I have a story about locks

When you are hoping to maximize your travel security, one of the most obvious places to start is with buying a lock. But how secure are luggage locks? The disturbing truth is that luggage locks are terribly insecure.

What does the insecurity of these locks mean for your luggage security? How does that affect the protection of your property? In order to investigate these issues, we will have to venture deep into the terrifying truth about luggage locks.

What security do TSA locks offer your luggage?
TSA locks are not secure. The shackles can be cut by most low-quality diagonal cutting pliers, the lock cylinders can be picked open with very little skill, and the schematics for the master keys have been revealed to the public. If you are using a TSA lock, you are getting the illusion of security.

The biggest benefit to using TSA locks is that the TSA can open your bag without having to 24/7 lock replacement. This still might not keep your lock from being cut off, as many travelers report having TSA cut locks off regardless of having been TSA approved. But at least there is a chance that your insecure lock will not be broken open.

A TSA approved padlock is the next step up from a zip tie. It provides the same amount of initial security if you are worried about criminal tampering. However, a TSA lock can potentially be taken off and relocked on the bag, where a zip tie cannot be reattached once removed. With a TSA approved lock, after a lawful search, there is a chance that your luggage can maintain its same level of “security”.

1. The TSA Can Remove Any Luggage Lock Without Cause
If you are checking luggage, the TSA reserves the right to open your baggage by the means required to properly carry out the search. In case you have not received a “Notice Of Baggage Inspection” letter in your checked luggage, it reads as follows:

To Protect you and your fellow passengers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required by law to inspect all checked baggage. As part of this process, some bags are opened and physically inspected. Your bag was among those selected for physical inspection.

During the inspection, your bag and its contents may have been searched for prohibited items. At the completion of the inspection, the contents were returned to your bag.

If the TSA security officer was unable to open our bag for inspection because it was locked, the officer may have been forced to break the locks on your bag. TSA sincerely regrets having to do this, however TSA is not liable for the damage to your locks resulting from this necessary security precaution.

The note goes on to suggest that the recipient of the inspection notice refer to www.tsa.gov to find “packing tips and suggestions on how to secure your baggage during your next trip…” Is it ironic for a note telling you what you just read to recommend that you use better security next time you fly? It may seem that way, but the spirit in which it is intended is that locks are not security, knowing what is going to get your bag flagged is the security you need for avoiding TSA attention.

2. Every Luggage Lock Can Be Opened
It is true that every lock can be picked, even locks that have not been picked yet can still be opened. Opening methods that travel security professionals use are almost always destructive. There is no lock that exists that can withstand every type destructive entry method given an unlimited amount of time with the lock.

Not even the best padlocks in existence can hold up to the highest level of pressure that can be applied to them. Do not expect that your security can keep out any law enforcement. Even though you may be hoping to avoid criminally minded baggage checkers, they are within their right to open your luggage at all costs.

Though there are documented cases where strong enough security has been enough to have TSA give up on trying to open it. I don’t fully understand the implications of security that has law enforcement give up, but I would not expect to be the exception to the rule that if the opening of your bag a legally sanctioned it will be carried out.

In terms of criminal threats without the full force of the law behind them, your locks can still be opened. However, when it comes to standard criminals you have to consider every aspect of luggage security and not just the security of your luggage locks.

3. No Luggage Lock Can Protect a Zipper
Any luggage lock that is placed to secure a zipper is completely useless. Anyone with a ballpoint pen can puncture the zipper track (aka teeth). This gives anyone access to the contents of your bag in seconds. Once a person has rooted around in your belongings, they can then move the zipper’s pull tab over the open teeth and reseal the bag without any sign of entry.

If you have an anti-puncture zipper, then your zipper is safe, but a lock can never protect the zipper. When you want a lock to matter at all, you have to use luggage that has hasps, not a zipper. Hasps are common on hard shell cases, which are intended to protect the contents of the luggage.

It is also unlikely that you will end up with a bag that has an anti-puncture zipper if you do not go out of your way to purchase one. This feature is not common, in spite of the fact that the method of entry is extremely popular for criminals all over the world.

4. Your Bag Undermines the Security of a Luggage Lock
Security is not the main concern for standard baggage manufactures. Unless the luggage has been designed with security in mind, the lock you place on it is not going to matter much at all. Besides zipper protection, you have to be concerned about more brash criminals that will not care about surreptitiously or even covertly open your bag.

A very common method of entry that criminals will use is to cut your bag. You made need something like a Pelican case. With a light slice from a sharp knife, a thief now has access to everything in your luggage. Unless your bag can resist cutting, having a lock on your bag is not going to truly protect the property inside.

Most likely your bag is always going to be easier to break than an incredibly strong lock. It does not make sense to have an extremely powerful lock if the case it is securing is itself insecure. Be aware of the level of protection provided by the bag before you make any investment in a lock.

5. Built-in Luggage Locks Are Not Secure
Built In Luggage Lock

This is a guiding principle more than a hard and fast rule, but it is important to think about the fact that almost any piece of luggage you buy is not going to have high-security locks. This might be something that the case claims, but you need to know better than to believe the advertising.

Even if the brand of security being used is not notorious for manufacturing subpar locks, it might still be something cheap and ineffective. A lot of times locks on cases and luggage will claim to be high-security, but they are just using a novel lock type. Such lock types that are used as built-in luggage locks include tubular locks, cruciform locks, and disk detainer locks.

If a lock is poorly made, it does not matter what kind of internal components it has. Poorly made locks are not secure. They break easier because of the lower quality metal, and that means they can be broken open easier. Mass production required to place them on luggage also lost room key very simple to the point where most of these locks can be opened with bypasses or improvised keys.

What is the best way to protect luggage?
As you may have learned from the article about protecting your beach bag, the best possible way to protect any luggage is to keep your eyes on it. This is not going to be possible at every point of your trip, especially if you have to check your bags. The important thing is to take advantage of the instances where you can watch over your property.

Your locks need to take as long to open without permission as the average time you will leave them unmonitored. As has already been established, flying in the United States will be the exception to this rule. Law enforcement will have too much time with your luggage, and they will have the authority to open the lock. But for deterring criminals, this type of security assessment is a must.

Final Thoughts
It doesn’t matter if you are in one of the most dangerous countries in the world, or you are sleeping over at a friends house in the next town over, when you have luggage, you will attract the attention of criminals. Luggage locks are not going to do much to protect your bag. You need to consider a lot more than just luggage locks.

Solar Power On The Go Sunjack 14W Portable Solar Charger Review

Let’s face it, unless you are Amish, you rely on battery-powered devices every day. From cell phones, to flashlights, to media players, most of us use cordless devices of one sort or another. When the batteries run low, we simply put a new battery in or plug the device into a wall outlet. But what happens if the power goes out for an extended period of time? Read on to see my review of the SUNJACK 14W PORTABLE SOLAR CHARGER.

The solution is to have a power source you can plug into when needed. A couple of years ago, I was looking for a solution to this problem since power outages happen from time to time. What I found was a very handy set of devices that met my needs and improved my power preparations.

I came across the Sunjack products at a local prepper show in the fall of 2014. At the time, I was looking at various portable solar chargers that I could use for camping and emergency use. There are a bunch of solar chargers out there from various manufacturers, but nothing stood out to me and I wasn’t feeling compelled to buy anything.
Portable Solar Charger

When I saw the Sunjack 14W Portable Solar Charger though, I took a second look. What struck me initially was how well-thought out the product was. The (four) solar panels fold up neatly into a package the size of a small tablet computer. It has hooks for carabiners so it can be attached to a tent or backpack if necessary. The materials were good too, they used rugged nylon fabric combined with solid stitching for the exterior cover. Even the zippers were stouter than I expected. GigaWatt didn’t go cheap on this item.

As the name states, the panels can generate up to 14 watts in direct sunlight. It can still generate electricity when it isn’t a clear, sunny day but be aware that it’s performance will be lower. You can directly charge a device by plugging it into one of the two USB ports (5V, 1.5A DC), but only when the sun is out. One great feature of this solar charger is it can also charge batteries through the same USB ports. Once the battery is charged, it can be used to charge other devices even when it is dark outside. This gives users greater flexibility along with shorter charging times.
Quick Charge Battery

Speaking of the battery, it is impressive in its own right. It’s nominal capacity is 8000 mAh and has two USB outputs. Both can charge at 5V 2.4 A, but one of the ports (the red one) can charge at 9V 1.67 A. It also has a button that will display the level of charge on a series of blue lights. That’s a quick way to see approximately how much energy is left in the battery, which is a helpful feature. According to Sunjack, it takes about five hours to fully charge the battery. One nice thing though, the battery comes fully charged from the factory and can hold it’s charge for a long time. I decided to purchase a second one to have as a spare.

SunJack 14W Solar Charger with 8000mAh Battery Review

From our phones to digital watches, GPS and just about everything else electronics are a vital part of our lives. Many of us have outlets dedicated to charging a wide range of devices in our kitchens and bedrooms. What do you do when you’re out in the woods, in the middle of a power outage or god forbid struggling to connect to loved ones after a disaster.

Sunjack has developed a solution that works for that long day on the range, the trip to the woods or the emergency power source during a disaster. The SUNJACK 14W PORTABLE SOLAR CHARGER 8000mAh Battery system is what you need when you’re far from an outlet.

The system includes:
4 solar panels that fold out from what looks a Trapper Keeper.
On the back of the panels is a mesh zippered pocket with 2 USB ports
8000mAh battery.
2 carabineers to mount the panels facing the sun.
1 mini USB charging cable (for the battery)
What are Watts and mAh?

To put Watts and mAh into perspective a small iPhone charger is 5W with the larger Ipad charger is 12W think of this as the amount of energy that is being transferred at a time. mAh represents the volume of power that is stored. The 8000mAh is enough to fully charge 4 iPhones or 1 tablet based on it’s specs. I found it charged my iPhone 6 twice before it depleted the battery when not attached to the solar panel.

Charging ratings on solar panels is based on the full sun so you want to make sure that any panel you purchase is at least 30-40% more than your required drain. It is best to go 100% more if possible. With this in mind, if tablets are your primary concern, you might want to go with the larger 20W 16000mAh version.
What’s That Mean to Me?Our usage during testing was for powering my cell phone as well as charging up a GoPro during long trips to the range documenting a review and camping . For these purposes, the panel worked fantastically. With 2 ports attached to the solar panel, you can direct charge a device as well as the 8000mAh battery. The Battery is removable so after a full charge, you can take the battery with you to use on the go.

Some things to note, the folding solar panels are black and designed to be laid in the sun so if you lay your phone on top of it while charging it will get hot. I mean really hot, in my first test I accidentally activated my phone’s safety shut down. This is easily fixed by placing the phone under the panels flap keeping it shaded but it is something you need to be aware of. The rear mesh pouch is perfect for this, you can move around while charging without losing your device or getting tangled in cords.

The Sunjack website claims that the 8000mAh battery will charge in 5 hours. This is based on the full and optimized sun. In the real world of the cold north, we found this to take closer to 7 hours. However, even 7 hours to charge a battery that will charge 4 phones is damn impressive when outlets are not an option. Charging of devices from either the panel or the battery was in line with wall charger times which is really impressive for such a small device.

Aukey 30000mAh Power Bank with Quick Charge 3.0 review: Can fully charge a sleeping MacBook

The AUKEY POWER BANK with Quick Charge 3.0 PB-T1 is the first very high-capacity battery with the right mix of size, weight, and features for laptop recharging. It’s only drawback is that it can’t recharge a Mac laptop unless it’s sleeping, because it lacks support for USB Power Delivery 2.0, which can pass through high wattages needed to charge a laptop while it’s in use.

Packing 30,000 milliampere hours (mAh) or 111 watt-hours (Wh), the Aukey showed in testing that it could deliver the equivalent of over 1.5 full charges for a 2016 12-inch MacBook or deliver more than a full charge to the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. My 2015 12-inch MacBook recharged at a rate between 7Wh and 8Wh per hour, which translates to a couple of hours of low-intensity, low-brightness use per each hour of charging.

Weighing in at just over a pound (20.4 ounces) and taking up volume a bit smaller than a paperback book (5.9 x 3.3 x 1.1 inches), it’s the perfect item to throw into a bag when having access to an outlet is iffy. On a long-haul flight or other situation without power for an extended period, this battery is your current best choice.
Test results

The battery pack is fairly efficient, delivering in testing over 60 percent of its total potential as charge, or about 65Wh. The available energy range with other USB-C battery packs varies from 50 percent to about 85 percent, as power conversion, heat, and other factors reduce the total available charge.

The battery shares the problem of all those currently on the market, in that it taps out at 15W (3A at 5V) over USB-C for both recharging itself and charging external devices. That’s a shame, because the USB-C spec allows far higher charging parameters with the right internal circuitry, cable, and power adapter. This means that the Aukey can’t recharge any model of Mac while the computer is awake.

In my testing, with a 2015 12-inch MacBook with an aging battery, I wasn’t able to hit that maximum 15W charge rate, either. A battery monitoring app showed the battery delivering 15W, but the actual transfer was roughly half that speed, which can be attributable to conversion loss (between the 3.6V pack’s cells and the MacBook’s 7.55V cells) and other inefficiencies.

Buyer’s Guide For The Best Above Ground Pool

Buying a pool is a big decision. You want to make sure you get the best you can for your money instead of something you will have to pour even more money and time into. Above ground pools are a great option for anyone looking for a way to get all the benefits of a swimming pool without the huge costs of an in-ground pool installation.

If you want to find the best above ground pool, you need to get some background knowledge about what makes an above ground pool good or bad. Here in this buyer’s guide for above ground pools, I’ll give you the information you need to help you make the best decision to fit your needs as an individual or a family.
Best Coleman Pools


Out of the pools available for purchase, these are some of the top rated above ground pools offered to fit a variety of needs:
1. Intex Easy Set Pool Set



These pools are made with tough laminated PVC sidewalls and bottom lining with an inflatable ring around the top of the pool so that they can last against all the play you throw at them. The pool set comes with a 1000 gallon per hour filter and a pool ladder so that you can start using the pool right after you set it up. Installation of the pool is very easy and can be done in just about 15 minutes.
Best Features:

Pump and ladder included, all you need to do is set the pool up and you are ready to use it!
Convenient instructional DVD detailing the setup and maintenance needed
Sturdy materials used can endure a lot of play and even dog claws if you want your pet to swim
Drain plug is compatible with a garden hose, so if you want to drain the water you can drain it away from the house and pool area
Dual suction outlet fittings are designed to help the pump work more efficiently and keep the water clearer
Water capacity: (80%) from 1,485 gallons to 5,455 gallons
Filter pump capacity: from 530 gallon per hour flow rate to 1,500 gallon per hour flow rate, 110-120 volts
Intex Easy Set Pool Set Sizes Available: 12ft x 30in; 15ft x 48in; 18ft x 48in; 15ft X 36in; 8ft X 30in; 15ft X 42in



What Did Customers Have To Say?

Positive reviews mentioned that the larger sizes of the Easy Set pools were great for allowing a lot of kids to play at once without any trouble. Most negative reviews complained that the ground must be completely level before you install the pool, or else it can be lopsided and cause issues in the future.

Read my full reviews


PROS


Washable filter cartridge can last for months
Easy general maintenance
Seasonal storage can make your pool last for years
Liner is very sturdy
CONS


Location must be completely leveled before installation
Filter pump can sometimes quit earlier on, must be replaced with warranty
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2. Intex Metal Frame Pool Set



Metal frame pools are great for anyone who wants a sturdier above ground pool. Many people find that these pool sets make for the best above ground pool as they are still very reasonably priced, yet they generally last longer than the Easy Set pools. Installation can be done by even just one person within 30 minutes and then the pool is ready to be filled up. Pool sets come with the filter pump and pool ladder.

Available pool sizes: 12’ x 30”, 15’ x 48”, 18’ x 48”, and 24’ x 52” The smallest pool (12’ x 30”) has a water capacity of 1,718 gallons with each size getting progressively larger from there.



Best Features:

Pool set includes filter pump (530gph capacity) and pool ladder to help you use the pool immediately after you finish setting it up and filling it with water
A built in ground fault circuit interrupter helps to prevent electrical shocks
Krystal clear filter cartridges make the water even clearer than ever


What Did Customers Have To Say?

Positive reviewers focused on the durability of the pool frame and other materials as well as the simple setup that can be completed by just one person in 30 minutes of less. Most negative reviewers mentioned that the pump needs to run for a long time in order to effectively clean the water, as it is a little small for some of these pool sizes.

Read my full reviews


PROS


This pool can survive a harsh winter when properly covered
Setup is very simple
Perfect for children as young as 3-4 and adults
The sturdy PVC material can withstand dog claws well, making these pools good for use with pets
Built-in ground fault circuit interrupter keeps your family safe from electrical shocks in the pool
Long outdoor quality cord from pump filter
CONS


Ground must be well leveled or else the pool frame can become stressed and give problems
Filter pump lacks the power to keep these large pool very clean unless it is on very frequently
Support beams for smaller sizes can be less sturdy and prone to bending if too much weight is rested on them or the pool water level is too unbalanced (ground underneath not leveled)


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3. Intex Ultra Frame Pool Set With Filter Pump & Saltwater System



The ultra frame pools from Intex are a step up from the regular metal frame pools as they have reinforced, laminated PVC side walls with an all-around support band to keep the pool well supported and stronger. This pool set comes in one size, but you have the option of buying it with or without the saltwater system. The set comes with a pool ladder, ground cloth, filter pump, and debris cover.





Best Features:

Set includes pool, ladder, debris cover, ground cloth, maintenance DVD, and sand filter pump with the option of adding a saltwater system
Ground fault circuit interrupter helps prevent electric shock
All-around band adds extra support to the steel frame poles
Saltwater system gives you a great alternative to chlorine
Pool size: 18’ x 52” This pool has a 6,981 gallon water capacity


What Did Customers Have To Say?

Positive reviewers mentioned that the saltwater system is incredible and works very well for keeping this pool clean. The high quality of the materials is also mentioned frequently. Negative reviewers focused on the poor Intex customer service whenever there was an issue with the pool that needed to be sorted out.

Read my full reviews


PROS


The sand filter works better than a regular filter
Saltwater system has no harsh chemicals and is easy to maintain as pool salt is cheap and widely available
Pool walls are very sturdy and can stand up to all levels of activity
This pool is built to last for years and years rather than just one summer season
Large pool size can accommodate many people at once
So easy to set up that even one person can do it alone
CONS


Ground must be completely leveled before the pool is placed, as the uneven ground can put unnecessary stress on one side of the frame
No vacuum cleaner or skimmer included. These are not a necessity, but they make weekly maintenance easier


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4. Intex Rectangular Ultra Frame Pool Set



If you want a larger pool with the right shape for lap swimming, the Intex rectangular ultra frame might be the best above ground pool set for you. I recommend getting the deluxe pool set instead of the regular set, because it comes with a maintenance kit and volleyball set along with the other accessories.


Best Features:

Deluxe pool set includes maintenance kit, volleyball set, pool ladder, pump filter, ground cloth, maintenance DVD, and pool debris cover along with the pool itself
Sturdy design can withstand all sorts of play and exercise without any problems. This pool can last for years
This pool is compatible with a saltwater system if you choose to buy on to install
Pool size: 24’ x 12’ x 52” This pool has a water capacity of around 8,500 gallons.


What Did Customers Have To Say?

Positive reviews focused on the ease of using the sand filter and how well it worked for cleaning out the pool. Most negative reviewers mentioned that the support U-frames needed to be on a solid surface such as wood, rocks, or concrete, but this fact is not noted in the setup instructions.

Read my full reviews


PROS


Everything you need to set up an run your pool immediately is included in the pool set
Deluxe pool set includes a lot of fun extras that kids and adults can enjoy together
This pool is very attractive and will look great in your yard
Included sand filter is easy to keep maintained and works well with the pool
The large size of this pool can accommodate lots of swimmers
Pool frame is very strong with extra U-frame support bars around the sides
CONS


Included ladder is a little shaky
This is the older model of the pool and it may be discontinued by the manufacturer, making parts hard to come by if you need to replace anything

Roof Needs Repair Or Replacement

Have you ever taken a close look at your roof repair bronx  recently? I mean really taken a great up close look. Would you understand how to tell if it's time have roofing Bronx have a look at your brick pointing bronx? Or have you been purposely ignoring the obvious warning signs that you may need to have your brickwork pointing nyc analyzed simply because you dread the notion of what it'll cost to repair or replace your roofing contractors bronx ny if really a problem is found? Which ever the case, you're not alone. The truth is you're like so many other house owners who just don't have the time or money or patience for another home repair project, yet another cost, essentially another headache to need to budget for. You might have been saving for a family excursion, a new car, as well as renovating one of those rooms in your home and believe that you just can't afford right now. So that you ignore the signs and you put it off in favor of the new car, the family excursion, or even the master bathroom renovation. But regrettably, roof repair bronx nyisn't something that you wish to place on the backpack, as it can end up costing you substantially more cash later on if it's not already costing you much more money today!

So you may be asking yourself "how can I know if I indeed need to have my roofing Bronx ny repaired or replaced, or if I just need to get it cleaned?" You could always call roofing Bronx and ask for a review. Most roofing contractors in bronx new york offer free inspections and may even help you with obtaining your homeowner's insurance to pay most if not all of the price if it's a consequence of some kind of hail or storm damage. If you're still unsure you should call roofers Bronx here are nine warning signals that will let you know that you surely have to have your brick pointing nyc repaired or even replaced. The majority of these signs can be understood in the floor and by looking in your attic if accessible. If you opt to get on the bronx roofing contractors itself and inspect please use caution because the granules of these roofing Bronx shingles may be loose and make you slip and possibly collapse. So BE CAREFUL!

Adapting to a Renewable-rich Grid: Businesses Embrace Building Management Solutions

Transitioning to the energy GOAL ZERO NOMAD 20  landscape of the future is oftentimes distilled down to a rise in renewable power generation. But the reality is that myriad industries are evolving and contributing to the foundations of a cleaner future. Here, the emergence of building technologies harnessing IT in order to fine-tune building energy profiles represents a sector of great importance and growing sophistication.

With a litany of terms in use — building energy management systems (BEMS), smart or cognitive buildings and more — the software and related control systems behind this array of technology are all fundamentally concerned with optimizing a building’s energy resources.

That objective isn’t necessarily new, but the challenge and solutions have evolved in response to changes in the broader energy system.

Renewable Energy World spoke with Greg Turner, vice president of Honeywell, about the industry’s current standing.

“Looking at the evolution of grids, it’s now a necessity to reconsider how we approach energy management in buildings,” Turner said.

While a previous focus was on a combination of conservation and managing demand charges, Turner describes how businesses have embraced technology to adapt to, and capitalize on, newfound characteristics of grids with high shares of renewable energy, as well as in many instances on-site solar PV and combined heat and power projects.

“The impact of renewables is certainly increasing the need for a more dynamic building,” Turner said. “Until recently, we’ve thought about buildings as static loads, and varying ways to serve that load. The problem with renewables is, we sometimes need to adjust the load, rather than the source. This changed our thinking somewhat, and the solutions.”



At Honeywell, there are three major inputs to systems: forecast load for buildings, weather forecasts, and day-ahead (and in some instances hour-ahead) tariff rates.

Aiming to adjust building energy profiles based on varying parameters, “systems integrate these [inputs] to create an operating plan for the building and then automated demand response sits on top to perform real-time corrections,” Turner said.

These types of operations are reflected in Honeywell’s product portfolio.

Honeywell’s ‘Smart Energy’ building products provide metering infrastructure, including smart grid and automated demand response software.

“Meanwhile,” Turners explained, “our traditional building controls business, and ‘Honeywell Energy Manager’ software are designed to help customers understand energy usage, forecast demand, select best sources, and then execute demand-response strategies on the building side to match up with what’s happening on the generating/source side.”

Turner described Honeywell Energy Manager —on the building-side — and ‘Enterprise Building Integrator’ SCADA — on the generation-side — as “sister products that talk to one another and coordinate dynamic response and dynamic generation.”

Turner views both commercial and industrial sectors as key customers to BEMs, and believes that all buildings stand to gain from these technologies, not simply those with on-site generation.

“With large customers in California, particularly IT companies, we’ve seen a lot of adoption,” he said. “They’ve very quickly achieved net-zero operations in 60-70 percent of cases.”

He added that a majority of Honeywell’s customers have corporate sustainability goals.

“That’s a key driver,” he said. “Others are also very focused on cost of energy, particularly in energy intensive business. IT, obviously, but hospitals, airports; these are also ideal benefactors. It’s not about how high-tech you are, but how energy-intensive you are.”

For other customers, Turner noted, BEMS installation is about future-proofing in expectation of forthcoming disruption in the way power is priced, and consumed.

This being the case, differences are apparent between commercial and industrial sectors.

“Commercial buildings tend to tolerate dynamic operating environments much better,” Turner said. “Many industrial environments utilize most energy directly in their processes — so anything that introduces transition or potential intermittency is a threat in terms of process consistency and quality. That’s a challenge.”

Honeywell, however, has delivered successful solutions to customers sensitive to such concerns, Turner said, adding: “Battery systems can play a big role here and make systems more accessible. Energy storage has become the key for many industrial customers who couldn’t tolerate process variability.

Altogether, efficiency gains and energy savings can be significant with the right solutions in place — even for companies that have already sought to improve their buildings’ energy profiles via traditional energy conservation programs and measures (ECMs).

“With these new approaches, changing the paradigm and making a building more dynamic and so on, it opens up a whole lot more options, and pathways to another 20-25 percent savings [beyond ECMs],” Turner said.