Tozour Energy Systems, Inc. and Viridity Energy recently partnered to enable 1500 Walnut Street to interface with the smart grid as a virtual power plant. This commercial building, managed by SSH Management, will be the first in the city of Philadelphia to provide continuous congestion relief to the grid operator by optimizing its building energy assets, including HVAC and ice storage system, according to the companies.

With two-way communication systems that control building operations, smart grids provide a new opportunity for buildings to save energy, generate revenue, reduce costs and increase reliability.

The 1500 Walnut Street building joins other Philadelphia innovators that have partnered with Viridity Energy to deploy its innovative VPower™ software solution, including Drexel University and SEPTA.

Tozour Energy Systems and Viridity Energy project a new $30,000-plus revenue stream along with an estimated $30,000-plus savings in supply costs at 1500 Walnut Street during year one. The implementation of the technology will be completed in early 2011 and fully operational by summer 2011.

“Partnering with Tozour Energy Systems and Viridity Energy on this project has helped make the 1500 Walnut office building more energy efficient and competitive in this challenging real estate market,” said Phil Rosen, President of SSH Management.