In a world where energy costs continue to soar and the pressure to operate sustainably intensifies, businesses face a significant challenge: the lack of visibility into energy consumption at the outlet level. Depending on the type of building, plug-in loads can account for around 25%-50% of total energy use, and this critical blind spot often leads to inefficiencies that not only inflate operational costs but also obstruct efforts to meet sustainability goals.
Impulse Leisure, a charitable trust managing leisure centres and entertainment venues across Thurrock, Essex, addressed this challenge directly. Despite previous investments in solar panels, variable speed drives, and LED lighting upgrades, the organisation identified ongoing inefficiencies in its energy management approach. To address these operational blind spots, Impulse Leisure turned to Honeywell’s Connected Power Solution for an innovative and transformative approach to energy optimisation.
The challenge
Impulse Leisure had already implemented a range of energy-saving measures, yet gaps remained. In particular, the reliance on human intervention to switch off equipment in gyms and cafés led to inconsistent results. Furthermore, the lack of detailed data made it difficult to assess the performance of aging equipment versus newer installations, inhibiting the ability to make informed future investment decisions.
Impulse Leisure required a solution that offered comprehensive energy insights, minimised operational inefficiencies, and aligned with sustainability objectives, all without complicating daily operations.
The solution
Honeywell’s Connected Power solution improved energy management by precisely monitoring and controlling energy use at the outlet level. It allowed autonomous shutdown of unused outlets based on occupancy data, cutting waste and reducing manual intervention.
“This solution has transformed how we manage our energy usage. Beyond the cost savings, it’s given us the ability to make informed decisions that improve operations and reduce our environmental impact,” explained Carl Hayes, Managing Director of Impulse Leisure.
The system also provided insights through its Map Out tool, which helped optimise equipment usage. For example, the underutilisation of gym equipment was identified, leading to better rotation to prolong product lifespan. Additionally, energy audits showed that bottle coolers with hinged doors used more energy than expected during events. These were replaced with more efficient sliding-door models, reducing energy consumption.
The outcome
Since adopting Honeywell’s Connected Power solution, Impulse Leisure has seen a 94-95% reduction in overnight energy usage at key sites, including gyms and bar facilities. This visibility and automation have not only reduced costs but also enabled the team to optimise operations and align with their sustainability goals. By automating manual processes and providing real-time insights, the solution has extended equipment longevity and eliminated waste.
“These results highlight how Connected Power transforms energy management by delivering unprecedented visibility and automation,” said Siddhartha Chatterjee, General Manager of Connected Power, Honeywell. “We’re thrilled to support Impulse Leisure’s sustainability journey.”
