Photo by Lester Smith
The checkout staff was well garbed for the Highland Park/JouleSmart system ribbon cutting on October 5. From the left: Matt Wiernasz, Emil Bakes, Ian O’Connor, and Beth Bombard.
Calling itself the first smart grocery store in Connecticut, the Suffield branch of the Highland Park Market held a ribbon cutting on October 5. As explained by HPM owner Tim Devanney and Suffield First Selectman Melissa Mack, who shared the cut, the big development was the store’s partnership with JouleSmart, a young business in Oregon that “strengthens financial performance . . . with active energy management traditionally reserved for larger, more advanced commercial buildings.” The Suffield application was the first JouleSmart installation in Connecticut.
Over three dozen folks heard the story out front, and when the ribbon was cut, many went inside to see some of the details. Actually, except for some wireless sensors mounted on a column, there wasn’t much to see. One HPM staffer mentioned, “Well, the vegetables may look a little brighter.” But the changes are significant; they provide smart management of the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems with sensors and controllers, all managed by a cloud-based digital brain in a laptop computer. LED lighting is also part of the smart story.
The association between the two companies is truly a partnership. As explained by JouleSmart President Dennis Quinn, the project was achieved at no out-of-pocket cost to Highland Park. The reduction in energy expense, compared to a carefully quantified baseline of past energy cost, will first be applied to pay off the capital investment, amortized over five years. A small fee will be taken for continuing services by JouleSmart. The remainder of the savings will be shared: 70 percent to HPM and 30 percent to JouleSmart. After five years, HPM’s share rises to 85 percent. If the savings are not enough to pay the capital cost, which JouleSmart feels is most unlikely, insurer Hartford Steam Boiler pays the shortfall.
Publicity posters out front next to the ribbon-cutting snacks advised that the eventual cost reduction for all five Highland Park locations will amount to $500,000 over five years. Sounds like a pretty good deal.