March 10, 2008 - Sportswear retailer Eddie Bauer has slashed energy costs by 20% at its 2.2-million-square-foot distribution center in Groveport, Ohio, thanks to a super-sensitive IT network that controls and monitors heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), and lighting systems, InfoWorld Nederland reports.

The networking platform - Echelon's LonWorks - tracks energy use over time to maximize efficiency in turning on and shutting off various HVAC and lighting operations. If a given area runs too hot or too cold the system alerts the facility manager, who can control the system remotely via intranet. The facility manager can also monitor electrical usage in real-time to help minimize energy use during peak periods.

"Utility bills are based on peak usage, so you want to keep that as low as possible," says facility manager Jim Annable. "It's a matter of constantly balancing what we turn on and off, sequencing, and timing."

Less than a year after its installation, the system has already paid for itself, Eddie Bauer says.