Pulse Energy Taps Cellular for Rapidly Deployable Solution

Pulse Energy was founded in 2006 to make a rapid and significant impact on the energy efficiency of the world’s buildings. The company’s integrated hardware/software offering collects, analyzes and communicates real-time energy intelligence for building operators and management, enabling savings of 5-25% with improved operating efficiency.

Challenges

Based is Vancouver, BC, Pulse Energy’s efficiency monitoring solution is used in environments such as corporations, post-secondary facilities, universities and government buildings. Pulse Energy is often required to deploy in locations where there is no access to either their customer’s local area network or a direct line to the internet. The process of installing a wired connection to the internet can be tedious, and to overcome some of the challenges presented by wired connectivity, Pulse Energy began using data loggers with built-in cellular modems. However, the consistency for a reliable connection greatly varied.

Solution

Pulse Energy was introduced to Sierra Wireless AirLink gateways by an existing customer and began testing the devices internally before deploying to a number of pilot sites. The AirLink intelligent gateways provide a powerful communications platform, with a rugged design for use in difficult environmental conditions. Powered by ALEOS™ intelligence and managed by the suite of AirLink management software, AirLink devices facilitate an out of the box configuration experience to simplify initial set-up and on-going monitoring and control of remote assets.

Pulse Energy tapped Sierra Wireless partner Apex Wireless to acquire its AirLink devices, as well as to provide technical support. The AirLink device is integrated with the data logger solution connected to facility meters in order to provide monitoring and connectivity for real-time data transfer back to Pulse Energy. Pulse Energy also utilizes AirLink management software to configure the Raven X and PinPoint X broadband gateways and to test on-going connectivity strength.

Pulse Energy began working with the Vancouver office of Cadillac Fairview Corp. Ltd., a commercial property manager with 11 buildings in the Vancouver area. With the Pulse Energy solution, Cadillac Fairview has been able to retrocommission the buildings in its portfolio in order to identify and implement low-cost operational and maintenance changes to reduce energy use and produce cost savings. By using AirLink cellular devices, Pulse is able to provide real-time energy data for an entire building, allowing building managers to monitor consumption, executives to analyze patterns and develop trending and tenants to view usage and adopt habits that support energy conservation.

“The AirLink cellular devices not only solved a huge problem we were having by cutting through red tape and greatly reducing implementation time, but the reliable wireless connectivity has made us think about new ways to deliver our energy visualization services,” said David Helliwell, president & co-founder of Pulse Energy.

The Sierra Wireless AirLink Raven X and PinPoint X communications gateways running on 3G cellular networks has provided Pulse Energy with the following benefits:

• Time savings – Easy setup and configuration provided by AirLink device management software, as well as the quick deployment inherent in wireless solutions, allows for minimal solution deployment time. 
• Reliable connectivity – ALEOS embedded intelligence provides always-on and always-aware connectivity required for critical fixed and mobile data applications.
• Ease-of-use – ALEOS and AirLink device management software enable quick and easy configuration and automatic system connection that facilitates seamless installation integration and deployment.
• Remote monitoring – Raven X and PinPoint X gateways include such high-level functionality as remote configuration and device maintenance, packet-level diagnostics and dependable network session persistence.