Pixley Union School District Manages Energy Usage With Venstar

Venstar Thermostat & Skyport Case Study

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Reduced Energy Consumption
Cuts Operating Expenses

Results and Analytics

Reduced
energy costs

365

Day
Scheduling

100+

Devices
managed

Challenge: Outdated HVAC Control and Energy Waste

The district had previously relied on thermostats without scheduling capabilities, causing heating and cooling systems to run when spaces were unoccupied. This led to increased energy costs and unnecessary strain on HVAC equipment.

Solution

Centralized Control with Venstar Thermostats

Nearly 100 Venstar thermostats were installed across schools, offices, and support buildings. Using the Skyport App, all devices can be remotely controlled from a computer or mobile phone.

ColorTouch thermostats maintain comfort in classrooms, offices, and server rooms while Explorer Mini units manage restroom fans and lighting.

Key capabilities include:

Reduced energy usage through scheduled HVAC operation
365-day scheduling aligned with the school calendar
Remote access for monitoring, control, and troubleshooting
Messaging system for classroom communication
Control of auxiliary systemsm, such as lighting and exhaust fans

Results

Improved Efficiency and Remote Management

The district can now efficiently manage indoor comfort and system performance from anywhere. Benefits include:

Lower energy usage and operating costs
Access to system data, such as supply air temperatures
Year-round scheduling of HVAC runtimes
Group control of multiple thermostats
Integrated control of fans and lighting without additional systems

“Venstar’s Skyport App lets me remotely manage all thermostats and make changes without physically accessing each one.”

Joe Muñoz, Director of Maintenance and Operations, Pixley USD

PRODUCTS USED

Venstar’s free Skyport Cloud Services allow users of Venstar’s Wi-Fi thermostats to use Venstar’s free Skyport Mobile App on their Apple iOS and Android mobile devices or directly from the Web to instantly access and control multiple thermostats at numerous locations from virtually anywhere.

ColorTouch Commercial models offer 365-day programming or can be used as nonprogrammable thermostats. They include security features and setpoint limiting. ColorTouch can remotely control, monitor or average temperatures with remote sensors.

Explorer Mini

The Venstar Explorer Mini offers full WiFi smart-control, 7-day programmability, and multi-stage heating/cooling, all packed into a compact 3.2″ × 3.2″ footprint for effortless installation and energy savings.

Inside the Pixley USD HVAC Management System

The district’s system consists of Venstar thermostats installed across classrooms, offices, and facilities to manage HVAC performance and indoor comfort. Using the Skyport App, all thermostats can be remotely accessed and controlled from a desktop or mobile device, allowing centralized management of multiple locations.

Centralized Control Across District Facilities
The installed thermostats manage HVAC usage across both schools, district offices, and support buildings. This enables consistent control of temperature and energy usage throughout all district locations.

Remote Monitoring and Control
A key benefit of the system is the ability to remotely monitor and control HVAC equipment. Authorized users can access thermostats from anywhere to adjust settings, troubleshoot issues, and maintain optimal indoor conditions.

Group Control for Faster Adjustments
Thermostats can be managed individually or in groups, allowing changes to be applied across multiple locations at once. This simplifies adjustments and reduces the need for manual, on-site changes.

Scheduling for Efficient Operation
Using the Skyport App, HVAC systems are scheduled based on the school calendar to ensure they operate only when buildings are occupied, improving efficiency and reducing unnecessary usage.

Integrated Control of Auxiliary Systems
In addition to HVAC, the system controls auxiliary devices such as restroom exhaust fans and lighting through Explorer Mini thermostats, eliminating the need for separate control systems.

System Visibility and Performance Management
Users can access system data, such as supply air temperatures, to ensure equipment is functioning properly and maintain indoor comfort across all facilities.

Overall Results: Reduced Energy Usage and Costs

By implementing Venstar thermostats with Skyport, Pixley Union School District significantly reduced energy usage by scheduling HVAC runtimes based on occupancy. The system helps lower operating costs, improve efficiency, and extend equipment life while maintaining indoor comfort across all facilities.

About

Venstar, founded in 1992 and based in Southern California, designs and builds a broad variety of innovative thermostats with over 10 million units installed.

Venstar’s Skyport Cloud service provides businesses with a secure and private, powerful cloud service for command and control of HVAC systems from anywhere in the world.

The company’s Surveyor Energy Management System enables retailers, restaurant chains, and other multi-location businesses to remotely monitor, manage, and control energy consumption, while reducing maintenance expenses. Currently, Surveyor is used to control over 100,000 HVAC systems and building lighting in more than 30,000 retail locations across North America.

Venstar LLC is a wholly owned business unit of Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc. (Daikin), a subsidiary of Daikin Industries, Ltd.

“With Venstar’s Skyport, I can remotely access and control all thermostats to manage indoor comfort and energy usage across the district.”