Automation dips a toe into the smart aquarium waters.
The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is home to more than 32,500 animals representing 1,500 species including fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians and insects, all of which originate from seven different parts of the world.
This diverse ecosystem of life under one roof requires a lot of help to sustain an environment that is comfortable for each group at all times—and that includes the humans who visit the aquarium, as well as the caretakers of the creatures.
Schneider Electric stepped in to help the Shedd by deploying its Building Management System (BMS) that controls everything from lighting to HVAC and even aquatic life support systems. The BMS technology is also used for ozone control, security monitoring and management, the CCTV video system and electrical metering.
But with sustainability a key concern, the aquarium took its operations outside, too.
A turnkey solar system installed on the roof of the Oceanarium includes 265KW of solar panels that generate clean, renewable energy and reduce energy costs. The move supports the aquarium’s commitment to cut energy consumption in half by 2020.
