Baker Distributing Streamlines Energy Management
- Thanks to Venstar thermostats with Skyport -
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Baker remotely Manages Energy Usage in 209 Stores Across 26 States
Results and Analytics
Reduced
energy costs
Indoor
comfort
209
Stores
managed
Remotely Manage HVAC Systems,
Reduce Energy Usage
With more than 375 thermostats installed across the nation, Baker’s team also wanted to standardize on a thermostat and management platform that was intuitive and easy to use, freeing up their time to focus on daily operations rather than manually adjusting thermostats.
Objectives
- Streamlined energy management across 200+ locations in 26 states.
- Standardized HVAC control with Venstar’s Skyport platform.
- Reduced energy costs through automated scheduling and monitoring.
- Gained real-time visibility into HVAC performance and alerts.
- Simplified remote management to free up staff time.
- Advanced company sustainability goals through smarter energy control.
Solutions
- Installed Venstar ColorTouch and Explorer Mini thermostats companywide.
- Used Skyport Cloud for centralized remote control and monitoring.
- Enabled real-time HVAC visibility from any device.
- Automated 365-day schedules to match store hours.
- Added temperature alerts for early issue detection.
- Simplified management with an easy Skyport interface.
“Venstar’s Skyport platform enables us to remotely manage all of the thermostats, enabling us to check temperatures, runtimes and control energy cost.”
Nick Wilson, VP of Logistics & Optimization for Baker Distributing
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
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.
ColorTouch & Explorer Thermostats + Skyport Cloud Services
Baker Distributing selected Venstar’s ColorTouch (T8900) and Explorer Mini (T2050) thermostats paired with Skyport Cloud Services to remotely manage HVAC systems across more than 200 locations. The intuitive Skyport platform lets the team program, monitor, and control every thermostat from any desktop or mobile device.
Results:
Remote Monitoring & Energy Savings
By implementing Venstar’s ColorTouch and Explorer thermostats with Skyport Cloud Services, Baker Distributing gained full visibility and control over HVAC operations across its 200+ branch locations. The result is improved energy efficiency, reduced costs, and stronger alignment with sustainability goals.
- Reduced energy costs:
Automated schedules cut unnecessary HVAC runtime during off-hours. - Improved Sustainability:
Optimized temperature control supports corporate ESG objectives. - Centralized Oversight:
Skyport provides a single platform to monitor all thermostats nationwide.
- Enhanced Equipment Visibility:
Real-time alerts reveal performance issues before they become costly repairs. - Consistent Comfort:
Balanced temperature management ensures a comfortable environment for staff and customers. - Streamlined Operations:
Remote access eliminates manual thermostat adjustments, saving time and labor.
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. (DIL), the largest manufacturer of HVAC systems worldwide.
Copyright © 2025 Venstar. All rights reserved.