IoT for HVAC
Heating and ventilation account for the lion’s share of a building’s operating costs. Fine-tuning these systems is the fastest way to increase net operating income. But today’s HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems are complex. They require constant monitoring and adjustment based on weather forecasts and energy prices.
Sending out an operations technician to manually adjust a heating curve is a thing of the past. Today, control must be digital. But for that to work, a link between the sub-control center and the cloud is required—one that never fails.
The challenge: The technical room in the basement
Heating plants and ventilation rooms are rarely located with mobile coverage in mind. They are often located deep down in basements, behind thick concrete walls and steel doors. Using a standard SIM card from a single operator is a recipe for problems here. If that operator has poor coverage in that particular location, you will be left without control.
The recommended solution is based on roaming. Our SIM cards are operator-independent. This means that the equipment in the basement automatically searches for the strongest available signal, regardless of whether it comes from Telia, Tele2, Telenor, or Tre. This provides maximum connectivity even in the most challenging environments.
Protect yourself against spiraling data costs
A modern control and regulation system can generate large amounts of data, especially if it starts downloading updates or if a configuration gets stuck in a loop. With regular subscriptions, you won't notice this until you receive your bill. By then, it's too late.
Cisco IoT Control Center allows you to set automatic caps. If a sub-central suddenly starts consuming more data than normal, you will receive an alarm and the connection can be automatically throttled. You get full cost control down to the device level.
From reactive to predictive maintenance
With a stable connection, you can start working with predictive maintenance. Sensors can warn you if a filter in the ventilation system is becoming clogged or if the pressure in the heating system is dropping. You can schedule the replacement for the next time a technician is in the area, instead of having to make an emergency call when tenants complain about the cold.
Frequently asked questions about connected HVAC (FAQ)
Can I connect old control systems?
Yes, often via a so-called gateway. This "translates" the signals from the old system and sends them via 4G/5G to the cloud. This allows you to modernize older properties without replacing the entire heating system.
How can I ensure that no unauthorized person changes the temperature?
Security is paramount. We always recommend using private APNs and VPN tunnels. This makes your HVAC equipment invisible to the public internet and accessible only to your authorized personnel via secure channels.
How much data does a sub-central consume?
It varies greatly, but pure measurement data uses very little (often a few megabytes per month). However, if you need to perform remote program updates, larger data packages are required. In our portal, you can easily change your data plan in real time as needed.