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The category BERT pioneered
Plug & Process Load Management
Plug and process loads (PPL) are the electrical devices that sit outside traditional HVAC and lighting control. Individually they may be modest. Collectively, and left running overnight and on weekends, they are one of the largest unmanaged energy costs in a building.
The control gap
Building automation systems focus on HVAC, central plant and selected lighting. The printers, displays, classroom technology, charging carts, water coolers, vending machines, PTAC units and exhaust fans throughout a building are usually outside that control. They stay energized during unoccupied hours even when idle or in standby.
NREL estimates plug and process loads account for about a third of U.S. commercial building electricity, and their share grows as lighting and HVAC become more efficient.
Source: NREL, Assessing and Reducing Plug and Process Loads in Office Buildings.
Plug load control, not a timer
- Commercial-grade controllers with device-level metering
- Schedules stored locally, so control continues if Wi-Fi or the internet drops
- Central scheduling, reporting and system health in BERTBrain
- Standalone by default; optional BACnet/IP or REST integration
What a plug load management system controls
BERT targets noncritical equipment with meaningful energy use and predictable periods when it is not needed.
| Load class | Examples | Typical BERT approach |
|---|---|---|
| Plug-connected | Workstations, printers and copiers, displays, AV equipment, charging carts, vending, water equipment, selected breakroom and comfort loads | Smart Plug 110AP on the individual device or an approved workstation group |
| Hardwired / process | PTAC/PTHP, window AC, exhaust fans, water heating, selected lighting and other approved loads outside BAS control | Inline controller at the device, partial circuit or circuit, installed by a licensed electrician |
| Permanent receptacles | Offices, classrooms, conference and break rooms in new construction and renovation | Wall Outlet 110WO (preliminary; late Q4 2026) |
| Software & fleet | Sites, buildings, floors, rooms, device types, departments | Organize, schedule, report and benchmark in BERTBrain |
What a BERT controller does - and does not do
It does
- Measure the connected load and remove or restore full line power according to approved logic
- Store essential schedules locally, so approved control continues through communication interruptions
- Restore power before scheduled use, with a manual override at every controller
It does not
- Dim, regulate or limit voltage or current. When on, the device gets normal line power.
- Control life-safety, emergency, security, medical-support, server or core network equipment
- Get applied to a load before its ratings, shutdown and restart behavior, and owner approval are confirmed
Plug load control strategies that follow the load
The project team first confirms what the equipment must do, then selects the simplest approved strategy that saves energy without disrupting operation.
Scheduling
Occupied, unoccupied, seasonal, holiday and special-event patterns. Power returns before required use.
Threshold
For cycling equipment such as PTACs or projectors: power is removed only after measured demand shows the active or cooldown cycle has ended.
Temperature
High and low setpoints for approved equipment, with minimum cycle intervals and restart safeguards.
Works with or without your building automation system
BERT normally runs standalone, so there is no BAS change and no customer-provided server. Where a project benefits, BERT Connect provides separately scoped BACnet/IP integration, and a REST interface is available for other systems. BERT complements a BAS; it does not replace one.
Where PPL fits among ECMs
PPL is often the next scalable measure after lighting upgrades. It installs with limited disruption, and it can produce savings while larger HVAC or envelope projects are still being designed.
Find the unmanaged energy in your buildings.
Tell us about your facilities and we will size the opportunity: device counts, control hours and a savings range you can take to your team.