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Security is tight, often because of customer preferences. “Some systems require the owner to make the connection, because they have firewalls in place that prevent our access unless they make the connection,” adds Dave Schaefer, refrigeration and controls department manager. “Scott can then work online to solve the problem.”

“If we can log on and solve it over the phone or computer, we save time and money,” Ludwig says. “We recently completed a project for a San Diego food producer, and I began using the remote monitoring immediately. I logged about 16 hours of work without having to travel to the site.”

Bassett Mechanical's technicians rely heavily on a web-based remote, “help desk” type of service, which is a big step above a phone-line-based system it had used previously.

“The customer and contractor each visit the website, and an automatic hosting system establishes the connection. This addresses many of the security concerns that our customers IT departments have with remote connections,” Ludwig explains

From a service agreement perspective, Bassett's customers can choose whether or not to include the controls in a service package. Bassett offers proactive preventive maintenance agreements with several options that allow the customers to plan for and budget their maintenance needs.

“Most of the time, our refrigeration customers choose to include the controls as part of a standard service agreement along with the remaining equipment that's being serviced,” says Bob Geyer, operations manager.

Mike Buss, Bassett Mechanical's vice president of refrigeration, agrees that energy savings is a key benefit.

“These systems are driven and designed to make the refrigeration or mechanical systems operate as efficiently as possible,” Buss explains. “It's constantly monitoring conditions and responding to those conditions. Ideally, you're only using the amount of energy that's required to satisfy the refrigeration system's heat load requirements; or, if it's a boiler system, the heating required.”

“One way to increase efficiency and reduce costs is to reduce the labor and manpower involved in monitoring a system,”he says. “These systems can monitor and control the refrigeration system automatically. They don't require an operator on site 24 hours.”

Energy Savings, Troubleshooting, Convenience

Dave Miller, president, Superior Air and Heating, Hilton Head Island, SC, caught on to the benefits of remote controls about five years ago. Since that time, he's worked to fully integrate the technology into his 11-year-old residential/commercial HVAC company. Superior's commercial refrigeration business consists primarily of restaurants, and Miller plans to grow that sector by incorporating remote monitors into restaurant walk-in coolers.

Miller had been using remote controls to reduce energy costs for his light commercial HVAC customers. They help him find small problems before they become bigger ones, and provide convenience for both he and his customers.

“We've used several different products, including residential style equipment and programs that cross over into less complicated commercial applications,” He explains. “We completed a church controls project using one of the simpler programs, for $15,000 to $20,000. The church's existing systems weren't running on time or setting back while not in use. Systems were always ramping up simultaneously after a power outage, which resulted in high peak load costs.” The system Miller recommended provided improved control and 40 to 50% in energy savings.

The question of how to attain maximum HVACR energy savings is at the top of the list of increasing numbers of commercial customers. But, they need to hear from the commercial HVACR experts who can help provide the answer.

Contractors can be sure that they'll be called upon with greater frequency, as customers hear of the improved energy savings, security, and convenience associated with remote monitoring. Will you be ready to take that call?