The Challenge
Soldier Field was the first NFL stadium to earn LEED-EB certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, and it wanted a centralized way to control the equipment in its 133 luxury suites while continuing to save energy. Each suite has multiple TVs and a refrigerator, which stadium electricians switched on and off by hand before and after every event. Security staff were also sent to individual suites during evening concerts to turn off distracting TVs.
The Solution
Soldier Field chose BERT for plug load control. Every TV and refrigerator plugs into a BERT Smart Plug on the existing outlet, and the controllers communicate over the stadium's existing Wi-Fi. Facilities staff now control the devices remotely from their office: TVs and refrigerators come on before the first fans arrive and switch off when the fans go home. TVs run on their own schedules, so they're on for sporting events and off for nighttime concerts.
The Results
Remote control of the suites saves Soldier Field $24,000 a year in labor costs.