Skip to content
Sensibo Logo Support Center

Automating Device Control for Offices - a Use Case

Managing air conditioning in a busy office building is no small feat. As an operations manager, you’re responsible for ensuring every workspace is comfortable and conducive to productivity, while also keeping energy costs under control. Sensibo Airbend offers a comprehensive solution to these challenges, allowing you to automate, optimize, and simplify air conditioning management.

The Pain Points of Office HVAC Management

  1. Energy Waste:

    • ACs running in empty meeting rooms or after hours
    • Inefficient cooling in shared spaces like lobbies or break rooms

  2. Comfort Imbalances:

    • Different temperature preferences across teams and departments
    • Hot spots or overcooled areas leading to employee discomfort

  3. Operational Complexity:

    • Managing devices across multiple floors or sections of the building
    • Providing appropriate access to facility staff without exposing sensitive controls

How Sensibo Airbend Solves These Problems

Step 1: Organize Devices with Tags and Permissions

Sensibo Airbend makes it easy to group and manage devices based on your office layout:

  • Tag Devices by Floors or Zones:
    • Create tags such as “Floor 1”, “Conference Rooms”, or “Executive Wing”
    • Apply tags to all devices in those areas for streamlined management
  • Set Permissions for Employees:
    • Assign tags to specific users, ensuring they can only see and control devices in their areas of responsibility
    • Example: IT staff have access to all floors, while office managers control only their respective zones

Benefit: Streamlines access and prevents unnecessary tampering with devices, ensuring efficient operations.

Step 2: Automate Comfort and Efficiency with Policies

Each floor or section of your office has unique needs. Sensibo Airbend’s Policies let you tailor AC behavior to match those requirements:

  • Floor-Specific Policies:
    • Open Offices: Use Scheduling to power AC units from 8 AM to 6 PM on weekdays, matching office hours
    • Meeting Rooms: Implement Presence React to turn ACs off when rooms are unoccupied
    • Server Rooms: Use Climate React to maintain precise temperature and humidity levels for sensitive equipment
  • Energy-Saving Policies for Shared Spaces:
    • Break Rooms: Use Auto Off to shut devices down after a set period of inactivity
    • Lobbies: Combine Door Sensor with Climate React to avoid energy waste from open doors while maintaining comfortable conditions

Benefit: Maximizes energy efficiency while ensuring comfort is tailored to each area.

Step 3: Monitor and Optimize with the Dashboard

The Airbend Dashboard provides real-time visibility into your office’s air conditioning systems:

  • Quickly Identify Issues:
    • Spot devices running outside policies or in empty rooms
    • Investigate rooms with poor air quality and take corrective action
  • Analyze and Adjust:
    • Use runtime and energy usage data to refine schedules and policies
    • Example: If devices on Floor 3 are consuming more energy, adjust temperature limits or reduce runtime
  • Compare Across Floors:
    • Use filters and graphs to identify trends in different sections of the building

Benefit: Provides actionable insights to continuously improve efficiency and comfort.

A Day in the Life of an Office Operations Manager with Airbend

Imagine starting your day by checking the Airbend Dashboard:

  • You notice a meeting room AC has been running overnight. You investigate and adjust its policy to include an Auto Off timer
  • A device in the Break Room shows high CO₂ levels. You remotely increase ventilation to improve air quality
  • Reviewing the runtime report, you find that Floor 4 is using more energy than expected. You adjust its temperature limits to optimize usage

By mid-morning, you’ve resolved three potential issues, improved energy efficiency, and ensured a more comfortable environment – all without leaving your desk.

Transforming Office HVAC Management

Sensibo Airbend is more than a smart HVAC platform; it’s a game-changer for operations managers:

  • Energy Savings: Policies like Scheduling, Auto Off, and Climate React ensure ACs operate only when needed
  • Enhanced Comfort: Tailor temperatures and air quality to the needs of each floor or team
  • Streamlined Management: Tags and permissions simplify device grouping and user access, even across large buildings
  • Proactive Insights: Use the dashboard and reports to make data-driven adjustments and stay ahead of potential issues

Conclusion

Automating device control with Sensibo Airbend empowers you to tackle the challenges of office HVAC management head-on. With features designed to save energy, maximize comfort, and simplify operations, you can create a workplace that’s not only efficient but also enjoyable for everyone.

Ready to revolutionize your office climate control? Start automating today with Sensibo Airbend.