Energy Archives - Commercial Integrator https://www.commercialintegrator.com The business book for technology professionals. Thu, 29 Feb 2024 16:48:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/cropped-favicon-84x84.png Energy Archives - Commercial Integrator https://www.commercialintegrator.com 32 32 Three Key Elements for Future-Ready Commercial Buildings & Parking Facilities https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/wesco-3-elements-future-ready-commercial-buildings-parking-facilities/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/wesco-3-elements-future-ready-commercial-buildings-parking-facilities/#respond Thu, 29 Feb 2024 16:48:40 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=129017 Wesco's Jay Williams delves into the future of commercial spaces: a blend of IoT tech, sustainability and infrastructure for enhanced functionality.

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Commercial buildings must unceasingly advance to meet user demands and the growing volume of technology needed to provide state-of-the-art functionality and technological benefits. The commercial building market is growing steadily, along with the size of individual buildings, directly increasing the need for always-on, full-coverage connectivity to service-connected devices and to manage energy consumption.

Beyond the commercial building itself, many of the elements of a smart building have now extended to the parking facility. Parking facilities have evolved from simple concrete structures that only need to consider the distance from a building’s entrance, to more complex structures that need to incorporate safety, security, access control, sustainable lighting, communications, Internet of Things (IoT) enablement and electrification for electric vehicle (EV) charging.

We will focus on three elements of the commercial building and associated parking facilities that must be considered to ensure a future-ready, IoT-enabled smart building: sustainability initiatives, infrastructure and technology. Integrators should have a solid understanding of all three of these elements to create smarter outcomes for their customers – the building owners and operators.

Due to rapidly changing demands around connectivity, data usage, health and safety needs, as well as concern for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments, commercial building owners are looking to integrators to help them establish future-forward sustainability initiatives to meet their customers’ expectations.

Having determined sustainability initiatives alongside building owners, the integrator can design a well-planned infrastructure layer, which is perhaps the most critical step for a successful, future-ready smart building. Knowing that the infrastructure for your smart building project must be efficient, robust and reliable in order to support the technology and applications needed today, it also ensures reliable performance and scalability for the digital innovations of tomorrow.

With a future-ready infrastructure layer in place, integrators can then implement the technologies and systems for a future-ready solution to achieve the sustainability initiatives for their customers through improved building efficiency.

These efficiencies offer cost reduction on utilities, maintenance, operations and waste management, and can simplify operational processes and automations to provide for increased productivity and labor savings. Ultimately, each of these three key aspects leads to greater operational and budgetary efficiencies, which provide greater ROI while improving the built environment to meet and exceed customer expectations.

Commercial Buildings: Technology & Infrastructure

Smart buildings are no longer a trend, they are an expectation. Within the commercial building, technological advances and IoT enablement improve operations of environmental controls, lighting, safety and security – all with positive implications on sustainability initiatives. And the development of the connected ceiling has led to an entire ecosystem directly above our heads that enables not just lighting, but access points and a multitude of devices.

Technology and data are driving the need for a more robust and resilient infrastructure with more power, higher bandwidth and extended distances within buildings and their parking facilities. As IoT increases and more devices are introduced to the commercial building environment, businesses are combining disparate building systems into a converged infrastructure. Converged infrastructures work to optimize building systems, operations and maintenance. All of this leads to greater opportunities for integrators to provide more for their customers, while increasing share of wallet.

This makes the relatively small increase for your customers in upfront infrastructure investment an obvious decision. Having an infrastructure capable of supporting these escalating bandwidth needs throughout multiple generations of technology – without having to upgrade the cabling infrastructure in the middle of its lifecycle – provides a cost savings for the building owner and allows for more device installations down the road for the integrator.

Sustainability

Sustainability is an outcome delivered by the efficiencies from a future-ready infrastructure and new technologies from IoT enablement. But sustainability initiatives are also considered a leading factor to your customers for both the cost-saving benefits and as an environmental necessity.

Sustainability initiatives must be planned for to promote a healthier built environment, but they also create a positive position for investors, tenants and occupants who place an emphasis on green initiatives. Sustainability initiatives will vary for every commercial building owner and operator, but no matter where they are in the sustainability journey, it’s imperative for integrators to discover those sustainability strategies so they can plan the project accordingly.

With a growing demand for buildings that can enhance energy efficiencies, improve the occupant experience and show themselves to be sustainable, there are clear benefits to embracing a smart, future-ready commercial building. But sustainability is more than a buzzword, it’s an opportunity to lower costs, innovate, build more resilient operations and make a positive impact. From the board room to the plant floor, companies are rethinking how they impact people, society and the world by achieving sustainability goals.

A Future-Ready Solution

Future-readiness may be summed up as the ability to prepare for what could be, without the knowledge of what that might be. In the early days of the cellular phone, no one could have dreamed of the vast numbers of abilities and applications that are now standard. The same is true for commercial buildings. No one could foresee the emergence and demand for healthier indoor environments or a distributed workforce with newly created needs for virtual and on-site collaboration. IT/OT convergence, IoT enablement and digital transformation may well be in their infancy, with new requirements appearing seemingly on a daily basis.

The successful deployment of a smart building depends on the elements of infrastructure, technology and sustainability working together and building upon each other to create smarter outcomes for building owners, occupants and visitors. The integrator must be a steward of the industry by not only providing current technologies but also educating customers about future-ready infrastructure and staying abreast of new technology selections.


Jay Williams is Vice President of Sales, Global Network Infrastructure at Wesco.

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LG Business Solutions USA Opens EV Charging Station Factory in Fort Worth https://www.commercialintegrator.com/news/lg-business-solutions-usa-ev-charging-stations-factory-fort-worth-tx/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/news/lg-business-solutions-usa-ev-charging-stations-factory-fort-worth-tx/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2024 21:05:04 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=127845 To support the growing EV charging infrastructure, LG's 100,000-square-foot factory will have an annual capacity of assembling 12,000 units.

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Global innovator LG Electronics has opened its first factory in the U.S. for assembling electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, the new EV charger production factory will create new jobs and support the growth of America’s EV charging infrastructure.

Commemorating LG’s entry into the U.S. EV charger market, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and other officials cut the ribbon at the new plant, joining LG Electronics senior executives Alec Jang, president of the LG Electronics Business Solutions Company; H.K. Suh, global head of LG’s EV Charger business; and Nicolas Min, president of LG Business Solutions USA.

Major Step In LG Roadmap

Person with LG EV charging station.

Head of LG Electronics’ EV Charging Business Division H.K. Suh explains the capabilities of a level 2 charger on display at the company’s grand opening of its U.S. factory on Jan. 12, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Brandon Wade/LG Electronics USA).

“The EV charger business is a growth engine for LG’s future, supporting the company’s transformation into a smart solutions company,” President Jang said, marking the start of EV charger production for the North American market. “LG will leverage the reliability and uncompromising quality of its chargers, maintenance services and vertical sales capabilities with the goal of becoming a leader in the EV charging business around the world.”

Mayor Parker applauded LG’s role in the Fort Worth community and underscored the significance of the new factory. “This is a great day for Fort Worth,” she said, “with this global leader choosing to establish its U.S. manufacturing base for EV chargers and creating new jobs here. We take pride in knowing that LG’s advanced EV charging stations that will be deployed across the U.S. will be built right here in Fort Worth.”

A Worthwhile Investment in EV Charging

People working at factory.

LG workers assemble level 2 EV chargers at the company’s first U.S. EV charger factory on Jan. 12, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Brandon Wade/LG Electronics USA).

The 100,000-square-foot plant will have an annual capacity of 12,000 units. The new factory, which uses 100% green power, builds on LG’s longtime presence as a corporate citizen in Fort Worth, where its million-square-foot distribution center for consumer electronics and home appliances has been located for three decades.

As Mayor Parker observed, the latest investment in Fort Worth by LG Electronics will create numerous technical jobs in the “…fastest growing city within North Texas.” Moreover, it reinforces LG’s commitment to the region as an innovation and manufacturing hub of the future.

“[This] marks a major step in LG’s roadmap to support the electrification of America by making the EV charging infrastructure smarter, more accessible and more profitable for operators,” remarked Michael Kosla, senior vice president, LG Business Solutions USA.

According to Kosla, the Level 2 and Level 3 EV chargers produced at this factory “will open new opportunities for businesses, municipalities and other public places to support the electrification of America with independently owned and operated charging stations that create new revenue streams, additional marketing and income opportunities, and differentiation with competing businesses.”

Delivering the Ultimate Experience

Kosla further elaborated that the U.S. needs hundreds of thousands of new Level 2 and Level 3 chargers to support the growing number of EVs on the road. Subsequently, LG developed owner-operated EV charging stations so that hotels, restaurants, venues, transit hubs, municipal buildings and other locations are empowered to set their own rates, keep the generated profits and ensure enough capacity to meet local demands.

At the launch event, LG also extended its gratitude toward its Clean Energy Future partners. These included EV Connect, Swtch, Zone Energie, ABM Industries and EVRange. This partnership indicates the company’s broader electrification strategy, which empowers customers to convert to more sustainable energy usage, saving money and improving environmental outcomes in the process.

Assembly Plans

Robot displaying welcome sign.

LG CLOi Robot welcoming attendees at the EV charging station plant. Photo courtesy of Amala Reddie.

The first products assembled in Fort Worth starting in January will be the Level 2 AC Chargers with a load management solution and variable current settings enabling 11kW of output power through a standard SAE J1772 connector. The Level 2 AC Charger will be designed for simple wall mounting with an optional stand that enables placement anywhere.

Model EVW011SK-SN has been certified to UL2594, the Standard for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment from UL Solutions, and ENERGY STAR, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s trusted energy and performance standard.

Starting in spring, the plant will assemble LG’s first Level 3 DC Charger, a stand-type model with a connected Power Bank that provides fast charging up to 175kW through CCS1 and NACS connectors. The Level 3 model will feature a large outdoor LCD touch-screen display that can serve multiple functions for various owners and use cases, including generating extra revenue through ad sales. In addition, 350kW ultra-fast-chargers are on the roadmap for later in 2024.

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Rentable Solar Panels Are Pretty Cheap Now, Should You Use Them? https://www.commercialintegrator.com/enhancements/energy/tesla-rentable-solar-panels/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/enhancements/energy/tesla-rentable-solar-panels/#respond Mon, 01 Jan 2024 15:00:42 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=80700 These Tesla rentable solar panels are fairly inexpensive. Is it time for AV businesses to start thinking about if they could benefit?

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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Sept. 19, 2019 and has been updated as of Jan. 1, 2024.

I recently wrote an article about product packaging waste in pro AV and installers’ feelings about it. This got me to thinking about other ways AV integration businesses can keep their operations efficient — and with the price of solar panels going down, it may be time to consider rentable solar panels.

Tesla, a darling company to many technology enthusiasts, recently launched a rental option for solar panels in six states, including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New Mexico.

The deal? $50/month plus tax, no installation costs, no long-term contract. Each monthly payment includes support, maintenance, etc…. Though renters must pass along tax rebates to Tesla.

That’s Pretty Competitive, No?

Realistically, the usefulness of solar panels on a business’ or home’s roof varies wildly on the use case. But $50 per month (for the smallest panel option; the larger ones go up $100 and $150) for added energy efficiency is a decent starting point.

The Verge reported the smallest, $50-per-month option will get you a 3.8kW solar panel which generates an average 10 to 14kWh of energy per day. The $100 per month  “medium” 7.6kW option generates 19 to 28kWh, and the $150 per month “large” 11.4kW system does 29 to 41kWh per day.

“Whether solar panels are worth the cost for you is fairly subjective; the average US household used about 28kWh of electricity per day in 2017, according to the Energy Information Administration,” The Verge article says.

The only restrictions to the program include:

  • customers must own their home (I’m assuming the place of business, too)
  • a $1,500 removal fee
  • owners can purchase the system after five years
  • rental rates can technically be increased at any time

This specific rentable solar panels solution may or may not apply well to your AV business. Heck, solar panels themselves may not ever be viable for you, depending on a number of economical and environmental conditions you find yourself in.

But discussing reasonable ways to cut down on fossil fuel usage and increase office efficiency isn’t ever a bad thing, in my mind.

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LG Enters U.S. EV Charging Market https://www.commercialintegrator.com/enhancements/lg-us-ev-charging-market/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/enhancements/lg-us-ev-charging-market/#respond Thu, 16 Nov 2023 17:07:42 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=126088 LG is gearing up to enter the U.S. EV charger market in 2024, introducing AC and DC powered stations, bolstering America's electrification.

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Linconshire, Ill.-based LG Electronics will enter the growing U.S. electric vehicle charger market in 2024 with the introduction of its first line of AC and DC powered EV charging stations. According to LG Business Solutions USA’s Senior Vice President Nicolas Min, the line will include Level 2 and Level 3 EV chargers, opening new opportunities for businesses, municipalities and other public places to support the electrification of America with independently owned and operated charging stations.

“As a leader in the electrification movement, LG is committed to delivering systems and solutions to help U.S. commercial customers develop the infrastructure to charge electric vehicles, which is critical to the success of the industry and the nation’s clean energy goals,” Min says. “Our product roadmap supports various use cases to provide a flexible, adaptable family of EV chargers to keep America moving as electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity and capabilities.”

LG EV Level 2 & 3 Chargers

LG states that the U.S. will need hundreds of thousands of additional Level 2 and Level 3 chargers to support the growing number of EVs on the road. The company will thus help individual businesses take part in the market without relying on third-party owner operators. By giving hotels, restaurants, venues, transit hubs, municipal buildings and other locations the opportunity to own and operate their own EV charging stations; LG will empower them to set their own rates and ensure enough capacity to meet local demands.

LG’s initial product line for the U.S. market will include Level 2 AC Chargers with a load management solution and variable current settings enabling 11kW of output power through a standard SAE J1772 connector. The Level 2 AC Charger will be designed for wall mounting with an optional stand that enables placement anywhere.

Also planned for next year is LG’s first Level 3 DC Charger, a stand-type model with a connected Power Bank that provides fast charging up to 175kW through CCS1 and NACS connectors1. The Level 3 model will feature a large outdoor LCD touch-screen display that can serve multiple functions for various owners and use cases.

EV Sales to Growth Trends

Research released earlier this year by Goldman Sachs and IHS Global Insight predicts that EV sales in the U.S. will jump from 9% of total vehicle sales in 2023 to 20% in 2025, “and reaching a stunning 50% of total new vehicle sales by 2030,” Min says. “The need here cannot be overstated, and everyone has a role to play from drivers and energy producers to local governments and businesses of every size. By providing more options, LG will increase competition and innovation in the market to the benefit of drivers, businesses and society at large.”

LG’s Home Electrification Strategy

LG’s EV charger launch supports the company’s broader electrification strategy, which empowers customers to convert buildings to more sustainable energy usage, saving money and protecting the environment in the process, say the company. LG’s suite of whole home electrification products includes heat-pump-enabled HVAC systems, water heaters and dryers, energy storage systems, and ENERGY STAR certified smart appliances, including induction ranges and cooktops.

To further aid in energy and cost savings, LG’s ThinQ Energy platform allows customers to take control of their home’s energy usage at their fingertips.

Complementing LG Electronics’ entry into the EV charger market, its sister company LG Energy Solution is the world’s leading producer of EV batteries, investing billions of dollars in U.S. manufacturing, the company remarks.

LG Electronics says it employs a nationwide network of sales, customer support and technical maintenance professionals that will give LG a significant advantage over smaller EV charging firms. It will also provide buyers with peace of mind when investing in their privately-owned charging infrastructure, says the company.

Future Integrations & Additional Revenue Opportunities 

Per a statement, the new LG chargers coming next year will feature LG software to enable integration with other LG infrastructure elements including digital display networks. Some models may offer additional revenue opportunities through included digital displays that can present third-party advertisements.

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Relying on Systems Integrators to Embrace FM 2.0 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/taking-advantage-of-system-integrators-to-embrace-fm-2-0/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/taking-advantage-of-system-integrators-to-embrace-fm-2-0/#respond Tue, 01 Aug 2023 19:47:49 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=122822 Justin Lavoie and Tony Nolan urge the industry to reimagine a digital future for facility management by utilizing systems integrators.

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Most building owners today are feeling ongoing pressure to build more sustainably, whether that’s from government mandates or occupant values. Yet, it’s impossible to build a sustainable, net-zero building without having the right digital tools in place. This has pushed the topic of “Facility Management 2.0” (FM 2.0) to the forefront, sparking the industry to reimagine a digital future for facility management.

From a systems integrator (SI) perspective, this traction is a step in the right direction. The digital-driven model enables the construction industry to keep pace with other industries and guarantees more successful outcomes for the building operator. It also makes meeting sustainability goals more attainable, by incorporating the tools and systems needed to track and measure building emissions and energy use into the initial design.

Embracing Facility Management 2.0

Despite all that FM 2.0 can bring to the table, however, the industry has been slow to implement it. Progress often stalls when end users who attempt to deploy the model run into roadblocks. In addition, facility managers tend to play it safe by sticking to more traditional, long-established methods, avoiding the risk of a new process.

Communication that is solely funneled through the facility manager is status quo for building development. This means that vital collaborators, like SIs, are largely kept out of the design process and only brought in at later parts of the construction process. The reality is, if we’re going to create buildings that meet the rigorous net zero goals being set by cities like Boston, New York and beyond, we need to rethink the process and ensure that FM 2.0 principles can be instilled from the start of the design process.

Utilizing SI Capabilities Early On

To foster a collaborative environment, it is vital that everyone — from architects to construction teams to SIs — are involved from the get-go. When it comes to SIs specifically, building owners and operators see the most success when they are utilized early on in the design stage. This is before the MEP design progresses past schematic design.

If SIs are left out of the design process, then the systems become an afterthought. This can lead to the wrong systems being purchased and accounted for in the initial design process. This then costs the building owner greatly later on when they must reorder the correct solutions and finance a redesign to accommodate them. To effectively leverage FM 2.0, the SIs thus need to be brought into the process from the start.

Fostering Innovation and Collaboration

By leveraging cutting-edge digitalization tools, SIs are able to assess what is needed to maximize building performance and ensure that buildings will meet sustainability goals. SIs provide visibility into the role that smart technology plays in electrical and mechanical systems, allowing them to identify what solutions will be the best fit for each build. This decreases the likelihood of error throughout the design process as it allows the right tools to be integrated from the start.

Experts like SIs can foster customer advocacy and ensure that final integrated solutions are detailed enough to exceed client expectations. Involving SIs from the very beginning enables building owners and stakeholders to accurately evaluate building performance and provides digitized insights that equip teams with the proper knowledge around the project from design to operation.

The inclusion of all stakeholders throughout the design phase encourages collaboration and clears a pathway for an open communication on goals and the steps necessary to reach key objectives from end users. It ensures that all necessary details are understood throughout, including the potential risks to be aware of, ensuring maximized efficiency and successful outcomes for projects.

Reimagining a Digital Future for Facility Management

Given the digitally evolving buildings landscape, it is important to adapt and keep pace with the evolving expectations and needs of customers and end users. The only attainable way for developers, owners and operators to execute a successful project and reach key goals is to change their operational framework. Refreshing facility management practices through digital-first strategies initiates a new era where FM 2.0 can be easily deployed.

SIs are a requisite as they bring considerable improvements to building efficiency, performance and health. Leveraging their capabilities and input minimizes technical risk, reduces costs, satisfies end users expectations and ultimately, revolutionizes smart buildings thereby bringing into view the path to widespread sustainable, net-zero buildings.


Justin Lavoie is VP of channel development, Schneider Electric. Tony Nolan is president, Triton Concepts.

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AVI-SPL Releases Microsoft Teams Room Bundle https://www.commercialintegrator.com/communications/collaboration/avi-spl-microsoft-teams-room-bundle/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/communications/collaboration/avi-spl-microsoft-teams-room-bundle/#respond Tue, 06 Jun 2023 22:33:38 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=121205 AVI-SPL's quick-ship Microsoft Teams Room bundle addresses key accessibility and sustainability criteria for modern meeting rooms.

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AVI-SPL, the Tampa, Fla.-based, digital enablement solutions provider, released a Microsoft Teams Room furniture and technology bundle. The company states that it delivers the Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms vision of meeting equity and uplifts the hybrid meeting experience for all. The new Microsoft Teams Room bundle is available to order now. Per the company, the new bundle enables the Microsoft Teams Front Row layout in 21:9 format using purpose-built elements that put human experience and sustainability at the center of team collaboration.

AVI-SPL, a Microsoft Managed Partner, developed the bundle in partnership with Crestron, Jupiter and Salamander Designs. The outcome, the company says, is an elegant solution that seamlessly transforms the popular Microsoft Teams Front Row setup into a personalized experience for each attendee, in-person and remote. In response to customer requests across the globe, the bundle also responds to increasing mandates for accessible, sustainable solutions, says the company. As a complete solution, it also satisfies market demand for simple, quick, and scalable deployment.

AVI-SPL’s Accessible, Sustainable Microsoft Teams Meeting Room Bundles

The new ADA-compliant and ENERGY STAR-certified bundle for Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms includes the Crestron Flex Conference System with Jabra PanaCast 50 video bar certified for native Microsoft Teams Rooms integrations, Jupiter 21:9 format 5K LCD display, and Salamander Designs credenza and Arc Table. AVI-SPL provides all design renderings, installation, and system integration. The bundle is globally available and able to be easily procured as a single unit.

“Today’s companies are focused on sustainable business practices that create long-term benefits,” says Dale Bottcher, AVI-SPL executive vice president of global sales and marketing. “From elevating employee experience, to honoring inclusivity with accessible and equitable designs, to caring for our planet with products that reduce carbon footprint, we think this Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms bundle sets a new bar for purpose-driven innovation.”

As hybrid work takes hold worldwide, companies are rapidly reconfiguring offices with more video-enabled meeting and gathering spaces. To reenergize these modern workplaces, forward-thinking organizations have renewed their focus on employee experience, meeting equity, and environmental sustainability. Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms are purposefully designed to optimize meeting equity.

In addition, Salamander furniture is built for accessibility. Their facilities are 100% solar-powered and their processes are RoHS and CARB compliant. Jupiter Pana LCD displays are ENERGY STAR certified, reducing energy consumption over comparable large format displays.

As a Microsoft Modern Work Partner with the Advanced Specialization for Microsoft Teams Meetings and Meeting Rooms, part of AVI-SPL’s mission is to design and deploy room designs that enhance human connections in hybrid workspaces on a global scale. AVI-SPL’s collaboration with Crestron, Jupiter, and Salamander Designs helps the company do that, says Bottcher.

“This partnership between Crestron, AVI-SPL, Jupiter Systems, and Salamander Designs provides our mutual end-user clients with a complete Microsoft Teams Room bundle and an exceptional meeting environment. The simplified buying process makes this solution especially easy to procure, enable, and scale,” adds Bob Bavolacco, director of technology partnerships at Crestron.

AVI-SPL at InfoComm 2023

The new AVI-SPL bundle for Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms, designed for quick delivery and installation, is available now. Interested parties can see the new solution at InfoComm 2023 June 14-16 in Orlando, Fla. AVI-SPL (booth #2561) will feature a virtual reality experience of the configured room. Additionally, Crestron (booth #2501), Jupiter Systems (booth # 2231), and Salamander Designs (booth #3613) will each have the complete bundle installed in their booths.

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21 Outdated Office Technologies… and What Replaced Them https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/21-outdated-technology-office-technology/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/21-outdated-technology-office-technology/#respond Wed, 19 Apr 2023 18:00:20 +0000 http://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=51032 As office technology has advanced in the last few years, let's take a look at some outdated equipment that once ruled the office.

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Evolution is a natural part of life — and likewise, so is extinction. In the natural habitat of the average employee, the office, this process is no different. Technology is constantly evolving, which means that old, outdated technology is constantly placed on the endangered office technologies list. Soon, they become altogether extinct.

The elders in my office tell me of times when a typical employee’s desktop consisted of little more than a telephone with rotating numbers, stacks of manila folders with files lined with perforated edges, notebooks, pencils, pens, and perhaps a machine used exclusively for addition and subtraction, if the job called for it.

In these prehistoric times of outdated office technologies, I am told, employees would gather in conference rooms and write on white boards – they called this collaboration and believed it efficient. At the end of the meeting they would lay signs out — DO NOT ERASE —in order to save their work.

When finished, they would rub cloth against the surface and their words would disappear. A crude step above cave drawings, these scribbles and doodles would decide the motives for the next fiscal year across the entire company. They say executives would fly across the country just to speak with one another. Phones were too impersonal and videoconferencing platforms were a distant dream of the future, like flying cars, clones and colonies on other planets.

What rudimentary, already outdated office technologies they could afford would provide only minor convenience — pagers that beeped to tell you that someone wanted you to call them, VHS tapes that needed to be rewound for several minutes before you could watch them, overhead projectors that required see-through paper in order to show anything against the wall. Truly these were dark and unenlightened times.

Also Read: From Integrator to Technology Manager: Tips for Better Relationships

I imagine brawls breaking out as employees scrambled to use the lone fax machine. Now we can send documents through email, Dropbox, what have you. I consider the painful arthritis from writing and drawing on easels and whiteboards, now replaced by keyboards and interactive displays.

I shudder to think of the thousands of trips to the mail room in order to send information to distant clients. Forests of trees fallen in order to send the same messages I instantly delete when they show up in the inbox of my Gmail account. These are all the very real costs that those outdated office technologies imposed!

Luckily for us, office technology has advanced and now civilized in the workplace. We can look on this list of outdated office technology and what has replaced it with the knowledge that these often torturous devices are nothing but a remnant of a lost world. They can’t hurt us anymore.

Click on “View Slideshow” to view our list of outdated office technologies.


Editor’s Note: This article first debuted on our sister publication, My TechDecisions. We updated it on December 8, 2023, with additional information to suit the Commercial Integrator audience.

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URC Total Control Now Integrates with Ethereal’s Big Dog Power https://www.commercialintegrator.com/control_automation/control-systems/urc-total-control-now-integrates-with-ethereals-big-dog-power/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/control_automation/control-systems/urc-total-control-now-integrates-with-ethereals-big-dog-power/#respond Mon, 20 Feb 2023 13:05:27 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=117871 URC's control system for resimercial dealers works with power protection, monitoring of Big Dog Power Smart Power Distribution Unit & other models.

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URC, the Holly Hill, Fla.-based provider of automation and control for residential and commercial applications, and Ethereal, a company delivering custom integration solutions, have announced the launch of an integration with Big Dog Power. Commercial and residential customers can now enjoy a myriad of benefits having these technologies work seamlessly together across power monitoring and protection services with connected devices from URC’s Total Control.

The Big Dog Power Smart Power Distribution Unit and other models in the new brand from Ethereal were introduced last year to commercial integrators at InfoComm 2022 and to residential dealers at CEDIA Expo in Dallas.

As Ethereal, which recently underwent a rebranding from MetraAV, comments, the Big Dog Power Smart PDU combines all the features integrators need into one device to deliver surge protection, remote control, smart home integration, rack temperature management and more. Twelve individually controllable outlets have power metering, self-healing and automatic reboot capabilities for smarter and easier remote management of connected devices. When surges occur, two removable surge protection modules can be replaced without sacrificing the entire PDU, making this solution unique and cost-effective.

“The PR-R13PI Smart Outlet is unlike any other PDU on the market. It’s included surge mileage meter that shows the percentage of remaining protection makes it possible for integrators to know exactly how much surge protection they have remaining, giving them the power to be proactive,” says Ethereal’s product manager, Adam Rogers.

URC, Big Dog Power Integration Facilitates Efficiency, Security

Integrating across Ethereal’s Big Dog Power product line, URC products can now automate environments with greater power efficiency and security, Ethereal notes.

In practice, the end user can use URC’s Total Control to switch on, switch off or reboot devices such as media players, streaming boxes or routers, the company adds.

“This next generation of power distribution, efficiency and resiliency integration with Big Dog Power ensures that our dealers can easily install more secure smart systems with premium security and excellent power monitoring and adjustment quality,” says Lars Granoe, URC’s VP product development.

Advanced benefits of this new URC integration, according to the companies, include:

  • Unified Operation – Big Dog Power devices operate within the Total Control system for easy and secure control and automation.
  • Ease of Set-up – Setting up the system is easy with expert integration which is intuitively designed to enable professional installation from one of URC’s certified dealers.
  • Secure Dealer Access –Within a secure environment, the integration allows URC dealers remote access (with end user approval) to trouble-shoot, monitor or adjust.
  • Monitor Power Efficiency –Integrated energy meters in the IP power switches allow for precise measurement of power consumption and enable the exploitation of energy saving potentials. The result:  lower electricity costs and increased sustainability. Capabilities include viewing each outlet’s power status, rebooting specific outlets and turning equipment on or off.
  • Power System Resiliency – Power-cycling (reboot) of connected devices helps applications to get back on their feet. This can be accomplished either automatically via monitoring routines or by remote access via URC’s Total Control.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site CEPro on February 17, 2023. It has since been updated for Commercial Integrator’s audience.

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SAVe Joins Forces with HETMA to Support Sustainability https://www.commercialintegrator.com/news/save-joins-forces-with-hetma-to-support-sustainability/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/news/save-joins-forces-with-hetma-to-support-sustainability/#respond Fri, 18 Nov 2022 22:32:08 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=115467 SAVe and HETMA partner to expand sustainability initiatives throughout higher-education institutions across the U.S.

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Sustainability in AV (SAVe) is partnering with the Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HETMA) to expand sustainability initiatives through higher-education institutions across the U.S. SAVe is, of course, the first U.S.-based organization to marshal stakeholders in the AV field to take concerted action to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Meanwhile, HETMA is an advocacy organization that focuses on the higher-education AV industry.

Christina De Bono, founder and president of SAVe, celebrates partnering with Joe Way, Erin Maher-Moran and the entire HETMA organization. She says, “We can work together on a national level to raise awareness, increase visibility and educate the higher-education sector on how to achieve the SDGs.”

“The status quo cannot continue,” De Bono continues. “From climate change and environmental degradation to poverty and inequality, the challenges we face are profound, diverse — and getting worse.” She adds, “We must work together as individuals, as businesses, as educational institutions and as nations to achieve these critical goals before it’s too late.”

Starting by Educating the Educators

Joe Way is co-founder and chair of the Board of Directors of HETMA, as well as director of learning environments at USC. He says, “I was really surprised when Christina explained how much e-waste we’re producing in the U.S.” What’s more, Way observes that, because higher-education institutions do things at such high volume, that market segment likely contributes substantially to the overall number. “However,” he adds optimistically, “this also strategically positions us to have a greater impact.”

Way sees the HETMA organization initially partnering with SAVe to integrate the SAVe a Second Life program and SAVe certification trainings at colleges and universities across the country. “USC has a huge sustainability initiative,” he observes. “So, I thought, ‘Why not start there?’” Way continues, “We’re hosting the very first higher education SAVe certification training at USC [this month], and, from there, we’ll explore how we can expand the program to other educational institutions. If we do this together, we can have a larger impact.”

The SAVe a Second Life Program

The SAVe a Second Life program encourages the repair, reuse, repurposing, recycling and proper disposal of AV equipment. Organizations can give AV gear a second life at the end of its first one. In fact, all they have to do is donate it through a network that SAVe established with HETMA and the Commission on Voluntary Service & Action (CVSA).

The SAVe Certification

The three-part, one-day SAVe certification program includes an education session, a workshop and an assessment. Ultimately, the outcome is an actionable strategy to make progress toward achieving the 2030 SDGs.

If you would like more information, or if you want to get involved, contact SAVe at info@saveav.org.

For previous Commercial Integrator coverage of sustainability efforts, check out our website archives.

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Building-Technology Trends for Safer, More Sustainable Environments https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/building-technology-trends-for-safer-more-sustainable-environments/ https://www.commercialintegrator.com/blogs/building-technology-trends-for-safer-more-sustainable-environments/#respond Fri, 02 Sep 2022 20:04:55 +0000 https://www.commercialintegrator.com/?p=113436 As people continue to occupy buildings in this new environment, we will likely see five important building-technology trends this year.

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Last year brought many ups and downs, as the world tried to return to normalcy — from building restrictions being lifted to the introduction of new virus variants. With these challenges came the creation of new innovative solutions to help both people and businesses adapt to the new world, especially in the buildings that we occupy. These solutions are not only being implemented to combat challenges brought on by the pandemic, but to positively impact occupant well-being. As people continue to occupy buildings in this new environment, we will likely see the following five building-technology trends this year.

Indoor Air Quality Becomes a Focus

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting effect on the way people view indoor environments. In fact, a recent study by Honeywell found that 87% of workers revealed heightened concerns about working in office buildings, and 62% would quit their job if their employer did not take action to create an indoor space that prioritized employee well-being. As employees return to their offices, experts are giving notice to indoor air quality (IAQ) and encouraging them to better educate themselves about it. Building owners, employers and integrators will need more resourceful to control HVAC systems to allow for better ventilation and filtration to promote healthier conditions and monitor IAQ, occupancy levels and energy usage. Building upgrades will become integral to maintaining employee satisfaction as this new technology will not only promote the safety of occupants but encourage sustainability as well.

AI-Driven Technology Helps With Sustainability Goals

Sustainability is no longer just a trend, but a vital aspect of survival for businesses. Companies must find new ways to perform daily tasks while meeting environment, social and government (ESG) goals. Part of this transition includes measuring progress towards sustainability, which is where artificial intelligence (AI) comes in. Pledging to go carbon-neutral requires monitoring buildings, vehicles and other aspects contributing to carbon footprints so companies can begin minimizing them. AI-driven technologies can effectively detect energy emissions reductions as well as air quality and pollution levels. Integrating AI into buildings for this purpose will soon become standard. In fact, AI use is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 16% and improve power efficiency by 15% within the next three to five years, according to Capgemini Research Institute.

Operational Technology Cybersecurity Resiliency Grows

With remote work, the increase of smart devices and cloud storage and the popularity of interconnecting systems, buildings are experiencing more security threats. A strong cyber posture is needed not only for information technology (IT) systems but also for a building’s operational technology (OT) as IoT cyberattacks continue to escalate. Threats are becoming more sophisticated, making them harder to ward off. This year, understanding how to prevent attacks — and knowing what to do if one happens — will be a critical skill for building owners and facility managers alike.

Working Environments Will Need Smart Building Tech

According to a survey by PwC, 33% of business executives said they plan to implement a mix of in-person, hybrid and remote work environments; 19% plan to work in person; 18% are going all hybrid; and another 18% plan to mix in-person and hybrid environments. As businesses look for the best solution, working conditions and environments will have to adapt. Flexibility has become increasingly important for workers. Whether it is personal space, collaborative meeting spaces or quiet areas, building managers and employers are adjusting offices to create modern, hybrid workspaces. Intelligent building technology to control HVAC, lighting and energy usage, among other systems, can make buildings more effective and comfortable working environments.

Higher Quality and Quantity of Smart Buildings

In 2021, the U.S. Congress and President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The act allocates $550 billion in spending to upgrade roads, bridges and public transportation. It also gives funding to sustainability and clean energy projects for infrastructure. This will help to create opportunities for smarter, more sustainable cities as well as help communities to build energy equity and resiliency.

As new needs in everyday work life present themselves, businesses must continue to improve their buildings with technologies like AI, security systems or IAQ solutions. These technologies will not only provide a healthier and more secure environment but also a more sustainable future.

For additional content from and about Honeywell Building Technologies, check out Commercial Integrator’s website archives.

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