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The Rockefeller Group Development Corporation has been working successfully with Schneider Electric across its core competencies since the mid ‘90s. James Haviaris, Sr. VP operations with the Rockefeller Group Development Corporation, is here with us today to talk about the past, present and future of his company’s relationship with Schneider Electric.

TAC by Schneider Electric has always understood our infrastructure from a building technology standpoint and has always exceeded our expectations. Schneider Electric has always taken its solutions to the next level to further extend the environmental and economic benefits to where they belong: the client.

Recently, the McGraw-Hill Building in the Rockefeller Center partnered with TAC to implement a sophisticated energy management system based on smart grid technology designed to actively manage electricity usage in the building. The new energy management system has enabled us to reduce energy consumption by 60,000 kilowatts per month and save $12,500 per month.

These are outstanding results. Tell us more about what you’re currently doing with the buildings business of Schneider Electric?

We are also working with Schneider Electric to improve our EnergyStar rating and LEED certification with solid results. We needed to develop a process to help us with energy curtailment, and daily consumption reduction. Based on our long-term relationship with TAC, we thought the best portal to do this was with the building management system currently in the building.  Currently we have tripled our commitment to the NY ISO from 500 KW to 1.5 KW on a demand response curtailment plan, allowing us real-life savings of $100,000– $120,000.

The 2nd phase of the program entails artificial intelligence, which should give us a day-to-day reduction in the total operations of the building, a 2.5 million sq foot tower. We are anticipating that through a period of time, the BMS will learn the behaviors of the tenants, including air/heating needs, when they go and return from lunch and when they leave at night. Eventually, the system will adjust to occupancy needs without having to manually override it.

This is a very innovative initiative. We look forward to hearing more about it in the future. James, what are your thoughts on the One Schneider brand? 

By integrating the Buildings Business and all of the core competencies, power, data centers, industrial automation, building management and security, Schneider Electric is increasing its domain capabilities multifold. But the key here is that the company is doing so while maintaining its laser-like focus on customer needs. That is a challenging task, but one which Schneider Electric has shown it can do.