by Brianna Crandall — October 12, 2011—Johnson Controls, a global leader in building efficiency, announces the Panoptix solution, a new approach to building efficiency that makes it easier and more affordable for owners and operators of any size facility to achieve better building performance. According to Johnson Controls, an intuitive user experience and a subscription-based business model mean that with Panoptix, sophisticated building management is now as accessible to the owner of a single building as it is to a manager of a global portfolio that encompasses properties of various types and sizes.
The Panoptix solution includes four key components:
- An open technology platform that makes it easy to collect and manage data from disparate building systems and other data sources, such as meter and weather data;
- A suite of cloud-hosted building efficiency applications that work with any building management system, including Metasys by Johnson Controls;
- Online and by-phone Live Guide support, as well as on-site building and energy services to help customers implement operational improvements and energy-savings measures; and
- An online Panoptix-connected community of peers and experts committed to sharing best practices, news and resources.
- A suite of cloud-hosted building efficiency applications that work with any building management system, including Metasys by Johnson Controls;
According to the 2011 International Data Corporation (IDC) Energy Insights Smart Building Investment Survey, 64 percent of respondents including building management decision makers cite cost as the number one hurdle to implementing smart building technology. Panoptix addresses this by expanding on existing building management systems, as well as eliminating the need for large initial capital investment with a Software as a Service (SaaS) subscription offering. Customers can further manage their investment by configuring their system to focus on their most critical priorities, such as energy usage and equipment performance, by choosing only the applications they require.
In addition to cost barriers, the IDC Energy Insights study also revealed that skill-set gaps made it difficult for facilities managers and energy managers to install and use smart building technology. Panoptix applications address this by presenting critical energy and performance information through an easy-to-use interface. The applications are built from advanced analytics and patented technology so customers benefit from the knowledge and experience of Johnson Controls Building Efficiency engineers.
The initial applications include:
- Continuous Diagnostics Advisor: Detects abnormal energy consumption and identifies equipment faults
- Carbon and Energy Reporter: Tracks energy usage and carbon emissions across an enterprise
- Measurement and Verification Monitor: Creates energy baseline models and tracks savings from energy efficiency projects
- Custom Analyzer: Provides flexible trend analysis to compare facilities, diagnose problems and report performance
- Carbon and Energy Reporter: Tracks energy usage and carbon emissions across an enterprise
Panoptix offers Live Guide support to help managers optimize their use of the applications, along with a portfolio of building and energy services from Johnson Controls to help customers implement the operational improvements and energy-savings measures identified with the Panoptix applications. Additionally, the Panoptix Connected Community provides online connections to subject matter experts, industry thought leaders and colleagues to share best practices, news and tips on achieving building efficiency.
The Panoptix suite of applications will continue to expand, with both Johnson Controls and partner-developed applications. A software developers kit will be available in 2012.
