Revolutionizing Energy Management: Introducing blackPAC™ by Blackstone Energy Services, Built on FIN Framework

In today’s rapidly evolving world, energy management is more critical than ever. Organizations are on a continuous quest to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and contribute to sustainability goals.

In this race to net-zero carbon consumption, Blackstone is leading the charge with its innovative blackPAC™ distributed energy resource management system (DERMS). Created for the modern enterprise and built on J2 Innovations' FIN Framework, this platform is reshaping the way customers handle energy management – offering a seamless path to significant cost savings and sustainable operation.

What is blackPAC™?

blackPAC™ is a state-of-the-art energy management platform that consolidates a facility’s energy data into one scalable and user-friendly interface on the web. It empowers both private and public sector facilities, such as universities, colleges, retail, REITs, municipalities, hospitals, etc., to control, report, and ultimately minimize their energy costs, consumption, and carbon emissions.

Whether you’re managing a single facility or an extensive portfolio, blackPAC™ offers real-time visibility and simplified sustainability reporting that positions you on the right path toward net-zero carbon consumption.

What does blackPAC™ offer?

• Cost & consumption tracking: Monitor energy use and identify potential savings with up-to-the-minute data across facilities.
• Sustainability reporting: Embark on the path to net zero with detailed CO₂ footprint insights and emissions measurement features.
• Simple, user-friendly interface: Remain in touch with energy profiles through an accessible, intuitive interface on desktop and mobile.
• Flexible & customizable: Tailor blackPAC™ to a facility's exact needs with easily integrated modules.
• Unify disparate systems: Streamline energy management by bringing together various systems into one standardized management platform.
• Unrivaled data security: Ensure remote access is always secure with end-to-end encryption.

blackPAC™ DERMS offers a suite of nine modules to provide holistic monitoring and control of facilities:

• Enterprise: Portfolio-wide dashboard for enterprise management, carbon, solar and energy reporting, and overall performance. Ability to drill down at site, building, and meter level
• Utility: Live utility meter monitoring with targeting and measurement and verification (M&V) tools
• activeICI: Active and automated building demand management and peak shifting for ICI savings
• liveICI: Real-time, accurate peak tracking and prediction service for ICI savings with programmable alerts and notifications for peak events
• Solar: Live solar PV monitoring with targeting and M&V tools
• Optimize: Automated real-time optimization of building systems, using AI for continuous improvement
• Carbon: Carbon emissions tracking, forecasting, and reporting for live and historical data
• activeDER: Automated management, coordination, and control of on and off-premise renewable distributed energy resources
• Drive: Automated management and control of electric vehicles and peak shaving for ICI savings

The power of FIN Framework

Blackstone has built blackPAC™ on the robust foundation provided by J2 Innovations' FIN Framework. We selected FIN Framework for its ability to simplify edge-to-cloud connectivity, enabling us to enhance our blackPAC™ offering with dynamic dashboards and to expand our R&D capabilities for future applications.

Here’s why we chose FIN Framework:

• Speed to market: Leveraging FIN’s technology, Blackstone can offer enhanced products more efficiently
• Ease of installation: Customizable dynamic dashboards and simplified site installation are hallmarks of FIN
• Hardware flexibility: The platform allows for a diverse range of hardware options, capable of matching any facility's specific requirements
• Scalability and innovation: As new applications arise, FIN's technology is ready to incorporate these advancements, keeping us ahead of the curve

FIN’s Edge2Cloud technology integrates smoothly with blackPAC™, providing solutions for remote access issues and facilitating cloud-hosted analytics for multi-site aggregation.

Why should systems integrators and OEMs take notice?

We made the strategic decision to harness FIN Framework's capabilities due to its innovative, future-friendly, and scalable features. We knew that it would enable us to introduce advanced services such as vehicle-to-grid connectivity, distributed energy resource management, demand management, and automated optimization.

FIN's application suite aligns perfectly with our vision for the blackPAC™ as an Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) solution, simplifying installation further with plug-and-play efficiency.

FIN Framework is not just another addition to the building automation toolbox. It's a game-changer for systems integrators and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like us.

FIN Framework is built to simplify and expedite project deployment. The advantage for us lies in FIN's capability to be embedded into a range of devices and platforms. This flexibility is critical in the ever-evolving landscape of building technology, where the demand for interoperability and customization is continuously growing.

There are several critical benefits:

• Unified operations: With an array of functions from control and visualization to analytics consolidated under one hood, FIN Framework enables systems to be managed cohesively
• User-centric design: Designed with the end-user in mind, the framework delivers a first-class user experience with visual tools and customizable dashboards
• Future-readiness: Adapting to technological advancements is seamless, helping users stay ahead of the curve
• Cost-effective: By streamlining the development cycle and reducing deployment timelines, FIN Framework is a cost-effective solution for long-term operations
• Data protection: FIN Framework’s compliance with industry standards in cybersecurity makes remote connectivity to building automation and IoT systems a secure, seamless, and scalable process

Conclusion

FIN Framework provides considerable advantages in a range of scenarios which provides a clear indication of its transformative capabilities. We find FIN Framework to be a robust tool that bridges the gap between what’s needed and what’s possible.

Whether it’s implementing sophisticated energy-saving measures or achieving remarkable reductions in project times, FIN Framework is the innovation partner that has propelled blackPAC™ forward.