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Optimizing Energy Consumption in Warehouse Cold Rooms

The company deployed an IoT-powered energy management system, integrating with the existing electrical network and refrigeration controls using the Modbus communication protocol. This system allowed for remote monitoring and control of cold room temperatures while adjusting energy consumption based on real-time conditions. It enabled energy optimization during peak demand periods, aligning energy usage with grid conditions and renewable energy availability.

Transforming a Department Store’s Energy Efficiency at Scale

Starting in 2011, the retailer launched a long-term energy optimization strategy. Central to this was the implementation of Clarity IQ 360°, a real-time energy monitoring platform used in every store. The company also upgraded infrastructure with LED lighting, smart climate control units, and solar panels on new buildings. Energy use was limited to business hours, and each store was assigned energy “ambassadors” to champion savings efforts using data from the platform.

Going Green and Saving Green in a Municipal Office Building

The installation included 21 LoRaWAN® Smart Radiator Thermostats, each protected with anti-vandal cases, alongside 4 humidity and temperature sensors and a CO₂ sensor. The system allowed for remote monitoring and real-time control over the building’s heating and indoor climate. It also enabled custom scheduling for each room or zone, aligning heating with actual occupancy. The solution required no disruptive renovations and was installed within 24 hours. With detailed usage insights and automation, the municipality could reduce unnecessary heating, improve comfort, and introduce more sustainable practices.

Saving Costs by Boosting Energy Efficiency at a School

LoRaWAN® Smart Radiator Thermostats were installed in 117 rooms, connected to the building management system. These thermostats allowed room-by-room temperature control based on real-time occupancy. A heating regime was set to maintain 20°C in occupied rooms and drop to 16°C when unoccupied. Installation was completed in under 24 hours, with no need for professional installers, and the system laid the foundation for improved energy reporting and long-term sustainability.

Lowering Energy Consumption for a Major Financial Institution

Over 1,000 LoRaWAN® Smart Radiator Thermostats and 150+ temperature and humidity sensors were deployed. Tenants could control heating locally or via an app, while facility managers could monitor and schedule heating remotely. A secure private LoRaWAN® network ensured full compliance with the bank’s privacy requirements. The solution was installed and live within one week.

Student Residences by Clarity Building Controls

In one building, the number of overheated rooms dropped from 12% to just 3%, and in the second, from 61% to 33%—a 75% and 46% reduction respectively. This not only reduced energy waste but also stabilized indoor temperatures and improved resident comfort. The open protocol nature of the devices ensured no vendor lock-in, and the installation was seamless thanks to 99% compatibility with standard radiators.

Monitoring Ambient Temperature at a Large Hospital

With rising energy demands and strict comfort requirements, the hospital needed detailed, room-level visibility into temperature and humidity. Manual checks weren’t scalable, and legacy systems lacked the flexibility to adapt. A fast, scalable, and BMS-compatible solution was essential.

Solution

Over 200 IoT sensors were installed to monitor environmental conditions across patient rooms, offices, and hallways. The system ran on a public LoRaWAN® network, with a future transition to a private one planned alongside the BMS rollout. Onsite training ensured a smooth, low-disruption deployment managed by local teams.

#Clarity Building Controls #HVAC #IoT monitoring system

Enabling Indoor Climate Smart Solutions in Five Hotel Buildings

To modernize the system, the property installed air-to-water heat pumps alongside more than 100 LoRaWAN® Smart Radiator Thermostats across guest rooms and common areas. These devices allowed for precise, room-by-room temperature control, along with open-window detection and customizable heating schedules to prevent unnecessary energy use.

A wireless thermostat was also installed in the dining area to act as a centralized hub for managing multiple radiators. The system provided real-time climate data and remote access, empowering staff to make smarter, faster decisions around heating and energy usage.

#Enabling Indoor Climate #Clarity Building Controls

Retrofitting An Old Office Building to Reduce Energy Costs

The company installed LoRaWAN® Smart Radiator Thermostats on more than 100 radiators throughout the building. Thanks to their 99% compatibility with existing radiator valves, the devices were retrofitted quickly and cost-effectively, avoiding the need for a complete overhaul of the heating system.

Once integrated with Clarity’s IoT platform, the thermostats enabled automated heating schedules that responded to real-time conditions such as room occupancy, open windows, and ambient temperature. The system also tracked temperature, humidity, and usage trends, giving facility managers better insights and control.

#Clarity Building Controls #Reduce Energy Costs #energy efficiency

Energy Efficiency Project in a Multifamily Residential Building

This energy efficiency project was carried out in a residential building as part of a project aimed at decarbonizing buildings. The building, originally constructed in 1966 and renovated in 2018, houses 56 apartments spread across 14 floors. The project implemented smart thermostats and energy management solutions to optimize heating and reduce energy costs.

Challenges

The building lacked individualized control over room temperatures, leading to inefficiencies such as heating rooms even when unoccupied, which caused high energy costs. With apartments varying in size from 774 ft² to 990 ft², each containing multiple rooms, there was a need for centralized monitoring and room-by-room control of indoor temperatures.. The existing setup did not allow for such management, making it clear that digitalization was necessary to reduce energy waste and maintain a comfortable living environment without requiring costly renovations.

Solution

To tackle these challenges, Clarity IQ Pro was integrated with the property’s Building Management System (BMS) and Wattsense Bridge Gateway, enabling protocol conversion for communication between different devices using BACnet, Modbus, or MQTT. This integration allowed 242 MClimate Vicki LoRaWAN® Smart Radiator Thermostats to communicate seamlessly with the BMS. These thermostats, along with Clarity IQ Pro, provided room-by-room temperature control, scheduling, and open-window detection. The platform’s intuitive interface, rule engine, and free end-user app further enhanced the system, leading to an energy savings of up to 35% in the first heating season. The Vicki thermostats utilize LoRaWAN® and feature firmware updates over the air (FUOTA), with replaceable batteries that last up to 10 years.

Results

The project resulted in a significant reduction in heating costs, with savings of up to 35% in the first heating season. The building now benefits from real-time and historical data on energy consumption, while the open-window detection feature ensures energy efficiency by preventing heating when windows are open. Additionally, the system’s FUOTA capability ensures that devices can be updated remotely, reducing maintenance needs.

#Clarity Building Controls

Smarter Condos, Simpler Management by Clarity Building Controls

To modernize the building’s energy infrastructure, an intuitive connectivity solution was deployed to make BMS-like capabilities accessible without the complexity or cost typically involved. Within a single afternoon, technicians were able to create a BMS network within the boiler room, connect key equipment, and begin transmitting operational data.

Social Housing by Clarity Building Controls

Challenges

One of the main objectives was to centralize the collection of energy data and retain full ownership of that data. The housing provider also sought to optimize energy costs and improve the operation and maintenance of its equipment. Another challenge was ensuring that the energy management system supported ISO 50001 certification, which required continuous demonstration of improvement in energy performance. Additionally, the system needed to integrate more seamlessly with the housing provider's existing information systems to connect all of their data in one platform.

Solution

IoT devices were deployed across all buildings, using public networks for low data needs and multi-protocol providers for more complex setups. These devices connected to key equipment, enabling seamless data collection across various systems. Clarity’s platform compatibility with over 10 protocols ensured consistent communication across all equipment. Consumption data was collected and analyzed for electricity, water, gas, and heating consumption. Equipment was monitored and alerts were active.

Results

The solution delivered enhanced visibility into energy performance, making it easier to analyze consumption patterns and identify deviations quickly. By combining the energy management platform with IoT connectivity, the housing provider gained insight into data patterns. This resulted in substantial savings and the system’s flexibility avoided the need to replace existing equipment. The project also set the stage for future upgrades, enabling the housing provider to further digitize its entire property portfolio and continuously improve its energy management efforts.

Smart Building Solutions

Clarity IQ Suite connects and manages various building systems, including Energy, Water, Air Quality and Maintenance through automation and the Internet of Things (IoT). We do this using a combination of IoT sensors and Software. Our Suite monitors and controls these systems in real-time, enabling efficiency, safety, and sustainability by optimizing operations and reducing costs.

Modern Building Management & The Power of IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) is fundamentally transforming the built environment. By integrating internet-connected sensors and devices, IoT enables buildings to gather real-time data, driving both the automation of building management processes and data-driven decision-making. Coupled with AI, the value of IoT in commercial real estate (CRE) is accelerating, focusing squarely on improving operational efficiency and achieving critical sustainability outcomes.

Modern Buildings: Smart, Healthy, and Efficient

The post-pandemic world has amplified the need for Healthy Buildings. Stakeholders—including tenants, employees, investors, and property managers—now prioritize structures that actively promote the well-being of their occupants. A healthy building meets foundational criteria like excellent ventilation, air quality, lighting, views, and physical security, positively impacting productivity and health. A study by Harvard’s School of Public Health, for example, links improved cognitive function directly to the health of the workplace.

While Healthy Buildings are people-first, Smart Buildings are technology-first. They use IoT sensors and data to optimize building operations, primarily focusing on monitoring and reducing energy consumption to create sustainable living solutions.

The ultimate goal is to combine these features. A building can be both smart and healthy, balancing efficiency, occupant well-being, and sustainability to create a holistic, green environment. Integrating an IoT strategy for monitoring and managing Air Quality is becoming integral to achieving the Healthy Building standard, which directly correlates with higher employee productivity, greater tenant satisfaction, and improved occupancy rates.

The Evolution of Building Management Systems (BMS)

Building Management Systems aren't new—the concept has been around for over 50 years, starting with simple computer-based temperature controls. The introduction of the Single Building Management System marked a significant shift, boosting operational efficiency and reducing energy costs.

However, the cost of these early systems often minimized the overall cost benefit. The true acceleration came with the partial integration of IoT, which allowed for remote monitoring and condition-based maintenance, leading to higher revenue and superior operational efficiency. Today, these early BMSs have laid the foundation for modern smart buildings. Looking ahead, "Digital Twin" technology is widely hailed as the future of innovation in building management.

The Role of Data Analytics in Smart Building Management

In a time when urban areas are changing quickly and the need for sustainable infrastructure is greater than ever, smart building management plays a key role in progress. At the core of this change is data analytics, which turns overwhelming raw data into clear insights. In recent years, we have seen an increase in valuable research and practical applications showing how data analytics and machine learning improve building performance, predict maintenance needs, and enhance tenant satisfaction. Let’s explore the importance of data analytics, its impact, and the promising future it offers for smart infrastructure, driven by innovations from Clarity Building Controls.

Optimizing Building Performance: From Reactive to Proactive Control

The main goal of a Building Management System (BMS) is to manage various essential operations, such as HVAC, lighting, security, and other systems, in real-time. This control is possible thanks to the power of data analytics. Traditionally, building management systems operated reactively, addressing problems only after they occurred. Now, with data analytics, we can take a much more proactive approach. This includes continuous monitoring, thorough oversight, automated alerts, and quick responses based on data, fundamentally changing how buildings operate.

Buildings significantly impact energy consumption and emissions. A report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) reveals that buildings account for nearly 30% of global energy consumption and 27% of total energy sector emissions. This alarming figure highlights the urgent need for more efficient practices. By using data-driven strategies, buildings can significantly cut their energy use. Clarity Building Controls demonstrates this by using AI-driven analytics to monitor energy consumption in real-time, identifying inefficiencies, and finding opportunities for savings.

Predictive Maintenance: Anticipating Needs, Extending Lifespan

One of the most valuable benefits of data analytics in BMS is predictive maintenance. Traditional maintenance often relies on fixed schedules or emergency responses to equipment failures. This can lead to unnecessary costs and unexpected downtime. Such a reactive approach is often disruptive and costly. With data analytics, we can now predict and plan maintenance with great accuracy.

Clarity Building Controls promotes this proactive method by using advanced IoT devices designed for scalability. These devices can be tailored to meet your specific needs, whether for a multi-unit residential complex or a large office building. By continuously gathering data from these sensors, we can identify potential equipment problems before they turn into major issues, preventing costly breakdowns and significant disruptions. This predictive maintenance reduces downtime and extends the lifespan of vital equipment. Studies show that predictive maintenance can lower maintenance costs by up to 30% and reduce equipment downtime by 45%. These figures underscore the financial and operational benefits of moving beyond traditional maintenance models.

Clarity's Revolutionary Approach to Smart Building Management

At Clarity, we are not just improving building management; we are transforming it with the power of AI-driven analytics. Our smart building solutions are designed for a wide range of structures, including multi-unit residential areas and offices. We can customize our solutions for educational institutions, warehouses, healthcare facilities, hotels, government buildings, and more.

Our main focus is on optimizing operations, reducing utility costs, and improving key factors like air quality, tenant well-being, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores. By using AI-driven analytics and advanced IoT devices, we help clients achieve significant energy and operational savings. Here’s how we do it:

• 1. AI-Powered Energy Optimization: Our data analytics platform offers real-time insights into energy use. This helps building managers spot inefficiencies quickly, eliminate energy waste, and make informed decisions to optimize energy use. By analyzing historical patterns and predicting future energy needs, our platform can suggest specific adjustments that lead to cost savings while contributing to carbon reduction initiatives.

• 2. Predictive Maintenance for All Building Types: With Clarity's predictive analytics, maintenance shifts from a reactive burden to a proactive, strategic function. Our platform continually monitors essential equipment, analyzing data from a network of sensors. This continuous data stream allows us to predict potential issues accurately before they become serious. This approach extends the life of critical building systems, minimizes disruptions, and significantly cuts overall maintenance costs.

• 3. Tenant-Centric Environmental Controls: Our solutions prioritize tenant comfort and well-being. We intelligently integrate data from occupancy sensors with environmental data like temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels to ensure optimal conditions throughout the building. Whether adjusting lighting based on natural light availability or modifying HVAC settings based on real-time occupancy, our data-driven methods enhance the tenant experience. A positive experience is crucial for maintaining high occupancy rates, attracting new tenants, and fostering a good building environment.

The Future in Action: Solutions at Clarity

Clarity Building Controls presents two strong options for managing building systems, each tailored to different levels of complexity and autonomy:

• Option 1 – Smart Building Management Platform with Analytics & Reports: This platform is designed for buildings needing comprehensive oversight, performance insights, and actionable reports. It features powerful analytics for early issue detection, allowing managers to address problems proactively and optimize costs. Its scalable design ensures easy integration with existing systems and enhances sustainability while lowering energy consumption and operational costs.

• Option 2 – AIP Building Management Platform with Full AI Capabilities: This advanced platform represents the peak of building management technology, enabling buildings to learn and act autonomously. It processes vast amounts of real-time data from numerous sensors and systems, optimizing energy management, extending asset lifecycles, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It also ensures compliance with evolving ESG standards, helping organizations achieve their sustainability goals. Additionally, this platform improves visibility with Digital Twins, providing an accurate virtual representation of physical systems. This capability enhances planning, asset monitoring, and simulations for optimized performance.

The future of smart building management is linked to the intelligent use of data and Artificial Intelligence. As IoT devices become widespread and data collection advances, the potential for optimizing building operations will grow. At Clarity Building Controls, we are committed to leading this evolution. Our AI-powered platforms enable autonomous building intelligence, supported by cutting-edge IoT devices that provide a strong data foundation, transforming buildings into truly intelligent entities.

Don’t let your building’s savings potential go untapped. Contact Clarity Building Controls today to learn how our innovative solutions can boost building income, reduce CO2 emissions, and prepare your assets for future regulatory requirements, ensuring a sustainable and profitable future.

The Role of Data Analytics in Smart Building Management

In 2024, the landscape of building intelligence has transformed, with Smart Buildings becoming central to achieving sustainability and optimal outcomes. These advanced structures leverage technology to create efficiencies and drive significant improvements across various aspects of building operation. At their core, smart buildings provide a robust data repository, serving as the foundation for informed decision-making and the modernization of building management.

Unlocking Energy Efficiency with Advanced Systems

One of the most impactful ways smart buildings contribute to sustainability is through unparalleled energy efficiency. The integration of Building Management Systems (BMS) and the strategic use of IoT within Facility Management Systems are proving to be incredibly effective in conserving energy. Consider the data from the International Energy Agency (IEA): buildings and their operations accounted for a significant 30% of global final energy consumption and 27% of total energy sector emissions. However, by implementing a modern BMS, organizations can project energy savings of up to 29%.

This remarkable reduction is achieved through precise monitoring and management of critical elements like temperature control, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) regulation, continuous energy consumption tracking, and smart lighting and electricity control. By combining intelligent controls with advanced data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), smart buildings ensure highly energy-efficient and sustainable operations.

Driving Down Carbon Emissions

Buildings are major contributors to carbon emissions, accounting for approximately 40% of energy use in the United States and 35% of CO2 emissions. Alarmingly, over 30% of this energy is wasted in both residential and commercial settings. Given the detrimental impact of CO2 emissions on our health, environment, and the planet, it's crucial that we act.

Integrating a robust BMS into your offices or buildings is a powerful step towards efficiently meeting carbon emission targets. These systems provide the tools and insights needed to significantly reduce your environmental footprint.

Enhancing Indoor Air Quality for Health and Well-being

With a substantial portion of our daily lives spent indoors—around 80-90%—the quality of indoor air has become a serious concern, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. Poor indoor air quality directly impacts physical and mental health, as well as work efficiency.

A Smart Building Management System addresses this by providing real-time monitoring of the indoor air quality index (AQI). Through sophisticated ventilation, systematic filtration, and historical data analysis, BMSs ensure healthier indoor environments for occupants.

Reducing Operational Costs and Boosting Productivity

Beyond energy savings, advanced Facility Management Systems contribute significantly to reducing overall operational costs. By leveraging the monitoring and predictive capabilities of IoT devices, maintenance costs for equipment can be minimized, and costly larger repairs can often be avoided. This level of smart automation also reduces the need for constant human intervention, allowing organizations to scale building operations more efficiently. Furthermore, by lowering the risk of equipment failure, a smart system extends the useful life of assets, preventing premature replacements.

A compelling example of these savings is an office in Croydon that reportedly saved over $231,000 by integrating an HVAC control system.

Fostering Employee Wellness and Productivity

In today's hybrid work model, businesses are constantly seeking ways to enhance employee productivity by creating optimal workplaces. While simultaneously reducing energy and operational costs, Building Management Systems seamlessly integrate various office systems—including HVAC, lighting, security, and indoor air quality. This holistic approach cultivates a more positive and comfortable environment, allowing employees to focus entirely on their work. Improved morale inevitably leads to increased productivity!

This positive correlation is supported by numerous studies, including those explored in "Employee Well-being, Productivity, and Firm Performance: Evidence and Case Studies" by authors from esteemed institutions such as the London School of Economics, Harvard Business School, and Oxford University.

Strengthening Building Safety and Security

A truly Smart Building is inherently a safer building. A robust BMS significantly elevates a facility's security posture. Through advanced access control technologies like keycards, biometrics, or facial recognition, it ensures that only authorized individuals can enter specific areas. By integrating security systems with the BMS, buildings establish a formidable defense against theft, vandalism, or unauthorized access, thereby creating a safer environment for occupants and protecting valuable assets. Real-time monitoring enables prompt responses to detected threats, with alerts sent directly to staff phones or control panels. This smart building software allows for quick activation of fire alarms or initiation of evacuation protocols when needed, saving crucial time.

Driving Towards Sustainability and Net Zero Goals

Through all these remarkable benefits, Building Management Systems play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable development. Their contributions to energy efficiency, waste reduction, resource management, and equipment lifecycle optimization directly contribute to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Smart buildings also open doors to the integration of renewable energy solutions, such as solar or wind power, actively promoting the transition to clean energy. They can enhance grid stability for renewable sources by intelligently managing distribution and even incorporate hybrid systems that seamlessly switch between energy sources for optimal supply.

Ultimately, intelligent building management solutions represent the future of optimized living. At Clarity Building Controls, we believe "The Future Is Clear." Our Clarity platform is dedicated to helping you operate properties more intelligently and efficiently through the strategic use of IoT technology, leveraging data and AI for superior monitoring and automation. For more information or to learn how Clarity Building Controls can transform your property, please contact us at [email protected].

Modern Building Management & The Power of IoT

Our buildings are no longer just passive structures of steel and glass. They are evolving into dynamic, responsive environments that cater to our health, enhance our productivity, and champion sustainability. This transformation is being powered by the Internet of Things (IoT), a technology that is embedding intelligence into the very fabric of the built environment.

Through a network of internet-connected devices and sensors, IoT gathers a wealth of data, enabling the automation of building management and providing the data-driven insights needed for smarter decision-making. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) infuses this landscape, the potential for IoT in real estate is soaring, connecting the value of a property directly to operational efficiency and sustainability.

The New Standard: Healthy-Smart Buildings

The global pandemic fundamentally shifted our expectations for the spaces we inhabit, amplifying the demand for Healthy Buildings. A healthy building is designed with a people-first mentality, prioritizing the well-being of its occupants by focusing on nine foundational criteria, including ventilation, air quality, lighting, and security.

As a Harvard School of Public Health study suggests, a healthy workplace can tangibly boost cognitive function. This focus on well-being is a top priority for all stakeholders, from tenants and employees to owners and investors.

While healthy buildings focus on people, "smart" buildings have traditionally emphasized technology to optimize operations, primarily by using sensors to monitor and reduce energy consumption. The true innovation lies in merging these two concepts. By balancing cutting-edge efficiency with human-centric wellness, we create holistic, green environments where people and performance can thrive. Implementing an IoT strategy to monitor and manage air quality is now an integral step to achieving this, directly impacting tenant satisfaction, retention, and productivity.

The Evolution of the Building Management System

While it may seem like a recent innovation, the core concept of a Building Management System (BMS) has been developing for over half a century. It began as a basic computerized system for temperature control and evolved into a more integrated single Building Management System that, while boosting efficiency, often came with prohibitive costs.

The integration of IoT marked the next significant leap, enabling remote monitoring and condition-based maintenance, which delivered greater cost benefits and higher revenue. These foundational systems paved the way for the intelligent buildings of today. Now, the industry looks toward the next frontier of innovation: "Digital Twin" technology, which promises to create a complete virtual replica of a building for even more advanced management and simulation.

IoT and Data: The Engine of Modern Building Management

So, how does a modern Building Management System leverage IoT to achieve these ambitious goals? The primary role of IoT is to provide a platform for collecting real-time data from every critical system in a facility, including energy consumption, water utilization, and air quality. This constant stream of data is the fuel for AI algorithms that can predict future capacity needs and uncover hidden inefficiencies.

The financial world has taken notice. According to a report by Business Research Insights, the global market for intelligent building management systems was valued at nearly 500 million USD in 2022 and is projected to skyrocket to USD 2.2 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 15.9%.

This growth is driven by tangible benefits:

Data Collection and Monitoring: IoT sensors provide a real-time feed of data on energy use, equipment health, and environmental conditions, which is crucial for accurate reporting, analytics, and identifying trends.

Remote Monitoring and Control: With a secure login and an internet connection, stakeholders can monitor building operations from anywhere. This allows for immediate adjustments to optimize performance and address inefficiencies on the go.

Predictive Maintenance: By continuously analyzing equipment performance, an IoT-enabled platform can detect anomalies and predict potential failures before they happen. This proactive approach reduces costly downtime, extends the lifespan of assets, and boosts operational efficiency.

Energy Optimization: Advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms process the collected data to identify usage patterns and optimize consumption. For instance, the system can automatically send alerts or shut down equipment if the power factor (PF) drops below a preset threshold, preventing waste and penalties.

Enhanced Safety and Sustainability: Optimized operations and real-time monitoring naturally lead to safer and more sustainable practices. By identifying risks and reducing a building’s carbon footprint, IoT helps achieve both corporate and environmental goals.

The Future is Clear: Your Building, Reimagined

The Clarity Platform is designed to modernize the approach to building management, delivering operational transparency to all stakeholders. By implementing a comprehensive IoT strategy, Clarity simplifies data collection and automation, allowing for rapid responses to changing needs.

Our powerful IoT software enables the seamless integration of countless products, sensors, and communication protocols, regardless of the manufacturer. We provide specialized building solutions tailored to the unique needs of each project. We have a proven track record of delivering remarkable ROI and rapid payback periods for building owners who are ready to take the leap.

The time to future-proof your assets is now. It's time to transform your buildings for a smarter, healthier, and more sustainable tomorrow.

#building solutions #Building Management System #Clarity Building Controls

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