Climate Control Systems

Properly controlling your thermostats for heaters, air conditioners, and freezers can save money and the environment. Our climate control systems can utilize cloud-based analytics to detect HVAC inefficiencies and help to save up to 28% in energy costs.

IntraWorks designs, installs, and services Climate Control Systems for a wide variety of clients facilities to include: Government organizations, hospitals, high rise buildings, education facilities, office complexes, hotels, places of worship, auditoriums, prisons, laboratories, manufacturing facilities and much more.

Climate Control Systems utilize thermostats in a building to control heating and air conditioning systems (HVAC). Further temperature adjustments are also based on individual preference and the time of day. These systems can have advanced modeling features to sense when HVAC units are malfunctioning and when to setback temperatures based on outdoor/indoor temperatures and building occupancy.

Measurement and evacuation of Carbon Dioxide in buildings where large groups of people gather is being utilized in some more advanced systems.

More advanced systems can measure outputs from the HVAC units and send that data to the cloud where it is analyzed to determine if the HVAC unit is operating at maximum efficiency. If there is a malfunction, the system sends a text or email to service personnel who can fix the problem. The system even indicates how much energy savings will be realized by making the fix.

The climate control system can integrate and control most of the other systems in the building. These advanced control platforms offer the best scenario for integration since they sense temperature and have open protocols to work with almost any brand or type of special system.

New smaller climate control systems are wireless and are able to control temperature and lighting in all rooms more effectively. These inexpensive package systems work well with mobile technology and alarm systems to give the user a comprehensive solution to security, safety, and energy needs. These smaller systems offer the same sophistication that larger systems do at a fraction of the cost. Now remote facilities and auxiliary buildings can capture the same energy savings as the larger main buildings in a campus. The smaller wireless systems can all report back to the larger building automation platform to offer a comprehensive solution for any campus.

HVAC control systems are typically integrated with fire detection and evacuation systems to control smoke during a fire. No other integration is typically found. However, IntraWorks takes HVAC control to the next level by integrating it to the access control or security system. Access Control systems indicate occupancy when an occupant enters the building. HVAC systems can “set back” temperatures during non-business hours to save on utility costs. The setback is usually only a few degrees so as to not make individuals uncomfortable if they occupy the building during non-business hours. By integrating access control, we know if someone is really in the building or not. If no one is in the building, the set back temperature can be greater saving even more energy. Further, other setbacks can be programmed based on “who” is entering the building during non-business hours. For example if an IT staff person arrives at night, the system may only adjust the temperature in the data center area. If the building is rented to multiple tenants, the system can generate a report showing occupancy durations during non-business hours so that additional billing can be generated. This integration can save thousands in utility costs and make occupants more comfortable and accountable.

As mentioned above, building analytics are an important and new trend in HVAC control systems. Other advantages exist by way of bench marking and constant commissioning. IntraWorks can utilize cloud based systems to compare or benchmark HVAC or climate control system performance against other similar buildings of size, type, geographical area, and usage. In other words, we can compare the effectiveness or efficiency of one store’s HVAC system to another store system in a similar climate. When thousands of stores or buildings are measured this way, benchmarking a facility will allow stakeholders to determine if additional savings are possible by updating HVAC systems. Further, the actual savings can be calculated and compared to the cost of the update or fix; determining a break-even point in time or an internal rate of return on the investment. We call this constant commissioning or cloud based commissioning as compared to an engineering study or engineer commissioning that is out of date only months after it is completed. IntraWorks can offer this service on an annual basis. Monitoring or failure reports are sent in real time, and analysis reports showing commissioning information are sent on a monthly basis.

IntraWorks is very experienced at providing HVAC / climate controls and Monitoring equipment in the region. There are hundreds of these systems that are stand alone in structure. IntraWorks typically designs and installs brands that integrate across multiple platforms and systems that provide a more comprehensive building automation solution. Examples of these brands include: Continuum, StruxureWare and StruxureWare lite, and I-net platforms by Schneider Electric.

Many systems must be tested annually or before an event. Climate control systems should be tested monthly or at least quarterly in case supervisory signals were not received or ignored. IntraWorks can test most brands of Climate control systems. Our Climate control system technicians can perform tests according to client standards and certify the health of any system. Since these systems are critical by nature, IntraWorks can provide fast and reliable priority response when the system is put under a service agreement.