It has been obvious from the start of Axiom’s journey that HVAC management would be the logical next step. After all, supermarket refrigeration and HVAC systems are heavily coupled, and they often use the same controllers.
Axiom to announce first feature release for HVAC systems: demand response. For the unfamiliar, demand response (DR) is a tool used by many electric utilities that helps reduce stress on the grid during peak usage periods. During these peak times, utilities will send out signals asking enrolled customers to reduce energy consumption – and pay them for doing so!
“By reducing energy consumption during the grid’s “dirtiest” hours, supermarkets and cold storage facilities can reduce their own Scope 2 emissions while helping utilities keep their less efficient “peaker plants” from running.”
These payments often add up to thousands of dollars per year for the average grocery store, which can make a big difference for an industry with an average profit margin of ~2%. Participating in demand response programs with refrigeration and HVAC systems can also help businesses achieve their sustainability goals. By reducing energy consumption during the grid’s “dirtiest” hours, supermarkets and cold storage facilities can reduce their own Scope 2 emissions while helping utilities keep their less efficient “peaker plants” from running.
Axiom Cloud has already been helping our customers earn new revenue by safely and automatically using low-temperature refrigeration loads to participate in DR programs across North America. By also leveraging HVAC systems, which are often a store’s second largest energy consumer, our customers are now able to increase their DR revenues by 25-50%. For even more information about DR, check out our webinar earlier this year that was all about demand response in retail grocery
Today, HVAC demand response features are only available at facilities that use the same controller for both their refrigeration and HVAC systems.
