Hartz Mountain takes control with new energy system.

Hartz Mountain, one of New Jersey's largest owners of commercial office space, has taken aggressive steps in improving their tenants' comfort while also reducing operating costs through UtiliVisor[R], the "state of the art" remote monitoring system.

Hartz Mountain senior vice president, Joseph Margiotta, and vice president, Sal Gentile, made the decision to implement the UtiliVisor system because they wanted a better quality of temperature and comfort conditions for their tenants as well as the advantage of reducing equipment downtime.

UP&M, a New York based utility consultant with over 27 years of building operating experience, developed UtiliVisor three years ago to analyze building system performance in "real time". UtiliVisor analyzes data from newly upgraded Andover controls systems, without additional levels of control or new products or software. Gentile stated, "After reviewing the systems available in the marketplace, only UtiliVisor can analyze and track chiller plant and building automation system performance easily, without generating voluminous 'canned' reports that no one reads."

Hartz established a team that utilizes the UtiliVisor monitoring capabilities. The team is comprised of Energy Options, the Andover dealer, F&G and Binsky Mechanical, the service contractors, and all of Hartz's management. Every month, UP&M provides Hartz with building oversight management engineers who monitor on a 24/7 basis. They report and recommend improved operating strategies and uncover equipment performance issues. UP&M's building oversight services provide operational engineering support and serve as liaison to and among all of Hartz's team members.

Gentile explained that the UtiliVisor has improved tenant comfort by modifying the optimum start up strategies and by identifying VAV system problems which affect comfort and operating costs. He added, "No other automation system or monitoring system gives us the analytical tool and ongoing knowledgeable and experienced engineering support to identify and solve HVAC system problems."

According to Gentile, Hartz wanted to improve operations and also teach Hartz's building operators to better understand their properties. He said this goal was accomplished in less than six months and as a secondary benefit, good operating practices resulted in a 15-20% annual electric savings.

Margiotta pointed out that Hartz is so satisfied with UtiliVisor that, "We intend to convert the remaining 13 properties to UtiliVisor and we will continue to increase the level of savings and performance experienced in the initial five properties." Hartz senior executives concur that with the continuing increase in energy costs, the Hartz team approach is working to overcome this challenge without compromising the comfort of its tenants.