IMD

By: Keabetsoe Matshediso – staff writer

Johnson Controls recently informed its client base of the new concept the company has implemented, Pan-optix, a building management system.

Neil Cameron, general manager of Johnson Controls.

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader creating quality products, and services and solutions to optimise energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles.

“The new innovation is not meant to replace building management systems (BMS), but it connects to any BMS,” says Neil Cameron, general manager of Johnson Controls.  “This concept makes information accessible with exceptionally sophisticated features; it puts data onto a cloud based computing system – a host of computers that are shared on the World Wide Web – and the data is accessible anywhere and everywhere. It is targeted to building owners or managers who want to control and better their building.

Worldwide, digital platforms are enabling collaboration across industry sectors and disciplines and among interest groups. They are delivering immense value as communities share knowledge, approaches and methodologies. The same is about to happen for facility management (FM) as cloud-based computing becomes more tangible for managers and professionals in this industry sector.

Cameron says: “The Pan-optix concept is not only limited to South Africa, it can be accessed by anyone around the world. It is currently running in America and India. It has beneficial features which include an application which allows you to see the performance of your building. This application includes an energy analyser, which informs you on the amount of energy you are using which then compares it with surrounding buildings in your area.”

Other features include:
• Connected community. This service is similar to social networks; in this case it targets business or facility owners who can share ideas, problems and information.
• Continuous diagnostics is software that runs calculations continually on the systems your building encompasses, such as chillers, electricity and temperature control on air conditioning units. This system gives you a scenario and solutions on how you could approach the issues.
• Energy saving verifier. This service continuously gives you a report on the amount of energy the building is saving and verifies the information.
• Live guides. These are the experts of the different grounds of the building

In order for a building to have the Pan-optix concept, the building will first have to be investigated and verified.
“The building should be suited to gain the value from Pan-optix, and also note which features they would like. The more features, the more value the building will get. Then we will have a solution based on what the building is currently running on,” says Cameron.

Cameron concluded: “We are excited about this concept, it is a game-changer, and Johnson Controls is the first to implement it. It was launched six months ago in Canada and we have so far received astronomical reviews.”