In coordination with Johnson Controls, Controlco Inc. and Midwest Mechanical Services and Solutions, the St. Louis Area Foodbank has significantly improved its operations, including reduced costs and energy savings, with the recently installed Verasys™ controls system by Johnson Controls. Verasys integrates heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) equipment and controls. The company distributes over 116,000 pounds of food and personal care items to those in need each day, and Verasys coupled with Facility Explorer® enables the Foodbank to remotely monitor its vital dry goods storage and refrigeration and freezer warehouses.

“The Foodbank consistently seeks out ways to reduce expenses in order to provide as much food as possible to families in need,” said Frank Finnegan, president and chief executive officer, St. Louis Area Foodbank. “Adding Verasys will not only reduce utility costs, it also ties directly into our ongoing green initiative and commitment to sustainability.”

The Foodbank approached its local HVAC provider, Midwest Mechanical Services and Solutions, and local Johnson Controls, Authorized Building Controls Specialist (ABCS), Controlco Inc., in the fall of 2016 with a desire to update existing technology in its office area. The two companies were able to offer a beta installation of Verasys system, which was seamlessly integrated into the Foodbank’s existing Facility Explorer®, a building automation system that provides scalable, system-wide supervision and control to improve occupant comfort, reduce energy usage and optimize operating efficiencies.  

“The Foodbank has been a Johnson Controls customer for several years and has utilized the Facility Explorer system within its distribution center,” said Earl Doyle, general manager, Building Technologies & Solutions, Johnson Controls. “When the Foodbank expressed a need for a simple yet powerful controls system it was clear that Verasys would be an excellent fit.”

Verasys is the first plug-and-play solution that integrates HVACR equipment and controls. Not only is it pre-programmed, which allows for a simple installation, but it also has a user-friendly interface. The biggest advantage that Verasys has brought to the Foodbank, however, is the reduced utility costs and improved energy savings.

With Verasys’ remote monitoring capabilities, the Foodbank has been able to set HVAC systems into unoccupied mode while employees are away from the office, which has increased energy savings by 11 percent.

Verasys has provided the Foodbank staff with the tools to control and optimize its office ecosystem. Down the road, the Foodbank hopes to take on more retrofit projects and extend Verasys to additional areas inside their distribution center. For more information on Verasys, please visit http://www.verasyscontrols.com.