This project installed and evaluated advanced plug load management devices across multiple California community college district campuses in investor-owned utility service territories.
Approximately 15 years ago, products were developed allowing for plug-load energy use reduction around computer workstations, such as individual offices and computer labs. These efforts targeted devices like computer monitors, speakers, desk lamps, printers, scanners, copiers, and space heaters, implemented with Tier 1 advanced-power strips. Because of the issues that emerged with these advanced power strip devices, research and industry groups worked to develop a next generation of advanced plug load management devices or Tier 2 devices.
Advanced plug load management device technology as advanced power strip products or others have not been widely adopted by the California commercial building market.
This project used advanced plug load management technology with about 3,500 devices at 13 California community college campuses and focused on integrating the technology with facility operations to ensure that they met the needs of the sites and staff. The project showed that when properly installed and configured, advanced plug load management devices provide, on average, between 50 and 115 kilowatt-hours per year savings per unit, depending on specific device type or roughly 14.1 percent electric energy savings systemwide.
Recent technology advances have enabled advanced plug load management device technology companies to apply “Internet of things” principles to create low-cost sensors that can be installed on every electrical plug load management device. The devices allow building owners to obtain real-time data and analytics on plug load equipment and apply control strategies to significantly cut plug load energy use.
Author(s)
Joshua Babcock, Lance Kincaid, Arthur Tseng, Taylor Briglio, Daniela Aramayo, Sripad Kamdadai
