Jack MONTCHARMONT – Technical Manager of the Energy Efficiency department -  SPIE Facilities 
The energy efficiency component requires that maintenance operators evaluate actions with customers and justify the results obtained.
SPIE Facilities goes with ECONETBOX, the white mark platform developed by and with CUBE TECHNOLOGIES.
 

The need was firstly identified internally: to meter energy as simply as possible, as soon as a contract is set up and especially before implementing energy-saving actions.

Energy savings are priority for our customers - and not just for financial reasons. Positioned as European leaders in maintenance in the tertiary sector, we naturally integrated energy efficiency into our contracts. Initially, our actions and saving solutions were implemented as soon as possible, at the start of a contract, and without having an "initial" diagnostic. When the customer rightly asked us to account and justify the results and benefits of the maintenance contract, we missed the factual arguments. Our objective, formulated by the internal teams, was therefore to meter and count by delivering an initial balance sheet and at any time available figures.

Simplicity & multifunction

Our specific need: a simple tool to meter energy flow (electricity, heating systems, water, temperature, etc.) all over the buildings

An initial "benchmark" allowed us to define our criteria and expectations: a flexible tool, adaptable to all our contracts on site. We have more than 450 maintenance contracts in Île-de-France alone and each site is equipped with multiple technical installations with very different products and equipment.
 
Obviously we had to offer an open solution, adaptable both to the needs of our clients and ours. To summarize SPIE requirements: Install, measure, outsource. Maintenance contracts are subject to high tariff pressure and it is no longer possible to deploy experts in energy, electricity or heating at each site. Data outsourcing allows a small team to interact with different sites and centralize data for remote management in our offices.

Tailored devlopment

From DataStation standard CUBE product to Econetbox – a tailored development process

The DataStation, a data concentrator developed by CUBE TECHNOLOGIES, deployed at the Exhibition Centers of Porte de Versailles and ParisNord Villepinte, under a maintenance contract with us, perfectly corresponded to my vision of the solution to be developed. DataStation is used to centralize data from hundreds of multi-brand electricity meters. In addition, DataStation stores data locally, another important asset because external communication is not permanent and on-site logging is therefore essential before transfer.

However, the DataStation did not correspond to 100% to our needs for flexibility and adaptability, especially in terms of communication. The wire connections had to be complemented by radio links because the various meters we manage, such as water or gas meters, are often very distant from each other and difficult to reach. We had to avoid heavy wiring and work on a "mixed" product, wired and radio.

 

Simple setup & deployment

Clear R & D brief: Simplicity of setup and deployment 

The specifications, based on this type of "combined" product, required CUBE to work on a "packaged" product that is simple to install and easy to deploy - even for teams with little training in the handling of this type of equipment, especially in terms of programming.

The facility of deployment of the product was a key issue, for technical and logistical reasons. We could not assign an energy engineer and a computer specialist during each installation. We therefore asked to associate pre-parameterized radio sensors with the product so that the SPIE technician on site, in France and in Europe can install the Econetbox independently, in a Plug & Play mode.

Added value

Added value on customer services 

SPIE Econetbox will become our quality statement! The service will be implemented in our maintenance contracts without additional costs during a basic deployment that integrates data from the main meters of the site, namely energy, water, gas and temperature, mobilizing 5 to 6 channels per Econetbox deployed.

Now, the modularity of the product allows us to offer customers optional extensions, such as measurement of outdoor lighting, heating consumption, etc. One limit - we remain focused on the main functions of energy tracking contracts - measurement and counting.

Double benefits

Double benefits: economies for customers and work process optimization for our teams

We are driven by a single motivation: guaranteeing our customers an optimal service. With the implementation of the Econetbox we have data and figures that allow us to detect malfunctions on site.
 
An example: for years we have been maintaining a mole near Paris. Thanks to Econetbox, we have identified a malfunction in cold chain, generating a significant additional cost for the customer. Once the problems have been identified, we have been able to make the most of the various pumps.
A significant gain for the customer and a professional satisfaction for our teams, acting on site.