We published this interview after independent editorial review because it offers a practical, standards-aware path to turning existing HVAC systems into flexible grid assets without sacrificing comfort or air quality. The discussion references common industry touchstones (e.g., ASHRAE comfort and ventilation norms) but focuses on plain-English practice and real outcomes.
“Flexible load” sounds abstract. What does it look like at 4:30 p.m. on a hot weekday?
Bekzat: Imagine your building as a calm, polite neighbor. Earlier in the afternoon, when electricity is cheaper, we quietly cool the building a little more than usual. Then, when prices spike at 4:30, we back off just a bit: the air coming out of the vents is a touch warmer, the fans spin a touch slower, and fewer compressors run at once. People still feel comfortable because we’re staying within a sensible comfort range, not chasing one perfect number. The building keeps its cool, and you avoid the most expensive minutes of the day.
Where does the money actually come from?
Bekzat: Three places you can point to on a bill:
1) Peak charges: some utilities bill you based on your single worst 15-minute spike all month. Lower that spike, save big.
2) Time-of-use shifting: do more when power is cheap, do less when it’s pricey.
3) Payments for helping the grid: if you can prove you used less at the right moment, the utility (or an aggregator) pays you.
The reason HVAC works so well for this is simple: buildings hold temperature for a while. You already own a kind of thermal “battery.”
How do you keep comfort and indoor air quality from slipping?
Bekzat: We write down the rules before we touch anything: a comfort range (for example, 72–75°F), a simple air-quality limit (watch carbon dioxide so there’s enough fresh air), and healthy humidity. During expensive hours we don’t treat every space the same, quiet areas can drift more than a packed meeting room. And we change things gently, in small steps. Afterward, we share a short, friendly report: “Here’s your power before/after, here’s temperature and air quality everything stayed inside the rules.
Our controls are old. Do we have to replace equipment?
Bekzat: Almost never. Think of this like a light add-on to what you already have. You need three things:
- A way to see what’s going on (power use and a couple of air-quality sensors where people sit).
- The ability to nudge a few settings (vent-air temperature, fan speed, how many compressors can run, a short window to pre-cool).
- A tiny playbook: “If prices spike or the utility calls, make these gentle moves but never break our comfort and air rules.”
That’s it. No mechanical-room makeover required.
Walk us through a day it works and no one complains.
Bekzat:
- Late morning: The forecast says today might be the month’s worst. We agree to slightly widen the comfort range and plan a little pre-cooling.
- Mid-afternoon: Prices climb. We nudge the vent-air temperature up by about 1-2°F, put a soft cap on fan speed, and limit how many compressors can run together.
- Peak hour: The power meter stays under last month’s spike. CO₂ and humidity look healthy. A conference room touches 74°F, still comfortable. No one files a ticket.
- After: We gently return to normal and save the report.
It’s meant to be boring for occupants and satisfying for the spreadsheet.
What convinces owners and programs, that it really worked?
Bekzat: With a fair comparison. First, we build a baseline, what your use would have been that day with the same weather and occupancy. Then we show what actually happened during the event: how much energy you avoided, how much you lowered the peak, and that comfort and air quality stayed within the rules. That packet unlocks payments and builds trust.
What did your ASHRAE experience teach you about adoption?
Bekzat: Make it practical, explainable, and easy to override. Techs need to see why a setpoint changed, and they need a big friendly button to take back control if something feels off. When people understand the “why,” they’re happy to keep doing it because the complaints don’t rise and the bills go down.
What’s next?
Bekzat: Two things. First, helping heat pumps shine with smarter control so electrification is comfortable and affordable. Second, getting many buildings to play together like a quiet orchestra, so owners earn steady revenue for being reliable, clean flexibility for the grid.
About the Interviewee
Bekzat Shamurzaev Bekzat (Ben) Shamurzaev is an HVAC professional and founder of Flow X Solutions (Bay Area), focused on AI/IoT strategies for energy efficiency and peak-demand reduction. He previously supervised projects at a regional HVAC/plumbing/electrical firm and led HVAC sales/installation and digital commerce initiatives; he holds an MBA from Lincoln University.
