US Energy Group, Special Applied Intelligence and Sprint Collaborate to Make Buildings More Energy Efficient

FRESH MEADOWS, N.Y., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- US Energy Group and Special Applied Intelligence (Special AI) announce an agreement to deliver wireless 4G service to buildings with US Energy Group's market-leading Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS). Last fall US Energy began a five-building trial of Special AI's ManagedGrid.net service, running on the Sprint 4G network. US Energy now relies on ManagedGrid.net for connectivity to over 120 critical locations in New York City with more being installed daily.

According to the U.S. Green Buildings Council, residential and commercial buildings account for 39 percent of carbon emissions, with the Department of Energy citing commercial buildings as responsible for 15 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. BEMS are an essential technology in the endeavor to make buildings more energy efficient. The USE Controller BEMS reduces fuel use by 15-35%, with payback in less than two years. In this recent five-building trial, fuel use decreased by 22%. Similar results have been demonstrated across numerous portfolios. Additionally, tenants said they were much more comfortable with the building temperature and no longer had to open windows to vent excess heat.

ManagedGrid.net is a turn-key Internet access solution, designed specifically for use in building applications such as US Energy's USE Controller BEMS. Other common uses of ManagedGrid.net include building security systems, video surveillance, key-fob entrances, and virtual doorman systems. Unlike traditional ISPs, Special AI can install ManagedGrid.net at new sites and get them on line in just a couple of days.

"US Energy's products perform critical building functions that demand reliable, secure network access, even though their business has nothing to do with network operations. With ManagedGrid.net, we provide fully managed and monitored network service, allowing US Energy to focus on what they do best," shared D. Fritz Kunstler, chief executive officer - Special Applied Intelligence. "The Sprint 4G network powers ManagedGrid.net, and is a perfect example of how we are leveraging the latest technologies to give our customers a competitive edge."

"Sprint's collaboration with US Energy Group and Special Applied Intelligence underscores our commitment to developing sustainable, energy-efficient solutions," said Wayne Ward, vice president of the Emerging Solutions Group - Sprint. "There is an unprecedented convergence of new technologies that allows innovative companies to utilize the Sprint 4G network to enable exciting energy saving applications and real-time video surveillance of critical systems." With more than 10 years of experience with machine-to-machine (M2M), Sprint has been at the forefront of this wireless industry revolution, teaming with and supporting a large and diverse portfolio of innovative companies to create smarter wireless solutions that change the way people work and live. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/m2m.

"We are proud to introduce US Energy Group customers to ManagedGrid.net and Special AI's excellent management and support," stated Jerry Pindus, CEO - US Energy Group. "Building owners need the latest technology for ultimate control."

"As a building owner and manager, I want peace of mind," stated Carl Murray at Buchbinder Warren. "With Sprint, Special Applied Intelligence and US Energy Group teaming up to provide building energy-management solutions, I have peace of mind."

For more information on the partnership between US Energy Group and Special Applied Intelligence, visit www.use-group.com. Site surveys, estimates and demonstrations can be scheduled by contacting Tom Scali, Steve Guerrero or Rick Francis at 718- 380-1004 or [email protected]. With 30 years in the industry and over 3,500 system installations, the company has earned a reputation for product quality and personalized customer support. To learn more about machine-to-machine communication, visit www.sprint.com/m2m.

SOURCE US Energy Group