The importance of caring for the environment has become a top priority both around the
world and increasingly in the United States. As regulations and social expectations
become more stringent, future-proofing our infrastructure – beginning with energy
consumption in buildings – is a natural first step.
There are four key strategies a building owner or facility manager can focus on to improve
energy efficiency and reduce a building’s carbon footprint, all while improving building
performance:
Retrofit control solutions Upgrade HVAC controls – No matter the size of the building, there are opportunities to optimize
HVAC equipment through better control. With millions of aging, inefficient rooftop units (RTUs) in
the United States, a simple retrofit control solution is budget-friendly for a building owner, while
proving easy for contractors to install and manage. Retrofit control solutions are an easy way for
small or low complexity buildings to improve performance.
Retrofit control solutions are an easy way for small or low complexity
buildings to improve performance
For larger building systems, controllers newly available to the market have more processing
power and flexibility to adapt to new and unique system configurations. Motion sensors enable
room level automation and improve efficiency when spaces are vacant, turning off lighting and
altering room temperature settings to reduce unnecessary energy use.
Connected lighting and shade control also delivers efficiency gains by effectively harnessing the
building’s natural environment. Bull Valley Country Club and Bangor Savings Bank are just two
examples that are ‘seeing green,’ with new approaches to RTU equipment and room
optimization.
Better project specifications
Adopt standardized HVAC control sequences – As every building developed is unique, it is
more difficult to carry efficiency knowledge from project to project. Uniform sequences of
operation help maximize energy efficiency and performance in a building’s HVAC system.
ASHRAE published Guideline 36 that helps engineers deliver better project specifications for
building systems.
Guideline 36 provides a good balance of energy optimization through a combination of different
ASHRAE specs that a manufacturer should meet including ASHRAE 90.1 for energy
optimization, ASHRAE 55 for comfort standards, and ASHRAE 62.1 on indoor air quality (IAQ).Guideline 36 enables manufacturers to develop and test applications to deliver proven solutions
for optimized HVAC efficiency.
Balance energy consumption
Improve building performance visibility with BAS – Monitoring electrical power, combined
with a building automation system (BAS), helps to balance energy consumption while ensuring
occupant comfort. Fully integrated building management systems provide easy visualization of
energy consumption trends and mitigate costly problems.
HVAC scheduling through a BAS can also reduce energy consumption by coordinating the use
of heating, ventilation and air conditioning to synchronize with tenant occupancy schedules. By
integrating schedules and calendars, the BAS can automatically adjust HVAC, lighting, and
shades to accommodate areas when they are used, but turn off energy use when they are not.
Beyond dashboards and graphics lies a wealth of actionable insight
For those buildings that have a BAS in place, how that data is used after it is collected is an
equally important step to optimizing performance and energy efficiency. Beyond dashboards and
graphics lies a wealth of actionable insight. For instance, building data can be exported into a
cloud-based fault detection and diagnostic (FDD) program to add an additional layer of
usefulness.
Predictive fault detectionPredictive fault detection and reactive visualization provide alerts to end-users through rule
based parameters that help to counter-balance potential threats before a problem occurs. As
smart buildings continue to move down a path to becoming autonomous, the more building data
points there are, the more that data can be applied to improve the comfort, productivity, and
energy efficiency of that building through Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Although we are just beginning to scratch the surface on how we may apply AI to buildings fully,
using building data will empower real-time insights to make actionable adjustments to its system
components. Improving how building data is managed does not have to be a daunting project.
For example, having the right insights allowed the Renasant Convention Center to reduce chilled
water usage while adding square footage and thermal load.
HVAC energy consumption
Hydronic flow optimization is a prime way to reduce HVAC energy
consumption by up to 30%
Use the right valves for precise control in hydronic systems – Hydronic flow optimization is
a prime way to reduce HVAC energy consumption by up to 30%, while increasing building
efficiency, operational performance and overall comfort. Pressure independent control valves
have greater control accuracy and simplify regulating flow, which prevents over-and under
supply of heating or cooling energy.
With no shortage of strategies at hand, improving building performance and efficiency is a step
not to be overlooked on the path to decarbonization. As a building owner, it is important to
partner with a solutions provider that can help you unlock the true potential of your property.
Controlling energy usage
Look for a provider that is highly knowledgeable about building efficiency and has access to thefull breadth of hardware and software to create a complete solution. This way, they can deliver
the complete mix of devices and technology you need to monitor and control energy usage,
optimize HVAC equipment, and reduce energy costs to transform your building into an asset
rather than a liability.
With approaches adapted to a building’s unique lifecycle, supported by reliable HVAC devices,
automation controls, and software solutions, you can turn your building into a green machine that
is energy efficient and high performing, without compromising on comfort or occupant
satisfaction.