnesota may qualify for up to 60% rebates on the installed costs of HVAC efficiency upgrades in addition to low 3.9% APR financing on five-year term loans as part of the CEE program.
The efficiency gains we provide through our smart building controls, coupled with this financing package, empower businesses to achieve noteworthy return on investment – all while supporting the ideals of the Paris Climate Accord.
Q: You’ve addressed people and profit. From a planet perspective, how does 75F impact environmental sustainability?
A: As a member of the United Nations Environment Program — Sustainable Buildings and Climate Initiative, 75F is committed to making our planet great again. We continue to lead the way in creating and installing green, smart building technology that incorporates the principles developed in the Paris Climate Accord while helping our customers achieve their green building and LEED certification goals.
It’s great to be part of an innovative startup delivering strong business value at scale, that also helps people be comfortable and productive. Simultaneously we reduce energy consumption and improve sustainability for the planet, so it all comes down to the triple bottom line.
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