Honeywell International Inc. introduced Connected Power, a solution that helps monitor, manage and automate buildings' power usage at the plug level. The solution offers insights into where energy is being used ? and wasted ?

across North America. Buildings' energy usage and related processes account for approximately 37% of global CO2 emissions, which places pressure on building owners and managers to reduce energy consumption. On June 20, 2024, common devices ?

including vending, copy and coffee machines ? continuously consume energy. In many commercial buildings, much of this power is consumed even when no one is working in the area, which has become more common due to hybrid work schedules.

Depending on the type of building, plug loads can account for between 25% and 50% of energy consumption. According to a recent Honeywell survey, the majority of employees either never unplug their devices or only do so for reasons including troubleshooting or going on vacation. The survey found that fewer than 1-in-5 employees unplug devices when they are not using them, and more than 80% of employees say their employer is equally as responsible as they are for controlling power usage on devices.

With Connected Power, building managers across North America can autonomously power down unused outlets based on space usage schedules or occupancy data, while also improving safety. The solution's connected outlets use existing wiring infrastructure and link to a digital dashboard, making it possible for building managers to monitor and control the energy consumption of each power outlet, or an entire area, from one screen with a few clicks. Connected Power can be integrated into most existing building management systems (BMS) using open standards to provide centralized site scheduling and control, while also creating a more detailed view of total energy use.

It can also be used as a stand-alone portal that will directly manage and control up to 2,500 outlets. The solution also addresses workplace safety by helping ensure that equipment is powered down when not needed, and by detecting elevated outlet temperatures to identify potential issues that could interrupt power for an entire work area. With Connected Power, users can receive remote alerts if a business-critical device, such as equipment used in a research laboratory, shuts off unexpectedly, enabling immediate action to be taken.