# Using IoT Solutions to Optimize HVAC Costs: A Discussion with Rahul Subramany, Co-Founder of Monaire

- Show: [Over the Air](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air)
- Published: 2024-02-15
- Length: 21m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-02-15-using-iot-solutions-to-optimize-hvac-costs-a-discussion-with-rahul-subramany-co
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/over-the-air/episodes/Using-IoT-Solutions-to-Optimize-HVAC-Costs-A-Discussion-with-Rahul-Subramany--Co-Founder-of-Monaire-e2l43s1

## Summary

Rahul Subramany, Co-Founder of Monaire, explains how his company combines AI, IoT hardware, and a service network to optimize HVAC and refrigeration costs for small commercial buildings, targeting a market where 94% of US commercial buildings are under 50,000 square feet. Subramany details the challenge of split incentives between landlords and tenants, noting that existing IoT solutions are too complex and expensive for this segment, leading to analog systems that run to failure. He describes Monaire's strategy of using commoditized sensors while developing proprietary hardware to digitize analog refrigeration for under $500, and scaling services geography-by-geography to ensure quality, citing Samsara as a growth model.

## Chapters

- [0:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-02-15-using-iot-solutions-to-optimize-hvac-costs-a-discussion-with-rahul-subramany-co#t=44) Introduction: Rahul Subramany and Monaire's Mission
- [2:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-02-15-using-iot-solutions-to-optimize-hvac-costs-a-discussion-with-rahul-subramany-co#t=143) The Small Commercial Building Market Gap
- [6:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-02-15-using-iot-solutions-to-optimize-hvac-costs-a-discussion-with-rahul-subramany-co#t=415) Hardware, Software, and Services Integration
- [11:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-02-15-using-iot-solutions-to-optimize-hvac-costs-a-discussion-with-rahul-subramany-co#t=683) Proprietary Hardware for Analog Refrigeration
- [13:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-02-15-using-iot-solutions-to-optimize-hvac-costs-a-discussion-with-rahul-subramany-co#t=809) Scaling Services Geography-by-Geography
- [17:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-02-15-using-iot-solutions-to-optimize-hvac-costs-a-discussion-with-rahul-subramany-co#t=1039) Utility Grid Integration and Flexible Load
- [19:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-02-15-using-iot-solutions-to-optimize-hvac-costs-a-discussion-with-rahul-subramany-co#t=1175) Emulating Samsara's Growth Model

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Monaire (company)
- Very (company)
- Samsara (company)
- Uber (company)
- Salesforce (company)
- Facebook (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Role of IoT in Commercial Refrigeration? | Wellington Drive Technologies' David Burden](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-02-24-the-role-of-iot-in-commercial-refrigeration-wellington-drive-technologies-david) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [The Costs and Challenges of Scaling IoT for Success | Prescient Devices, Founder & CEO Andy Wang](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-11-09-the-costs-and-challenges-of-scaling-iot-for-success-prescient-devices-founder-ce) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Opportunities and Challenges of Low Bandwidth IoT | 1NCE GmbH's Arne Assmann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-04-26-opportunities-and-challenges-of-low-bandwidth-iot-1nce-gmbhs-arne-assmann) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [IoT in Residential Real Estate | Dwellwell Analytics, Inc.'s Dan Simpkins | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-10-04-iot-in-residential-real-estate-dwellwell-analytics-inc-s-dan-simpkins-internet-o) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Scaling an IoT Business | Vutility's Stephen Prince | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2023-10-17-scaling-an-iot-business-vutilitys-stephen-prince-internet-of-things-podcast) (IoT For All Podcast)

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