This document discusses making "dumb" buildings smarter through new wireless technology that can retrofit existing pneumatic HVAC systems. It describes how most commercial buildings built before 1995 still rely on outdated pneumatic controls that waste energy and are difficult to maintain. A new wireless solution can replace thermostats in just 20 minutes, enabling remote monitoring, automatic calibration, and demand response capabilities. This low-cost retrofit opens opportunities for utility incentives and improves energy efficiency, maintenance costs, and tenant satisfaction compared to traditional expensive and disruptive replacements. The technology also enables automated monitoring of gauges, steam traps, and connectivity to existing building automation systems.

1. Making Dumb Buildings
“Smart”
Harry Sim
CEO, Cypress Envirosystems
V4.0 081114

2. “Smart” Buildings

3. Typical Existing Buildings Today
Pneumatic
Thermostats Dial Gauges
Steam Traps
Standalone Transducers,
LED/LCD Displays
-80C Freezers Uninterruptible
Power Supplies
Manual Instrumentation, Not Programmable, No Diagnostics…
Equals: Wasted Energy, Higher Downtime, More Labor Required

4. Why Still So Many “Pneumatic” Buildings?
• High Cost
– Replace pneumatic piping with electrical wiring
– Replace pneumatic actuators with electric actuators
– Must go behind walls, above ceilings
– Lots of labor
– Market rate of $2500 - $3000 per zone for traditional DDC retrofit
– Payback of 4-7 years typical
• Disruptive to Tenants
– Exposure to Potential hazardous/toxic materials (e.g. Asbestos)
– Retrofits often happen only when there is tenant churn or other major
renovation
Most buildings built before 1995 are still pneumatically controlled,
or up to 70% of the commercial built environment.

5. What are the Consequences?
• Waste Energy
– No zone control for night setback, occupancy override, optimal
start/stop
– No ability to participate in Auto-Demand response or similar load
management strategies
– Out of calibration stats do not control temperature correctly
• More Labor for Maintenance
– Manual calibration of pneumatics
– Difficult to troubleshoot with no diagnostics, sensors
• Unhappy Tenants
– Building manager does not know of problem until tenant calls
– Many thermostats set at maximum or minimum – do not function
Real Impact to Energy Costs, Maintenance Costs, Tenant Satisfaction

6. Problem Right Here in Silicon Valley
• County of Santa Clara, Social Services Administration
• 2 Buildings, each 5 story, built 2000
• Total 300,000 sq-ft
• 350 Pneumatic Thermostats, non-communicating
• Estimated Demand Response load shed: 200kW
• Would like to participate in PG&E Auto-DR program,
but challenging with pneumatic thermostats

7. But Can’t We do Something?!!
Silicon Valley Silicon Valley
High Tech Built Environment
40 Year Gap in Technology Co-Existing in Same Area

8. New Technology to Enable Retrofit
DDC in 20 Minutes!
• Manual Setpoint Control • Remote Wireless Setpoint Control
• No Remote Readings • Remote Monitoring of Temp & Pressure
• No Diagnostics • Pager/Cell Notification of Excursions
• Manual Calibration • Automatic Self-calibration
Required • Programmable Temperature Setbacks
• Cannot support Demand • Occupancy Override
Response strategies • Enables Demand Response strategies
• BACnet Interface to BMS
• 2yr+ battery life
Requires about 20% the cost and 10% of the time
compared to traditional DDC Retrofit

9. Replacement in under 20 minutes

10. Project Comparison with DDC Retrofit
Santa Clara County Government Project

11. Tapping Utility Auto-DR Incentives
• Open A-DR communications link
developed by Lawrence Berkeley
National Labs.
• PG&E Technical Incentive 2009:
• $230/kW for equipment and
installation
• $20/kW for participant
incentive
• $50/kW for Technical
Coordinator
Incentives Can Help Pay for Cost of Retrofit

12. Automating Gauge Reading
• Thousands of gauges on Air Handlers, Boilers, Chillers,
Heat Exchangers…
• Energy Savings Applications e.g.
– Compressed Air – ramp down compressor
– Audits for current, steam/water pressure, temp, flow
• Improved Equipment Uptime via Monitoring
– Filter changeouts (measure delta P)
– Pumps, compressors, fans (measure delta P)
• Reduced troubleshooting cost
– Fast non-invasive data gathering/logging/alarming
• Safety/Compliance
– Avoid difficult to reach or hazardous locations
– Monitor exhaust/venting (e.g. Magnehelic gauge)
• Reduce labor and consumable costs
– Gas Cylinders
Non-Intrusive Reader Mounts On Top of Existing Gauge in Minutes…
Enables Alarming, Trending, Historization for Process/Asset Monitoring and Troubleshooting

13. Detecting Steam Trap Leaks
• Necessary part of the steam
distribution system, usually hundreds
of units per site
• 15-20% average failure rate;
leaks steam
• Failed traps lose $5-10K per year
• Wireless device clamps on non-
invasively and monitors trap health
for early detection and resolution.
• Typically less than one year payback
on investment.
Leaking Traps Waste Energy Typical Steam Trap
Save Energy and Time Locating Faulty Steam Traps

14. Connectivity to Existing Automation
PC with Browser PC with Browser
Ethernet
BAS Controller Honeywell Building
Excel EBI, Wixom, M
Solutions
Golden V
BACnet/IP Tridium Honeywell ECC
Important to Work With Existing Automation…
Avoid: New Headend, New Software, Retraining of Staff