Advancing the energy transition at the edge

Advancing the energy transition at the edge

How Arqaios conserves energy, cuts “vampire” waste, and stretches backup power with room-aware automation

Most energy platforms manage power at the breaker. Arqaios puts intelligence at the edge, inside everyday fixtures like outlets, switches, and vents. That means rooms that sense people, learn patterns, and quietly trim waste every minute of the day. It also means longer backup runtimes during outages because we can shed nonessential loads at the device level, not just the circuit.

Edge intelligence vs. panel control

Smart panels are a big step forward, especially when paired with batteries. They prioritize circuits, prevent overloads, and help extend backup power. Arqaios goes deeper by controlling individual fixtures and plug loads in real time. Instead of choosing between an entire room or an entire branch circuit, we selectively quiet the exact devices that are drawing unnecessary power, then bring power back the moment occupancy returns.

What this enables

  • Sub-circuit precision: disable noncritical outlets and idle electronics in an empty room while keeping a fridge or medical device powered nearby
  • Adaptive scenes: dim or switch off lights when occupancy drops to zero, raise to task levels only where people are present
  • Room-level HVAC: relax setpoints in unused spaces, pre-condition where people are headed next, coordinate with vents for comfort at lower energy

The vampire energy problem, solved at the socket

Standby or “vampire” loads quietly consume power 24/7. Arqaios identifies always-on patterns and cuts power at the outlet when a device is idle, then restores power instantly when needed. At scale, trimming even a few dozen watts per room adds up to real money and emissions reduction.

Lighting & HVAC that follows people, not schedules

Schedules guess, occupancy knows. Our embedded sensors turn lights off when spaces empty, and right-size light levels when someone enters. In offices, retail, and care settings this approach consistently saves lighting energy while improving comfort. Whole-home or whole-floor conditioning is wasteful. Arqaios coordinates vents, fans, and setpoints where people actually are. During outages, we can temporarily cap compressor loads and pause noncritical air handlers to stretch batteries. During normal operations, we pre-cool or pre-heat based on learned routines so comfort lands on time with less peak draw.

Predictive automation that learns your patterns

ALLIE Intelligence keeps a rolling picture of occupancy, weather, and tariff signals. Over time the system predicts when and where energy is needed, trims it where it is not, and shapes loads to off-peak windows. This supports demand flexibility today and prepares sites for participation in tomorrow’s virtual power plants.

Extending backup power at the edge

During an outage, every watt counts. Traditional setups extend runtime by de-prioritizing entire circuits. Arqaios stacks additional savings by cutting idle outlets, pausing entertainment devices, dimming corridor lights to a safe minimum, and relaxing HVAC in unoccupied rooms. The result is longer battery life with less compromise on essential services.

Cross-vertical impact

  • Residential: kill phantom loads in bedrooms and media rooms, right-size lighting, pre-condition efficiently, increase battery runtime
  • Senior living and healthcare: keep safety lighting and medical equipment on, pause noncritical plug loads in empty rooms, maintain comfort with room-aware setpoints
  • Hospitality: occupancy-driven guest-room HVAC and lighting, automatic vacancy shutoff, pattern-based pre-conditioning at check-in
  • Offices and campuses: networked lighting and edge zoning for large common areas, demand-flexible operation aligned with tariffs and grid signals

Why the market is moving our way

Policy and grid operators are pushing for buildings that are efficient and flexible. Smart panels show what circuit-level control can do. Edge-embedded control at the fixture multiplies that value, because the cleanest kilowatt-hour is the one never delivered to an idle device.

References

  1. U.S. Department of Energy, Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Virtual Power Plants (2023 and 2025 updates), describing VPP potential and cost advantages. The Department of Energy's Energy.gov+1
  2. DOE, A National Roadmap for Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings and summary resources, outlining goals to triple buildings’ efficiency and demand flexibility and noting that buildings use more than 70 percent of U.S. electricity. gebroadmap.lbl.govThe Department of Energy's Energy.gov+1buildings.lbl.gov
  3. FERC Order No. 2222 explainer and fact sheet, enabling aggregated DERs to participate in wholesale markets, a key driver for flexible, edge-aware loads. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission+1
  4. EIA, Electricity use in homes and Use of energy in homes, showing air conditioning at about 19 percent of household electricity and that devices and consumer electronics represent roughly 23 percent of home energy. U.S. Energy Information Administration+1
  5. Associated Press, recent overview of phantom or vampire energy indicating 5 to 10 percent of household electricity use, reinforcing the benefit of cutting idle loads. AP News
  6. NRDC, Home Idle Load analysis and consumer guidance on “energy vampires,” quantifying the national cost and household impact of always-on loads. NRDC+1
  7. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory meta-analysis, Energy Savings from Lighting Controls in Commercial Buildings, estimating average lighting savings of 24 percent from occupancy control and higher with combined strategies. eta.lbl.govOSTI
  8. DesignLights Consortium, Energy Savings from Networked Lighting Control systems, reporting large additional savings from networked controls across hundreds of buildings. DesignLights+1
  9. DOE EERE, Guest-room occupancy-based controls study and ACEEE research on hotels, indicating 10 to 30 percent HVAC savings and substantial lighting reductions when rooms are vacancy-controlled. Energy Efficiency and Renewable EnergyACEEE
  10. NREL, Smart Ventilation Controls and related fact sheet, showing energy savings potential from smart, occupancy-aware ventilation strategies. NREL DocsNational Renewable Energy Laboratory
  11. ACEEE, Energy Impacts of Smart Home Technologies, finding around 10 percent average HVAC savings from smart zoning in homes, with context for behavior-dependent outcomes. ACEEE
  12. Competitor landscape: SPAN Smart Panel marketing and support materials describing circuit-level prioritization and claims of extending battery runtime during outages. Schneider Electric Square D Energy Center and Lumin Smart Panel materials describing smart-panel integration and circuit control options. Tesla Powerwall documentation noting load-shedding and gateway controls.

‍