IFExpress is sponsored in part by:

IFExpress is available via the web at:
http://www.airfax.com/airfax/ifexpress/ 
 

Hot Topic: Enterprise Building Management – Another Carbon Footprint Solution!

I have been waiting for a slow news day to do this story but it never seems to comes, so it is hoped IFExpress readers at least find this story interesting! If you don’t mind learning about a new technology, or rather the application of the same to an old problem, enterprise building management, you might see a connection to aviation in your own particular world. Before you give up on the topic, hear me out. This technology may not be an IFE issue, but it sure is as important if you run an airline, manage a few scattered buildings, are looking for a way to automate an airport gate service, or you watch the future of technology.

The story begins in Emirates JFK Airport lounge while waiting for a plane to the AIX Conference. I ran into the folks from GridLogix while sharing a dinner table, and talked with Carter Williams, their president. Carter I discovered, was also an alumnus of Boeing so we had a bit in common. The engineer in me came out when the subject of their product (service) came up. Because of the IFExpress aviation connection, he naturally launched into the description of an airport preparation service he had completed... but it was some time till I could get my hands around the basic software control product/service they had developed. To immerse the reader quickly and to simplify some three hours of discussion; let me just say the world of building service control is undergoing a digital revolution. To quote Mr. Williams, “Putting this kind of system in place costs 60 cents to $1.20 per square foot. It reduces energy costs by 10 to 20 percent and maintenance costs from 10 to 60 percent. And it does that without a major change in the building infrastructure. In one application, we’ve saved $15 million so far. The goal is to reduce total cost of operations by about a dollar a square foot, with overall savings of $30 million.” He naturally had my attention.

To many, optimizing the functions of heating, ventilation, air conditioning of a building or campus is about as interesting as paint peeling but the story has some relevance in today’s cost reduction environment. With GridLogix in control they were able to use the output from digitized sensors and controllers all over buildings or (hangars?) and with the algorithms they have developed, can do so more efficiently, automatically and monitor failures and building physical dynamics continually and remotely. Why is this significant? Airlines will soon be justifying their carbon footprint and it is not all going to come from jet fuel reductions.

As I also mentioned, not all of their solutions are solely HVAC related. On one aviation related project they integrated ARINC into a building control situation at a dispersed airport gate operation. It dealt with more than physical plant control, they supported the data connection to the gate itself and I assume were able to automate the gate preparation function with ARINC messaging. While we tried to get more information on this capability, they were contractually required to limit data they could release. However, from an outside perspective, digital data is just data – if one can control the HVAC of a gate waiting area in a dispersed operation like an airport, the communications that integrate with it are fair game as part of the messaging protocol. Thus, airlines and airports are a real target for cost reduction opportunities as they have many of the characteristics of GridLogix’s current customers: various size buildings, dispersed operations and facilities, strong IT departments, building control that falls under the category if “islanding” in some cases, long term planning that relies heavily on facilities, large asset management, and in some cases, high turnover.

If you want to get management attention, just drop this story in the company suggestion box when they ask for ways to reduce energy consumption, but you had better do it soon, Carter’s little company is going to be inundated with requests. Why? There just aren’t too many ways to save millions of dollars each year by optimizing facilities! To quote Mr. Williams, “Certainly saving energy on the ground is easier than in the air and airlines should cut waste to the bone to make up for part of their airplane-based carbon footprint.”

If you want to dig a bit deeper, I have included a few links to GridLogix brochures and a position paper on their business model. For more info, cwilliams@gridlogix.com, (O) 314-843-3343 x205, (M) 314-517-7525

• GridLogix Business Model (PDF, ~13k)
• GridLogix Brochure (PDF, ~1.4M)
• GridLogix White Paper (PDF, ~1.4M)
• GridLogix EnNet Enterprise Applications (PDF, ~25k)

IFExpress is sponsored in part by:

Rockwell Collins and ARINC sign agreement for broadband offering; SKYLink to Provide Broadband Connectivity for Rockwell Collins’ eXchange
6/11/2007 10:05:57 PM

Rockwell Collins Unveils Enhanced SATCOM Solutions
6/11/2007 10:05:27 PM

Interjet takes delivery of its first A320
6/11/2007 10:02:55 PM

Airbus presents new organisation to its European Works Council
6/11/2007 10:02:15 PM

Boeing and United Aircraft Corporation Announce Cooperative Agreement
6/11/2007 10:00:02 PM

Boeing 787 Premiere to Feature Award-Winning Broadcaster Tom Brokaw
6/11/2007 9:59:07 PM

Boeing and Sukhoi Announce Expanded Agreement
6/11/2007 9:58:07 PM
 

IFE Jobs is sponsored in part by:

IFExpress is sponsored in part by:

Boeing partner Vought fires top executive on 787 project
Seattle P-I
 

IFExpress is sponsored in part by:

WAEA Technology Committee Meeting
6/26/2007 - 6/27/2007

Aircraft Interiors Expo Asia
9/3/2007 - 9/6/2007

28th Annual WAEA Conference & Exhibition
9/17/2007 - 9/20/2007
 

IFExpress is sponsored in part by: